When it comes to finding a therapist, San Francisco, CA has more options than many other more rural areas, but independent practice practitioners in your PPO plan may not be what you need. And using out of network benefits on a licensed psychologist not in your network can get expensive in the city. That’s where online therapy with an online platform like BetterHelp can help. BetterHelp offers over 30,000 licensed professionals that provide online psychotherapy comparable to what you can get with in-person sessions.
Online psychotherapy with BetterHelp can target any number of mental health challenges like unresolved trauma, social anxiety, stress management, and improving emotional intelligence. In addition, therapists are trained in a variety of specialties such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and emotionally focused therapy. To get started, you’ll fill out an online questionnaire that will match you with a licensed therapist that meets your wants and needs. If you don’t feel that you have a good rapport with your therapist, you can switch until you find your perfect match at no additional cost.
With online therapy it can be easier to take that first step of seeking the help you need, whether you want to find treatment for a mental health condition like depression or anxiety, or have been meaning to work on self-actualization. If you are looking for any type of talk therapy in the San Francisco area, the licensed professional therapists at BetterHelp can get you started on your journey to better mental health and well-being.
Maria Biasiotto
My therapy style is warm, interactive, action orientated and focused. I have experience working with adults, both in Individual and Group Therapy for many years. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. Spiritual/Religious, as well as cultural sensitivity is included in my approach. My approach combines humanistic, cognitive-behavioral/CBT, and brief solution focused therapy. I am here to meet your unique and specific needs. Clients that I have interacted with have included those with issues involving Self Esteem, Complex Trauma, MST, PTSD, CPTSD, Bipolar, Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Substance Abuse, Sexual Trauma, and Domestic Violence and Behavioral issues. These clients over all have reported reduction in unwanted symptoms and improvement in quality of life. A quote I share here was from a client I had been seeing for about a year: "I did not think this could help and one day I realized that it really was helping and I never believed it could." "The Longest journey BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP." My Masters is in psychology and I hold a License as a Family Therapist, LMFT. I have a RN and I was Certified in Behavioral Health by the ANCC, as a RN-BC. Please feel free to ask any questions about my experience, that may be of a help for you.
Dr. Frederick Smoot
I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (CA #12959) with over 15 years of experience counseling/ accompanying persons through difficult parts of their life-journeys. I have worked with a wide range of concerns including Isolation. loneliness, fearfulness, anxiety, intimacy/relationship issues, parenting and career challenges, addiction, physical and emotional abuse and life transitions. My counseling style is warm, curious and appropriately truth-telling.. I treat others with respect and consistent presence. I work to sustain and shame-free context that empowers persons to (re)claim their lies and future with dignity. I am an accompanist, using therapeutic tools gathered from several clinical approaches. I am relational, client centered, mindful, and strategic. I believe that direction and goals for therapy are shaped together with the client. We will tailor a treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Your willingness to reach out for support shows your courage and desire for a better future. I encourage you to take this step, accompanied and supported I look forward to working with you.
Shemeram 'Shari' Lachin
Hi, I'm Shari and as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I believe that prioritizing your mental health is one of the greatest investments you can make in yourself. With over 7 years of experience, I provide an affirming, empowering, and solution-oriented approach tailored to your unique needs. My goal is to create a warm, nonjudgmental space where you feel supported as we work together to build on your strengths, overcome challenges, and create solutions for meaningful, lasting change.
