Are you ready to reach your opportunity? Some people are ready to do so, while others may feel like they're not ready just yet. When they’re dealing with anxiety, depression, and everything else life has to offer, it can be a challenge. A counselor based in Gardena can be able to help you. 

Gardena’s motto is “The City of Opportunity.” You can find your purpose in life here, but sometimes, you need the help of someone in order to do so. A counselor can help you do just that. Speak to a counselor today and see how they can help you.

This is Veronica Dover Hoffman's avatar and link to their profile

Veronica Dover Hoffman

Offering therapy in CA
License: MS,LMFT
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesParenting issuesSelf esteemCoping with life changes
27 years of experience

I am a licensed marriage and family therapist with over 25 years of experience. I love working together with clients to achieve their goals. My approach is warm, welcoming and affirming with a client centered perspective. I have experience with a wide range of issues including partner relational issues, parenting, anxiety and depression, coping with life changes, handling stress (both personal and professional) and many more. I have experience working with client of all ages,. I’m certified in Parent Child Interaction Therapy which focuses on work with both parent and child to better cope with severe behavioral disorders in young children (ages 2 to 7) and I also have a certificate in aging as well. I have worked with couples, individuals, families, and children. I utilize cognitive behavioral therapy and solution focused therapy to assist clients in understanding how their thoughts and feelings are influencing their behavioral choices. I also focus on life stages and development with a focus on helping you better understand your current situation in the context of both your individual life course and the common life stages and developmental tasks we all pass through as we go through life. I know that coming to therapy can make you feel incredibly vulnerable. My approach is to help you become comfortable and create a safe space where you can use the courage that it took for you to reach out to spur you on towards the positive change you are seeking. I’m really looking forward to working with you.

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Jan Gabrielle Galinanes

Offering therapy in CA
License: LMFT,ATR-BC
Stress, AnxietyGriefSelf esteemCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue
9 years of experience

I am an ATR-BC and licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and have been practicing since I graduated in 2013. I have experience working in a wide variety of settings such as, hospitals, inpatient, residential programs, schools, and outpatient clinics. I work with all ages, couples and families struggling with mental illness, grief and loss, adjustment issues, anxiety, serious medical issues, trauma, death/dying, dementia/ Alzheimer’s, personality disorders, and and a variety of other issues. I draw from an eclectic person-centered approach, incorporating theories from jungian psychology, object relations theory, and narrative therapy, while also keeping mindful to meet my clients needs and work with what is comfortable for them. My goal is to meet my clients where they are at by providing a consistent, safe, holding space and experience. My specialties include using art modalities in combination with other techniques and topics, such as music, mindfulness, life skills, and animal assisted therapy. I use these modalities and techniques to help decrease anxiety, manage anger, manage pain, improve sleep, decrease anxiety, raise self-esteem, increase self awareness \mindfulness, and create a safe and healthy environment where clients can express themselves. For my professional growth, I continuously read related literature, keep myself up to date with the ethical and legal guidelines in the field, and the latest research, and attend conferences and trainings. I also cultivate my own personal art therapy practice to keep current with new mediums, techniques, and themes.

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Ashley Gomez-Hotko

Offering therapy in CA
License: MA,LMFT
Stress, AnxietyLGBTSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changes
10 years of experience

Pleased to meet you! My name is Ashley Fox. I have 10+ years experience in providing mental health services in a variety of settings, for people of all ages and backgrounds. I have experience in treating clients affected by symptoms of depression, trauma, anxiety, addiction issues, anger management issues, and adjustment to life transition. My therapeutic approach is a combination of solution focused, cognitive behavioral, and motivational interviewing. I believe that therapy is a collaborative process and a journey, and that the client is already the expert in their own lives, and that the therapist's role is to help the client "unlock" the skills and resources that they already have potential to possess. My goal is to help my client develop the confidence and skills to address whatever may be distressing them, improve relationships, and live their best possible lives.

