Addiction Therapists Available in Escondido
This page lists therapists who work with addiction and are available to clients in Escondido. It is for people seeking online counseling for substance use, gambling, or other addictive behaviours and for those who want to compare approaches before booking an initial visit. Look at each therapist’s treatment focus, modalities, experience with specific addictions, and whether they offer individual, group, or family work. Remember that a California licence covers the whole state, so being anywhere inside California is not a barrier to working with any therapist here.
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1. Claudia Santiago, LCSW
California LCSW supporting complex emotional challenges
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Trauma and abuse · Grief · Self esteem · Depression
Approaches Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Gottman Method
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2. Lynda Green Alter, LMFT
California LMFT specializing in relationships and trauma
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Trauma and abuse · Parenting · Depression
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3. Tiffany Whittington, LMFT
Experienced California LMFT for anxiety and trauma
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Trauma and abuse · Self esteem · Coping with life changes
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4. Dr. David Sommers, LCSW
California LCSW with 40 years experience
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Depression · Addictions · Relationship · Family
Approaches Client-Centered Therapy
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5. Matthew Esselstrom, LMFT
California LMFT with 22 years experience
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Anger · Self esteem · Coping with life changes
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6. Christopher Lum, LCSW
Works with Addictions · Grief · Depression · Coping with life changes · Compassion fatigue
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7. Claudia Smith, LCSW
California LCSW with 40 years experience
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Self esteem · Depression · ADHD
Approaches Client-Centered Therapy · Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) · Mindfulness Therapy
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8. Mary Ann Godefroy, LPCC, LPC
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)
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9. Nathalie Contro, LMFT
Collaborative LMFT for relationships and trauma
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Relationship · Family · Depression
Approaches Attachment-Based Therapy · Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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10. Gian Sarabia, LMFT
California LMFT offering thoughtful, individualized therapy
Works with Trauma and abuse · Intimacy-related issues · Bipolar · Depression · Stress, Anxiety
Approaches Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) · Attachment-Based Therapy · Client-Centered Therapy
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11. Chauncey Chatman, LMFT
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)
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12. Keith Chilton, LMFT
Experienced California Marriage and Family Therapist
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Relationship · Trauma and abuse · Depression
Approaches Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) · Attachment-Based Therapy · Client-Centered Therapy
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13. Stacey Sugar, MD, LCPC, LPCC
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)
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14. Dr. Katherine Phillips, LMFT
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Relationship · Depression · Coping with life changes
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15. Michelle Varady, LCSW
LCSW focused on trauma and recovery
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Trauma and abuse · Self esteem · Depression
Approaches Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) · Mindfulness Therapy
Continue with Michelle Online sessions
About addiction therapy for people in Escondido
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 in Escondido can work with a therapist whose books would otherwise be out of reach.
767 therapists match this page, all of whom name addiction 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.
Therapy in Escondido
Escondido has a population of about 151,038. Local in-person availability varies and waiting lists are common, which is part of why state-wide online practice has grown. Nothing on this page depends on a therapist being near you.
Common questions
How do I choose a therapist who specialises in addiction?
Look for therapists who list specific addictions they treat, the therapeutic approaches they use (for example CBT, motivational interviewing, or contingency management), and experience with co-occurring mental health issues. Consider whether you prefer individual, group, or family therapy, and check if they mention harm reduction, relapse prevention, or abstinence-oriented work. Use an initial consultation to see if their style fits your needs.
Can online therapy help with withdrawal or medical aspects of addiction?
Online therapists can provide counselling, relapse prevention planning, coping skills, and support for cravings or triggers. They do not manage medication or medical detox. If you need medical management for withdrawal or medication-assisted treatment, ask your therapist for referrals to prescribers or local medical services and coordinate care between mental health and medical providers.
What should I ask a therapist about privacy and record keeping when discussing addiction history?
Ask how they store session notes and what limits to confidentiality apply, including mandatory reporting and situations involving safety. Clarify how they handle requests for records and whether they will communicate with other providers or family members. If you have concerns about sensitive details, discuss how much you feel comfortable sharing and how they document that information.
Other reasons people in Escondido look for a therapist
- Anxiety therapists in Escondido
- Depression therapists in Escondido
- Self-Esteem therapists in Escondido
- Relationship therapists in Escondido
- Life Changes therapists in Escondido
- Trauma therapists in Escondido
- Grief therapists in Escondido
- Family therapists in Escondido
- Parenting therapists in Escondido
- Anger therapists in Escondido
- Career therapists in Escondido
- LMFT therapists in Escondido
- LCSW therapists in Escondido
- LPCC therapists in Escondido