Roosevelt Jordan
Hello, my name is Roosevelt J. Jordan, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I have been a professional helper for more than 30 years and have worked with diverse populations and age groups. As a professional helper, I am convinced that the key to life is relating to self and others. Therefore, my first objective when establishing a professional caring relationship is to build trust. I accomplish this through empathetic and active listening. Also, I believe all individuals are spiritual beings and the whole person must be considered in order to support and help others heal and live better. The strength of my professional caring is my life experiences and intuition; not discounting my professional development. Specialties: Children disorders & behavior issues Bipolar disorder Depression Anxiety disorders Family relationships Children and family issues Obsessive Compulsive disorder Substance abuse & addiction recovery Therapeutic approach: Cognitive Behavior Therapy Rogerian/Person Centered Mindfulness Motivational interviewing Psychotherapy Psychodrama Play therapy
Kendall Jones
My work as a psychotherapist emerges from the many diverse experiences I have had in life, from my encounters with people of different cultures and languages, from my travels throughout various parts of the world, and from my own soulful journeys in search of self. Like Santiago, in Coelho’s classic novel, The Alchemist, I have been in search of the very things for which clients often come to me and dream of becoming. Each of us, in some way or other, is in search of love, to love or to be loved and on a mysterious quest—deeply longing for something far greater than ourselves within ourselves. I know the journey can seem, at times, long and hard. There are times along the way when you may feel sad, hopeless, frustrated, overwhelmed, numb, anxious, fearful if not terrified, disappointed in yourself or betrayed by another. You may have experienced or witnessed something that has traumatized you—leaving you bereft of any sense of meaning. Perhaps you are angry or resentful about something that has or hasn’t happened. Maybe you’re feeling alone, abandoned, left behind or believe that you never really mattered or are rejected for who you truly are. Or you’re just maybe a little lost right now and don’t know who you are anymore, much less where you’re going. Wherever you find yourself in this journey of life, on this personal quest of yours, chances are I’ve been there too. What I bring to my clients in psychotherapy are the very things I myself have learned—some from books (and academic research) but mostly from my own richly vast experiences. From these, I have formed a personal, genuine, client-centered, strength-affirming, hope-sustaining, meaning-finding and an unconditionally accepting therapeutic approach. If you are on such a journey and seek not so much an all-knowing guide but rather the company of a compassionate, caring, insightful and understanding person to walk beside you, then I will be both humbled and honored to work with you in psychotherapy. Let’s begin this awesome and amazing journey together...
Noelle Sladon
I am licensed in California with 35 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma, abuse, motivation, self esteem, & confidence. I also have experience working with depression. 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.
Leleya Khachikyan Malyan
I am licensed in California with 8 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma, abuse, coping with grief, & coping with loss. I also have experience working with coping with life changes. 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. 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.
Eileen Maxwel
I am licensed in California with 20 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, & parenting issues. I also have experience working with depression. 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 am proud of you for getting started!
Eric Aldaco
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.
Dr. Stacy Johnston
I am licensed in California with 32 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. 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. NOTE-I do provide asynchronous text messaging only and prefer it for the following reasons: very flexible with no scheduling necessary, can refer back to our conversation at any time day or night and get a response anywhere from within a few hours to no later than 12 hours typically, with multiple exchanges in one day/evening when not busy, allows both parties to be on their own time schedule at their convenience, and for some it is easier to express thoughts and feelings in writing versus verbally or when on camera. I have worked this way for over a year and have had success with many clients who work well with this format. It is not for everyone, but for some, it does work really well and provides more contact than a weekly live session does. I hope to work with you soon!
Robbin Beohourou
I am licensed in California with 10 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, 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. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.
Terence Shigg
I am licensed in California with 16 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, anger management, motivation, self esteem, confidence, & executive coaching. I also have experience working with professional coaching. 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.
Desseray Vega
Nice to meet you! My name is Desseray Vega, and I have over 10 years of experience working with children, adolescents, teens, and adults from diverse backgrounds. I am passionate about creating a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where clients feel heard, valued, and empowered throughout their therapeutic journey. I primarily utilize a person-centered approach, believing that each individual is the expert on their own life. I tailor therapy to meet your unique needs, drawing from evidence-based techniques to help you build on your strengths, navigate life's challenges, and work toward meaningful, lasting change. Whether you're experiencing anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship concerns, stress, trauma, or simply seeking personal growth, I am here to walk alongside you with compassion, empathy, and respect. My goal is to help you gain insight, develop practical coping skills, and feel more confident in creating the life you want. I look forward to the opportunity to support you on your journey toward healing and wellness.