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Paul Hyppolite

Offering therapy in CA
Relationship issuesFamily conflictsParenting issuesCoping with life changes
4 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 4 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with relationship issues, family conflicts, & parenting issues. I also have experience working with coping with life changes. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

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Marla Carbonell

Offering therapy in CA
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseParenting issues
5 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 5 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, & trauma and abuse. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

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Sayrah Garrison

Offering therapy in CA
Stress, AnxietySelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue
10 years of experience

I am a California licensed clinical social worker with over 10 years of clinical experience. I specialize in working with individuals presenting with anxiety, depression, substance use and mood disorders. I have a strong belief that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect and take every effort to ensure that you feel heard each step of the way. Clients have described me as calm, compassionate and grounded. I believe that therapy must be driven by your own desire to change and work in collaboration with you to create a treatment plan that will assist you in meeting your desired goals. I find Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to be a great tool in therapy and also use aspects of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness and Solution-Focused Therapy in sessions with clients. Congratulations on taking this step to ensure a more fulfilling and happier life! I would be honored to help you in this process.

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April Cobb

Offering therapy in CA
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesParenting issuesDepressionCoping with life changes
7 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 7 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, parenting issues, & depression. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

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Quisha Castro

Offering therapy in CA
Stress, AnxietyAddictionsRelationship issuesDepressionCoping with life changes
20 years of experience

As a psychotherapist for the past 20 years, I’ve worked in a variety of outpatient and inpatient settings with children, adolescents, and adults with complex needs. My approach to therapy starts with the psychotherapist and client relationship. In our sessions, I provide a supportive environment where you feel seen, heard and a space for therapeutic connection, where change is created. Life can be difficult, and we all find ourselves at times struggling with difficult thoughts and overwhelming feelings. Past traumas or current stressors can leave us feeling anxious, depressed, or disconnected from ourselves and others. As a psychotherapist, together we examine how old patterns no longer serve you and help foster a more peaceful and purposeful way of living. My goal to is assist my client with an in-depth perspective and understanding their individual uniqueness. I work to build self-awareness and help clients meet life's challenges towards fulfillment, change unhelpful patterns or behaviors, and teach new methods people can use to approach complex situations to maximize positive results. My specialties include anxiety, depression, interpersonal conflicts, life transitions, substance abuse, eating disorders, and difficulties relating in relationships. My clinical focus is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy & Mindfulness and Acceptance Based Practices that examines your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. I facilitate this transformative process by forming a partnership with each person by assessing and analyzing their distinct and unique circumstances and life experiences. This allows us to tailor an effective and practical treatment plan for our work together. I place importance on how you apply what you learn about yourself in therapy to everyday life.

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This is Ruben Rojas's avatar and link to their profile

Ruben Rojas

Offering therapy in CA
Stress, AnxietyGriefDepression
30 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 30 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with grief and loss, & depression. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

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Kenneth Breniman

Offering therapy in CA
Stress, AnxietyLGBTTrauma and abuseGriefSelf esteem
19 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 19 years of clinical work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, lgbtq+ related issues, trauma and abuse, & coping with grief and loss. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I do hope can co-create a brave space for your to support you along your life journey. A growing number of researchers and healthcare professionals agree: the body, mind, and spirit are not separate, but rather parts of an interconnected whole. While I’ve been a licensed clinical social worker since 2005, I’ve come to see that traditional talk therapy can only get a person so far. Likewise, while I respect the DSM, I believe that diagnoses can be somewhat limiting for those looking to do deep, spiritual inner work and explore the big existential questions of their lives. Your pain makes sense. Rather than label you with a diagnosis, my goal is to help you understand how your past may have contributed to your current suffering and give you the space to heal from your pain and move forward. As a lifelong learner, I’ve spent the last two decades exploring the intersection of psychology, yoga, sound healing, death studies, and psychedelic integration. My sessions with clients typically include a few, if not all of these modalities.

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How to find counseling in Gardena

Finding the best therapist close by in Gardena can feel challenging, but know that once you narrow your search for a counselor serving your area, you can find a therapist in your city that is accepting new clients and fits your goals. Whether you're struggling with depression, anxiety, marriage, family issues, or other emotional challenges, feel proud that you have begun your search to find the mental health care services that work best for you in order to begin your personal journey towards emotional healing.

Understanding the type of therapy you'd like to search for is crucial before finding a therapist or psychologist in Gardena. Perhaps you're interested in narrowing your search for a psychotherapist that can offer psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), talk therapy, provide group therapy, marriage and family therapy for individuals or couples, or couples therapy. Each type of therapy can offer various benefits and address or treat different disorders. If you're still unsure or are new to counseling in Gardena, feel free to contact the provider via email to find out which methods they practice.

It is also important to understand that mental health professionals in the United States are accredited to provide care, helping individuals and couples, with a variety of licenses. These include licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), and clinical psychologist or doctor of psychology (PsyD). Regardless of their licensure, they are trained to treat individuals and couples counseling, and sometimes children, in any type of therapy. Find a therapist under any of these distinctions and know that the sessions they offer can provide a safe place to heal.

