California Therapy Finder

Therapists licensed in California, available online across the state

Internal Family Systems Therapists Licensed in California

This page lists therapists in California who include Internal Family Systems (IFS) among their approaches. Use it if you want to compare clinicians who work with parts, self-led processing, and relational inner work. Look at each therapist’s stated specialties, training, and therapy styles. A California license covers the whole state, so city location inside California does not limit who can work with you online. Compare credentials, areas of focus, and whether they mention trauma, attachment, or somatic work alongside IFS to find a better match for your needs.

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  1. 1. Claudia Santiago, LCSW

    12 years in practice · English, Spanish · Female

    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

    Continue with Claudia Online sessions

  2. 2. Claudia Smith, LCSW

    40 years in practice · English · Female

    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

    Continue with Claudia Online sessions

  3. 3. Megan Allen, LMFT

    28 years in practice · English · Female

    California LMFT for stress and coaching

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Anger · Self esteem · Coaching

    Continue with Megan Online sessions

  4. 4. 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

  5. 5. Alejandro Holguin, LCSW

    13 years in practice · English · Male

    Compassionate, evidence-based support for lasting emotional balance

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

    Approaches Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) · Attachment-Based Therapy · Client-Centered Therapy

    Continue with Alejandro Online sessions

  6. 6. Kendall Jones, LCSW

    25 years in practice · English · Male

    Compassionate therapist guiding personal growth

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · LGBT · Trauma and abuse · Grief · Depression

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

    Continue with Kendall Online sessions

  7. 7. Yasmin Philipos, LMFT

    14 years in practice · English · Female

    LMFT focused on stress and anxiety support

    Works with Stress, Anxiety

    Continue with Yasmin Online sessions

  8. 8. Abbe Goodman, LMFT

    40 years in practice · English · Female

    Experienced California LMFT for stress and relationships

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

    Continue with Abbe Online sessions

  9. 9. 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

  10. 10. Cheryl Hopkins, LMFT

    40 years in practice · English · Female

    Experienced California LMFT for relationships and stress

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

    Approaches Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) · Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

    Continue with Cheryl Online sessions

  11. 11. Michelle Varady, LCSW

    10 years in practice · English · Female

    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

  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. Shemeram 'Shari' Lachin, LCSW

    7 years in practice · English · Female

    Affirming LCSW focused on lasting change

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

    Continue with Shemeram Online sessions

  15. 15. Dr. Monica Kelson, CA Psychologist

    33 years in practice · English · Female

    Experienced California psychologist for stress and trauma

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

    Approaches Attachment-Based Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

    Continue with Dr. Online sessions

About internal family systems 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 internal family systems 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

What is Internal Family Systems and how do therapists use it in online therapy?

Internal Family Systems is a model that works with parts of the mind and the central Self. Therapists may guide you to identify, listen to, and change relationships among parts. In online therapy, clinicians use conversation, guided imagery, and reflective exercises to support parts work. Ask therapists how they adapt IFS techniques for video or phone sessions.

How should I compare therapists who list IFS among their approaches?

Look for how much emphasis they place on IFS in their profile and whether they combine it with other approaches you prefer. Check stated specialties like trauma, anxiety, or depression. Read about their training in IFS and whether they describe working with parts, leadership of the Self, or systemic interventions. Consider fit, experience, and whether their description matches your concerns.

Does a California license mean a therapist can work with me if I live elsewhere in the US?

A California license allows a therapist to provide services to clients in California. Licensing rules vary by state, and most clinicians can only practice where they are licensed. If you live outside California, ask the therapist whether they are licensed in your state or can legally work with you there before scheduling sessions.

Internal Family Systems therapists by city

Other focus areas