Dennis Newlin
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with more than 35 years of clinical experience helping adults navigate life's challenges. I have extensive experience treating anxiety, trauma, chronic stress, relationship difficulties, life transitions, grief, and chronic pain. I was originally trained in EMDR by Dr. Francine Shapiro, the developer of EMDR therapy, and continue to integrate trauma-informed, evidence-based approaches into my work. In addition to traditional psychotherapy, I have a background in integrative and functional medicine, allowing me to take a holistic view of emotional well-being by recognizing the important connection between the mind, body, lifestyle, stress, and overall health. My therapy style is warm, collaborative, and compassionate. I believe every person deserves to be treated with respect, empathy, and without judgment. Because no two people are alike, I tailor therapy to your unique needs and goals. Depending on what is most helpful for you, I may incorporate EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and other evidence-based techniques to promote meaningful and lasting change. I believe that healing occurs within a trusting therapeutic relationship. Whether you're working through the effects of trauma, struggling with anxiety or stress, navigating a major life transition, or simply seeking greater balance and fulfillment, I will work alongside you to help you gain insight, build resilience, and develop practical skills for lasting growth. English is my primary language, and I provide all therapy sessions in English. Seeking support is a courageous first step. I would be honored to help you move toward a healthier, more meaningful, and fulfilling life.
*BetterHelp insurance availability, coverage, and cost may vary by state, plan, provider network, therapist availability, and deductible status.
Find a therapist near you in San Francisco, California
Finding a therapist near you in San Francisco, California starts with matching to a licensed professional who fits your needs, schedule, and goals. California is home to people with diverse mental health needs across urban, suburban, and rural communities, which can make it challenging to find care. BetterHelp connects you with a licensed therapist through tailored matching, so you can begin care from home or wherever works for you.
The network includes over 30,000 licensed therapists globally, and over 4 million people have used BetterHelp to find support through online therapy. During matching, 93% of user preferences are met, which helps you connect with a therapist suited to what you are looking for. Whether you are searching for help with anxiety, trauma, affordable or insurance covered therapy, weekend or flexible scheduling, or virtual sessions, you can find a therapist and get started when you are ready.
Why work with a licensed therapist near you?
Working with a licensed therapist near you gives you access to professional mental health support from someone trained to help you understand and manage what you are going through. A licensed therapist can offer evidence-based approaches, a steady space to talk, and guidance tailored to your situation. In California, online therapy can make that care more accessible, since sessions happen from home or wherever you are, without the need to travel to an office. This can help if your schedule is full, if travel is difficult, or if you simply prefer a more discreet setting. You can learn more about what a therapist does on the therapist role page.
Online therapy can be especially helpful for people living across California, where access to in-person mental health care may vary by location.
What concerns can therapists help with?
Therapists can help with a wide range of concerns, including anxiety and stress, depression, trauma and PTSD, self-esteem and identity, people-pleasing and fear of rejection, insomnia and racing thoughts, workplace stress and burnout, substance use, parenting and co-parenting stress, grief and loss, and relationship and family challenges. Therapists on BetterHelp may draw on approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), depending on your needs and goals. You can explore support for specific concerns on pages such as generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and eating disorders.
Please note that therapists on BetterHelp do not provide psychiatric medication management or formal diagnoses.
Online therapy vs. in-person therapy in California
Online therapy and in-person therapy both connect you with a licensed professional, and the main difference is how you meet. In California, online therapy through BetterHelp lets you have sessions by phone, video, or in-app messaging, so you can meet from home or on a schedule that fits your life. In-person therapy takes place at an office and may involve travel and set appointment windows. Online therapy may be more accessible for people with busy schedules, limited transportation, or a preference for a more discreet setting. Both formats can support meaningful progress, so the right choice often comes down to what fits your life.