Mental health professionals working through their own in- person therapy practice in Gardena or online may assist clients in improving healthy relationships, communication skills, working through life transitions, managing a mood disorder, improving coping skills, or change in negative thinking patterns. They may also provide a safe place and validation for clients experiencing emotional pain. Verified providers can provide licensed marriage and couples therapy, tailor to individual needs, and create a therapeutic relationship as a National Certified Counselor.

There are all kinds of therapists working with clients today across the United States and in the greater Gardena area in different types of therapy, including:

  • CBT
  • DBT
  • Substance use therapy
  • Couples therapy

When you're ready to start your search and find therapists, have in mind what type of therapy you'd like your provider to be most experienced with and choose an experienced provider with a practice located near you in the city of Gardena, elsewhere in Los Angeles, or in the greater state of California.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Some other commonly asked questions on therapy with a licensed counselor and BetterHelp serving the Gardena area can be found below:

How does the cost of in-person counseling compare to the cost of BetterHelp with a licensed Gardena therapist?

The average price of an in-person therapy session in the US is $100 to $200 per hour. These prices may be higher in Gardena due to a higher cost of living. The price also depends on the type of provider you are looking for. See the following average prices for various mental health providers without insurance:

  • Counseling with a psychiatrist: $150-$500
  • Counseling with therapists: $100-300
  • Therapy with a psychologist: $100

While many psychologists in Gardena may not take health insurance, some in the state of California may work on a sliding scale, meaning they'll factor in your income and charge what you can afford per session. With BetterHelp or clinicians throughout the state of California you can expect significantly more affordable options, with sessions ranging from $65 to $100 per week (billed every four weeks).

How is a licensed therapist on this online therapy platform verified?

Therapists in Gardena, California working on BetterHelp are licensed, trained, experienced, and accredited as a doctor of psychology (PhD / PsyD), licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW / LICSW), or licensed professional counselors (LPC). All of these psychology clinicians have a Masters Degree or a Doctorate Degree in their field of psychology sciences, and follow the APA Code of Ethics. They have been qualified and certified by their state's professional board after successfully completing the necessary education, exams, training and practice with a patient, and extensive experience in a healthcare clinic or treatment centers, in order to become a mental health provider. While their lived experience, expertise, careers, and background vary, they all possess at least 3 years and 1,000 hours of hands-on experience with adult and sometimes teen patients, and have the necessary therapist credentials to provide a safe space for long lasting emotional healing in therapy. 

Please note BetterHelp does not offer or provide care from psychiatrists to prescribe a drug as treatment, or perform psychological assessments.

How does working with a counselor in BetterHelp online therapy sessions work?

BetterHelp clinicians treat clients online across the United States (individuals and couples) through life transitions, inner child exploration, long term depression or anxiety, and more. An online mental health professional, including the therapists in Gardena above, can work with young adults, children, adolescents, and adults virtually as an accredited licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) or licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT). You do not have to commute to a an office as a psychotherapy client.

Through BetterHelp therapy, you can partake in video, phone, or live chat therapy sessions with your licensed therapist. You can work through various symptoms, use the in app journaling feature, and receive worksheets. You'll also find support groups or group therapy lead by a therapist in Gardena helping individuals on topics including managing life transitions, symptoms affecting sexual health, behavioral health, coping skills for anxiety or depression, trauma, stress, marriage counseling, and more. 

What mental health issues can psychotherapy address?

BetterHelp's verified Gardena therapists specialize and have clinical experience in a wide range of mental health issues and modalities, helping clients to feel better and improve their lives every day. See below for examples.

Specialties on BetterHelp include:

You may also be struggling with relationship problems that could be addressed in couples therapy or with a sex therapist. In that case, you may choose to work with one of BetterHelp's experienced cognitive-behavioral therapists or licensed marriage family therapists (LMFT) who work with clients in relationships. You can also try a Gardena therapy provider through BetterHelp's sister platform, ReGain, which is dedicated to couples and spouses worldwide. 

How do I know if online counseling is right for my family?

One of the potentially rewarding aspects of working with a therapist is the validation and active listening they can provide. Your friends and loved ones may also be available to listen, but you may feel that they may lack the skills to provide objective guidance. Counselors are trained to respond to various concerns, symptoms, and mental health conditions.

