Find a therapist in California — covered by insurance


Top therapists in California accepting new patients
Headway brings mental health support to California residents with 8,434 empowering providers ready to help. With sessions available virtually or in-person and accepted by 70+ insurance plans, many clients save significantly on their mental health care.
I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 14 year experience in the mental health field. I specialize in supporting individuals who are committed to their emotional healing. I have experience in working with age groups ranging from children to adults, LGBTQ+ individuals, trauma survivors, and those who seek to live their best lives. In order to support the individuals I work with, I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Strength-Based, and Person-Centered approaches.
I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) dedicated to providing compassionate, patient-centered mental health care to individuals across California. With a background in both nursing and psychiatry, I specialize in diagnosing, treating, and supporting patients with a wide range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and more.
If you are struggling with ADHD and/or symptoms of anxiety or depression or are dealing with difficult relationship issues or life transitions, I could be the therapist for you.
I have a Master's in Counseling and have practiced in the field of mental health for nearly two decades. My experience as a therapist includes extensive training and work in eating disorders, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, relationship issues, women’s issues, and spirituality. I am licensed in both California (LPCC) and Washington (LMHC), and I’m a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS) through the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP). I also hold a certification in Grief (CGP). I emphasize a whole-person approach to care, considering the full spectrum of physical, emotional, social, and spiritual factors that impact your overall health and well-being.
Hi, and thank you for taking the first step toward prioritizing your mental health! I am based in Santa Barbara, CA, and I work with people who have spent their lives fitting into rooms that weren't made for them. My specialty is helping adults, teens, and couples reconnect with who they actually are beneath the roles they've been playing — whether that's a trauma survivor, a corporate burnout, or someone who has simply never quite felt like they belonged anywhere. I bring both clinical training and lived experience to this work, and I offer sessions in English and Spanish. Visit www.therapybydesire.com to learn more about me.
I arrive as a human first, therapist second. I consider myself a deeply attuned feeler and a lover of animals. My personal process deeply influences my process as a psychotherapist. Navigating complex trauma, navigating the world as a deep feeler, and returning to being in my body are core processes where I have transmuted pain into spaciousness.
About our therapists serving California



- 98%Anxiety
- 92%Depression
- 88%Stress management
- 82%Relationship issues
- 79%Trauma

- 98%Aetna
- 79%Carelon Behavioral Health
- 76%Cigna
- 75%Anthem Blue Cross California
- 66%Blue Shield of California

- 97%English
- 17%Spanish
- 2%Farsi
- 1%Mandarin
- 1%Hindi

- 89%Online only
- 11%In-person or online
- 1%In-person only

- 80%Woman
- 19%Man
- 1%Non-binary

- 48%Licensed Marriage/Family Therapist
- 31%Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- 7%Clinical Psychologist
- 7%Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
- 6%Nurse Practitioner

- 100%Individual therapy
- 37%Family therapy
- 23%Couples therapy
- 15%Child or adolescent therapy
Frequently asked questions


Find the right therapist for you
Headway makes it easy to find support for your mental health — from finding the right provider, to understanding costs, to scheduling with ease.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Therapist in California
Searching for therapists in California means choosing from a wide and varied mental health care landscape. Available therapists and areas of focus can differ across urban, suburban, and rural parts of the state, so it helps to start with what you want support for. You might look for a therapist with experience in anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, grief, or major life changes. From there, review each therapist’s listed specialties, therapy style, and background to see whether their training matches what you want from care.
Location and format also shape your search. In Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and other parts of California, you may find therapists who offer in-person sessions, virtual sessions, or both. Some people prefer meeting in an office, while others choose virtual appointments for schedule fit or access outside their immediate area. As you compare therapists, look at appointment availability, whether they offer a free phone consultation, and how they describe their approach. A therapist’s bio can help you understand what sessions may be like before you book.
The cost of therapy in California varies, and using in-network insurance is one of the most reliable ways to lower session costs. Headway helps you find California therapists who are accepting new patients, match your preferences, and may take your insurance. Nationally, Headway partners with over 100 insurance plans, and you can enter your plan details to see your estimated out-of-pocket cost before booking. From there, you can browse therapists, review bios, and book directly when you’re ready.
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