Life is like a basket of eggs. You have to crack a few eggs at times, and sometimes you may feel like you have to walk all over them without them breaking. If you try to cook and omelette, it may end up to be a challenge. A counselor based in Petaluma can help. 

Petaluma is known for being the egg capital. If you have depression or anxiety, that’s no yoke, and you should go see a counselor before you crack. A counselor can help your egg roll far without breaking. Talk to one today for eggscellent service.

This is Nicole Gibson's avatar and link to their profile

Nicole Gibson

Offering therapy in CA
License: LMFT #94690
AddictionsRelationship issuesFamily conflictsParenting issuesDepression
13 years of experience

You may be wondering why anyone would go to a therapist. After all, everyone has problems, right? Though it is true that we all have problems in some regard, what most don’t realize is that without help, your problems can impact your work or school life, your relationships with your family and friends, your physical health and your overall quality of life. I have vast experience providing therapy to individuals, couples, groups, and families. Whatever it is that is bringing you to therapy will be addressed in an empathetic and thoughtful manner. My clientele includes those with behavioral and/or substance addiction, families & couples who are interracial and/or interfaith, pregnant and post-partum women, parents of a child or children with autism spectrum disorder, and with those who may have more than one area that they would like to work on (i.e. depression, anxiety, and other difficult issues) As a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT), I pride myself on being a therapist who collaborates with clients on how to get from where they are in their lives currently to where they want to be.

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Renate Kohlmann

Offering therapy in CA
Stress, AnxietyAddictionsRelationship issuesGriefDepression
25 years of experience

Hello and Welcome! Congratulations on taking the first step towards feeling better! Whatever the issue or issues are you wish to work on, it takes courage to make that first move. My name is Renate Kohlmann, and I have been a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for 24 years. My approach is always client-centered and supportive. Because everyone's needs are different, I do incorporate different therapy styles into my approach as needed - psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral are two that come to mind. If you are interested in learning more and seeing if we are a good fit, please contact me! Specialties: Anxiety and Stress Depression Relationship Issues Family Conflict Intimacy Issues Coping with Life Issues Self Esteem Career Difficulties Addiction Disorders Chronic Illness

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Linda Titus-Conboy

Offering therapy in CA
License: LCSW
Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefDepression
27 years of experience

I am a Licensed Clinical Social worker in California with over 20 years of experience working as a Counselor. I have worked with a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, parenting problems, and challenges in living with chronic medical conditions. I have also worked helping those who are dealing with the despair and grief of loosing a loved one. In addition, I have helped people who have experienced trauma in their lives, including physical and sexual abuse or childhood neglect. My therapy style is warm and supportive. I strive to create a safe and trusting therapy space for you to explore your inner self, relationships, and life challenges. My hope is that together we can work to help you move in a direction that brings you greater peace and fulfillment in your life. In our work together, I will draw from a variety of treatment approach’s, including mindfulness, cognitive therapy’s (CBT ACT) attachment therapy and trauma informed treatment. I welcome the opportunity to work together.

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Diane Salka

Offering therapy in CA
License: LMFT,MBA
Stress, AnxietyAddictionsRelationship issuesFamily conflictsSelf esteem
8 years of experience

Congratulations on your decision to grow and excel. Whether your challenges are individual, interpersonal, or professional, I am here to help. I have extensive experience and education to help you on YOUR journey. Together, we will move the obstacles in your life so you can move forward to find peace, fulfillment, and achievement. I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who chose this profession after a successful career in the business world due to my own desire to learn how to create a better life/work balance and to grow personally and to have more fulfilling relationships. I have extensive experience in treating mood disorders (specifically depression and anxiety, including bipolar, social anxiety, and panic attacks); personality disorders (specifically attachment , narcissistic, and codependent); and addiction (drug, alcohol, porn, and cyber); and professional interpersonal conflict and personal relationship difficulties. As a former entrepreneur, I also enjoy providing Career, Life/Balance, and Leadership Coaching. My therapeutic approach is ultimately Solution-focused, using Humanistic, CBT (Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) specifically), Narrative, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Effective Communication skills and Emotionally-Focused Therapy to help you navigate your own life's challenges and overcome obstacles that are preventing you from living your most joyous and fulfilling life. I will encourage you to set your own goals and to discover and grow at your own pace to ensure that our sessions are enjoyable and rewarding. If I can be happy about one thing about getting older, it would have to be the varied and extensive experience (professional and personal) I have gained throughout life that extends well beyond my education alone. Those experiences allow me to approach your challenges with a combination of understanding, compassion, and wisdom together with formal education and training to provide superb therapeutic results. You can do this - I can help.

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Eric Aldaco

Offering therapy in CA
Self esteemCoping with life changes
15 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 14 years of professional work experience. I believe that you are the expert of your life journey and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process. I am a Christian therapist and my approach to therapy is from a biblical perspective. I look forward in meeting you and collaboratively engaging in a strength base therapeutic model in treatment.

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This is Seymour Schwartz's avatar and link to their profile

Seymour Schwartz

Offering therapy in CA
Family conflictsGrief
30 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 30 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with family conflicts & 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. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

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This is Karyn McElroy's avatar and link to their profile

Karyn McElroy

Offering therapy in CA
AddictionsRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseSelf esteemDepression
15 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 15 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with coping with addictions, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. 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 seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

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Dusti Romans

Offering therapy in CA
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesSelf esteemDepressionCompassion fatigue
11 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 11 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & depression. 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 seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

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This is Olga Swenson's avatar and link to their profile

Olga Swenson

Offering therapy in CA
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseSelf esteem
11 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 11 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, & trauma and abuse. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

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This is Renee Monrad's avatar and link to their profile

Renee Monrad

Offering therapy in CA
Stress, AnxietyAddictionsRelationship issuesGriefDepression
16 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 16 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, relationship issues, & 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 seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

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How to find counseling in Petaluma

Finding the best therapist close by in Petaluma 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 Petaluma. 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 Petaluma, 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 Petaluma 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 Petaluma 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 Petaluma, elsewhere in Sonoma, 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 Petaluma area can be found below:

How does the cost of in-person counseling compare to the cost of BetterHelp with a licensed Petaluma 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 Petaluma 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 Petaluma 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 Petaluma, 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 Petaluma 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 Petaluma 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 Petaluma 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 Petaluma 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 Petaluma 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 94954 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 Petaluma 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 Petaluma 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 Petaluma, 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.

Petaluma 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 Petaluma.

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

94952, 94953, 94954

Popular cities near Petaluma, CA

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