A psychologist in your city can support you toward a healthier emotional state, regardless of your mental health, life concerns, or healing needs. While supporting individuals in developing healthier habits, another good benefit of therapy is having an understanding, safe space with a non-judgmental party who can support you through challenging experiences.

Many people have sensitive topics that they may feel ashamed to discuss with their friends or partner. A Gardena therapist can help you confront these concerns and open up through unique methods of support. There are also many types of therapy, such as art therapy, where you may find you can express yourself through creativity instead of words.

With a lot of people in CA, providers may be booked out with clients. Through the list of profiles above and others within BetterHelp's team, you may be able to find a psychologist within 24 to 48 hours. If you're searching to find a a nearby psychotherapist close to 90247 or the surrounding zip codes, consider others available through the BetterHelp site. No matter if you are seeking help in your area or beyond, online therapy can be a great option.

How should I prepare for my first therapy session with a Gardena counselor?

Before seeing your therapist, prep for your session by reading to understand the therapy process. You might write a list of questions you want to ask your psychotherapist, any emotional pain you may feel, and the ways in which you hope to improve. When you attend your session, let them know if you have any concerns about therapy or feel unsure about what to talk about. They may help guide you with open-ended therapeutic questions. The first session will often serve as an intake to get to know you as a person and learn why you're attending therapy.

Should I find a therapist or psychologist if I feel fine? 

Some simply don't feel the need to see a psychologist. However, some people may avoid attending therapy due to stigma or preconceived notions of what therapy entails. Although psychologists often support people with mental health conditions, you do not need a diagnosis or condition to attend therapy. You can discuss grief, relationship concerns, stress, or life changes and ask for general feedback and advice. A Gardena licensed clinical social worker may help you gain power over your life and emotions while you navigate day-to-day experiences.

Gaining a new perspective on yourself through various therapies might allow you to improve your self-esteem, work through relationships, and gain a better sense of your mental health goals. The success you may find through therapy can be dependent on your process.

People may also attend therapy for specific motives, such as bullying, an autism diagnosis, a desire to learn mindfulness meditation, personality concerns, trouble with office workers, specific phobias, and many other principles.

Is mental health care and therapy worth it? 

Therapy is effective and has the power to change individuals' lives. Each client is at a different stage of their emotional healing journey in life, as each human can be unique in their personality, expression, skills, and goals. A psychologist can target various symptoms, experiences, and personalities to help you feel your best and put you on the path to healing. Unlike advice from a friend, family, or non-professional, a mental health professional has an understanding of various disorders like ADHD and depression with many hours of experience in treating adults in their practice. For this reason, seeing an evidence based psychologist in Gardena, California can be worth it. Over 41 million adults in the US attend therapy services each year, showing it's a popular option and is proven to be effective.

Gardena has many clinicians who practice person or client-centered individual therapy in-person and through online therapy to assist clients in their healing journey. If you opt into online therapy, you might also be able to meet with providers all over the United States and change therapists easily at any time. Many people struggling with anxiety and depression, substance abuse, body image issues, and more find therapists that are a good fit for them, feel supported, and gain further insight into their lives through internet-based therapy.

Do therapists judge you in therapy sessions?

The boundaries between you and a therapist are in place to help you and them regarding ethical concerns. Mental health professionals are held by ethical standards through the American Psychological Association (APA) and are not allowed to judge or harm their clients. If you are concerned about sharing details about yourself, feel free to withhold personal information. Their job in the therapeutic relationship is to create a safe place, help you gain a deeper understanding of your mental health, and support you. You might consider changing counselors if you don't feel safe or respected.

Stay up to date with the leading online counseling platform

To stay up to date with BetterHelp's initiatives through their social channels, you can follow them on Pinterest, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. For mental health tips, check out the BetterHelp YouTube channel.

Take some time today to learn more about the team of therapists at BetterHelp to understand the services available to you clearly. If you are new to therapy or have any questions about the services and terms, please reach out through the contact page or send an email to contact@betterhelp.com.

If you’re ready to sign up for online therapy, consider signing up with a platform like BetterHelp and get matched within 24 to 48 hours.

If you are experiencing a crisis or emergency, don't use this site's online services. If you are in life-threatening danger, call 911. If you require support for a crisis, reach out to the hotlines below:

A woman meets with a therapist online in her home city of Gardena.

Below are some of the zip codes served by BetterHelp therapists in Gardena:

90247, 90249

Popular cities near Gardena, CA

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