Finding a therapist that accepts insurance in California
BetterHelp accepts insurance through many major insurance plans. Insurance availability and coverage may vary by state, plan, provider network, and therapist availability, and deductible status. Eligible members' average copay is $23 per session.
You can check your in-network status on the BetterHelp site through the sign up flow. If you prefer to pay without insurance, BetterHelp subscriptions range from $70 to $100 per week, billed as an alternative way to access the same care, and you can use HSA and FSA funds toward the cost. For a full breakdown of how BetterHelp works with insurance plans, see BetterHelp insurance coverage.
How BetterHelp helps you find the right therapist in California
BetterHelp helps you find the right therapist in California through personalized matching that considers your needs, preferences, and goals. After you answer a few questions during the sign up flow, you can be matched with a licensed therapist from a network of over 30,000 professionals, and 93% of user preferences are met during matching. The search and location matching cover common near-me needs, including anxiety, trauma, affordable or sliding-scale support, weekend or flexible scheduling, and virtual sessions. If your first match is not the right fit, you can switch therapists at no extra cost. When you are ready, you can get started and begin the process.
Therapists near you in California
Below, you’ll find licensed therapists authorized to provide online therapy to adults across California, including residents in San Francisco.
Each provider meets state licensing requirements and has experience supporting clients with a wide range of mental health concerns using evidence-based therapeutic approaches.
Please note: Therapists on BetterHelp in California do not provide psychiatric medication management or formal diagnoses.
Frequently asked questions about finding a therapist near me
How much does therapy cost near me?
Therapy costs near you can vary by provider, format, and payment method. With BetterHelp, subscriptions range from $70 to $100 per week, and you can use HSA and FSA funds toward the cost. BetterHelp also accepts insurance through many major insurance plans, and eligible members' average copay is $23 per session. Insurance availability and coverage may vary by state, plan, provider network, and therapist availability, and deductible status.
Does BetterHelp accept insurance?
Yes. BetterHelp accepts insurance through many major insurance plans. Insurance availability and coverage may vary by state, plan, provider network, and therapist availability. Eligible members' average copay is $23 per session. Check your in-network status on the BetterHelp site through the sign up flow. For a full breakdown of how BetterHelp works with insurance plans, see BetterHelp insurance coverage.
Is online therapy effective?
Online therapy can be an effective way to receive licensed mental health care for many common concerns. Research suggests that online therapy may support progress in ways comparable to in-person care for concerns such as anxiety and depression. On BetterHelp, you connect with a licensed therapist who can use evidence-based approaches such as CBT and DBT, and you can meet by phone, video, or in-app messaging.
Do I need a diagnosis to see a therapist?
No, you do not need a diagnosis to see a therapist. Many people begin therapy to work through stress, life changes, relationships, or personal growth without any diagnosis. Please note that therapists on BetterHelp do not provide psychiatric medication management or formal diagnoses. If you are looking for a starting point, personalized matching can connect you with a licensed therapist suited to your goals.
How quickly can I start therapy?
You can often start therapy within 24 to 48 hours of signing up with BetterHelp. After you answer a few questions during the sign up flow, personalized matching connects you with a licensed therapist, and you can schedule your first session once you are matched. This process is designed to help you begin care at your own pace, without a long wait.
Can I switch therapists if it’s not the right fit?
Yes. If you feel your therapist is not the right match, you can request to be matched with another licensed provider at no additional cost. You are able to do so through the BetterHelp user portal and select switch therapists if needed.
Is online therapy discreet?
Online therapy with BetterHelp offers a discreet setting where you can connect with a licensed therapist from the comfort of your home. Sessions take place by phone, video, or in-app messaging, so you can meet without going into an office. Your account and sessions are protected with strong safeguards, and you choose how and where you attend. This can make therapy feel more comfortable for people who prefer a discreet way to get support.
Find a Therapist in San Francisco, California
Ready to begin? BetterHelp can match you with a licensed therapist serving San Francisco and the surrounding CA area. When you are ready to take the next step, get started.