California Therapy Finder

Therapists licensed in California, available online across the state

Career Therapists Licensed in California

This page is for Californians looking for therapists who specialise in career-related issues. Use it to compare therapists by areas of career expertise, therapy approaches, session formats, and whether they work with individuals, couples, or groups. A California licence covers the whole state, so your city is not a barrier to working with any clinician listed here. Read each profile for details on experience with career transitions, work stress, burnout, leadership coaching, or vocational identity to find a good fit for your needs.

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  1. 1. Jared Maloney, LMFT

    8 years in practice · English · Male

    LMFT for anxiety, relationships, and trauma recovery

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Relationship · Self esteem · Depression

    Approaches Attachment-Based Therapy · Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

    Continue with Jared Online sessions

  2. 2. Dr. Andrea Shirley, LMFT

    27 years in practice · English · Female

    Experienced California LMFT supporting relationships and life changes

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · LGBT · Relationship · Family · Self esteem

    Approaches Client-Centered Therapy · Narrative Therapy · Solution-Focused Therapy

    Continue with Dr. Online sessions

  3. 3. Sharon Bass, LMFT

    7 years in practice · English · Female

    Collaborative LMFT specializing in life transitions

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Grief · Career · Coping with life changes · Compassion fatigue

    Continue with Sharon Online sessions

  4. 4. Mary Ann Godefroy, LPCC, LPC

    14 years in practice · English · Female

    Support for change, coping, and growth

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Relationship · Depression · Coping with life changes

    Approaches Attachment-Based Therapy · Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

    Continue with Mary Online sessions

  5. 5. Stacey Sugar, MD, LCPC, LPCC

    14 years in practice · English · Female

    MD, LCPC, LPCC therapist helping rewrite life stories

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Family · Intimacy-related issues · Coping with life changes

    Approaches Attachment-Based Therapy · Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

    Continue with Stacey Online sessions

  6. 6. Matthew Esselstrom, LMFT

    22 years in practice · English · Non-binary

    California LMFT with 22 years experience

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Anger · Self esteem · Coping with life changes

    Continue with Matthew Online sessions

  7. 7. Alexander "Alex" Dannin, LMFT

    10 years in practice · English · Male

    LMFT guiding relationships and life transitions

    Works with Relationship · Self esteem · Career · Coaching · Stress, Anxiety

    Approaches Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Solution-Focused Therapy

    Continue with Alexander Online sessions

  8. 8. Sheila Owens, LCSW

    8 years in practice · English · Female

    Supportive therapy for change and resilience

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Self esteem · Bipolar · Depression

    Approaches Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

    Continue with Sheila Online sessions

  9. 9. Deana Porter, LMFT

    29 years in practice · English · Female

    California LMFT for relationships and families

    Works with Relationship · Family · Trauma and abuse · Intimacy-related issues · Self esteem

    Approaches Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) · Gottman Method

    Continue with Deana Online sessions

  10. 10. Cheryl Rouse, LMFT

    20 years in practice · English · Female

    California LMFT helping with stress and grief

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Grief · Self esteem · Career · Depression

    Continue with Cheryl Online sessions

  11. 11. Nicole Valadao, LCSW

    10 years in practice · English · Female

    California LCSW focused on stress and LGBTQ+ care

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · LGBT · Career · Depression · Compassion fatigue

    Approaches Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Mindfulness Therapy · Motivational Interviewing

    Continue with Nicole Online sessions

  12. 12. Lynn Vinson, LCSW

    10 years in practice · English · Female

    Experienced LCSW for adult mental health

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Grief · Self esteem · Depression

    Approaches Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

    Continue with Lynn Online sessions

  13. 13. Dr. David Sommers, LCSW

    40 years in practice · English · Male

    California LCSW with 40 years experience

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Depression · Addictions · Relationship · Family

    Approaches Client-Centered Therapy

    Continue with Dr. Online sessions

  14. 14. Dr. Katherine (Kate) Bergam, LMFT

    22 years in practice · English · Female

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Sleeping · Self esteem · Career · ADHD

    Continue with Dr. Online sessions

  15. 15. Melissa Fletcher, LCSW, CSW

    12 years in practice · English · Female

    Direct, supportive therapy focused on real-life change

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · LGBT · Parenting · Depression · Coping with life changes

    Approaches Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

    Continue with Melissa Online sessions

About career therapy in California

Everyone listed on this page holds a licence to practise in California and works online. That matters more than it sounds: a licence is issued by the state, not by a city, so a therapist is available to anyone in California regardless of how far away they are. Someone outside a major metro can work with a therapist whose books would otherwise be out of reach.

811 therapists match this page, all of whom name career among the areas they work with. Fifteen are shown above. The list changes between pages, so it is worth looking at more than one if none of these feels like a fit.

What to compare

  • Credential. LMFT, LCSW and LPCC are different training routes to the same licensed practice. None outranks the others; they shape emphasis rather than quality.
  • Years in practice. Shown for every therapist here. More experience is not automatically better, but it is a fair proxy for how much of a given problem someone has seen.
  • What else they work with. A therapist whose other focus areas overlap with your situation is usually a better starting point than one whose listed areas stop at the single thing you searched for.
  • Approach. CBT, psychodynamic, solution-focused and the rest describe how sessions tend to run. If you have tried therapy before and it did not suit you, changing approach is often more useful than changing therapist.
  • Language. Shown where a therapist offers sessions in more than English.

How online sessions work

Sessions run by video or by messaging, arranged through our partner platform rather than booked directly with the therapist. There is no travel and no waiting room, which for most people is the difference between starting and not starting. Pricing is set by the platform and shown before you commit.

Common questions

How can a therapist help with career decisions or transitions?

Therapists who work with career issues combine psychological support with practical techniques. They can help you clarify values, explore strengths, manage anxiety around change, and develop decision-making strategies. Some also integrate career coaching tools like goal-setting, skills assessment, and interview preparation. Ask each therapist about their approach to career work and whether they include practical exercises alongside therapy.

Do these therapists provide coaching for resume, interview skills, or job-search tactics?

Some therapists include pragmatic career-coaching tasks as part of therapy, while others focus mainly on emotional and psychological aspects like burnout or identity. Check each profile to see if the clinician offers targeted career-skill work such as resume review, networking strategy, or interview practice. If a specific service matters to you, confirm it before booking sessions.

Can I see a therapist in this list if I live in a small town or a different region of California?

Yes. A California professional licence permits these clinicians to work with clients anywhere in the state. That means therapists on this list can take clients regardless of whether you live in a large city, a suburb, or a rural area. Check each profile for details on online session formats and any limits the therapist may set.

Career therapists by city

Other focus areas