California Therapy Finder

Therapists licensed in California, available online across the state

CBT Therapists Licensed in California

This page is for California residents looking for online therapists who use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Use it to compare therapists’ specialties, years of experience, and the types of issues they treat. Look at therapy approaches listed alongside CBT, their licensing status in California, and whether they offer individual, couples, or family work. A California license covers the whole state, so where a therapist is available inside California is not a barrier to working with them online. Check each profile for details that matter to you, such as focus areas and communication formats.

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  1. 1. 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

  2. 2. Cynthia "Cindi" Christiansen, LMFT

    21 years in practice · English · Female

    LMFT supporting stress and relationship recovery

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

    Continue with Cynthia Online sessions

  3. 3. Carol Wood, LMFT

    29 years in practice · English · Female

    LMFT providing relationship and trauma support

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Family · Intimacy-related issues · Self esteem

    Approaches Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Mindfulness Therapy

    Continue with Carol Online sessions

  4. 4. 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

  5. 5. Matthew Poje, LPCC, LPC

    20 years in practice · English · Male

    Trauma-focused support grounded in neuroscience

    Works with Trauma and abuse · Addictions · Grief · Coping with life changes · Compassion fatigue

    Approaches Motivational Interviewing · Trauma-Focused Therapy

    Continue with Matthew Online sessions

  6. 6. 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

  7. 7. Christiane Soehnlein, LMFT

    20 years in practice · English, German · Female

    Experienced California LMFT supporting relationships and mood

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Trauma and abuse · Intimacy-related issues · Depression

    Continue with Christiane Online sessions

  8. 8. Dr. Katherine Phillips, LMFT

    12 years in practice · English · Female

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

    Continue with Dr. Online sessions

  9. 9. Eileen Maxwel, LMFT

    20 years in practice · English · Female

    Licensed California Marriage and Family Therapist

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

    Continue with Eileen Online sessions

  10. 10. Stella Galarza De Saggese, LPCC

    40 years in practice · English, Spanish · Female

    Seasoned California LPCC focused on healing

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Trauma and abuse · Self esteem · Depression

    Continue with Stella Online sessions

  11. 11. Blanca Nicassio, LMFT

    8 years in practice · English · Female

    California LMFT for stress anxiety and relationships

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

    Continue with Blanca Online sessions

  12. 12. 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

  13. 13. Linda Alcala, LMFT

    10 years in practice · English, Spanish · Female

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Trauma and abuse · Parenting · Depression

    Continue with Linda Online sessions

  14. 14. John Hammond, LMFT

    40 years in practice · English · Male

    California LMFT with 40 years experience

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Grief · Self esteem · Depression · Coping with life changes

    Continue with John Online sessions

  15. 15. Chauncey Chatman, LMFT

    15 years in practice · English · Male

    Experienced California LMFT for adult clients

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Trauma and abuse · Anger · Depression

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

    Continue with Chauncey Online sessions

About cbt 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.

2,724 therapists match this page, all of whom name cbt 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 does CBT compare with other common therapy approaches listed on this page?

CBT is structured and skills-focused, often emphasizing thought patterns and behavior change. When comparing therapists, note whether CBT is used alone or combined with other approaches like ACT, DBT, or psychodynamic work. Consider therapists who describe how they integrate methods, and whether they tailor CBT techniques to issues such as anxiety, depression, or trauma.

Can I work with an online therapist in California if I live in a small town?

Yes. A California license covers the whole state, so therapists licensed in California can see clients anywhere in the state. Use the directory to filter for therapists who accept online clients in your area and check each profile for any stated restrictions or preferences about client location within California.

What should I ask a therapist who lists CBT during a first contact or intake?

Ask how they apply CBT to your specific concern, what a typical session looks like, and whether they assign between-session work like homework or worksheets. You can also ask how they measure progress and whether they adapt CBT techniques for co-occurring issues such as trauma, substance use, or relationship problems.

CBT therapists by city

Other focus areas