California Therapy Finder

Therapists licensed in California, available online across the state

Life Changes Therapists Licensed in California

This page is for Californians looking for therapists who help with major life changes — such as career shifts, relationship transitions, moves, retirement, or becoming a parent. Use this directory to compare therapists by their approaches, specialisms, session formats, and whether they list experience with life transition work. A California licence covers the whole state, so being in a particular city is not a barrier to working with any therapist listed here. Read profiles to find therapists whose style and focus match the change you are facing, then contact them to ask about fit and practical details.

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  1. 1. Christopher Lum, LCSW

    15 years in practice · English · Male

    Works with Addictions · Grief · Depression · Coping with life changes · Compassion fatigue

    Continue with Christopher Online sessions

  2. 2. 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

  3. 3. Cheryl Garnica, LMFT

    11 years in practice · English · Female

    Support for change, resilience, and emotional balance

    Works with Relationship · Family · Anger · Depression · Coping with life changes

    Continue with Cheryl Online sessions

  4. 4. 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

  5. 5. 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

  6. 6. 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

  7. 7. Christine Piddington, LCSW

    11 years in practice · English · Female

    Support for grief, stress, and life transitions

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

    Approaches Existential Therapy · Solution-Focused Therapy

    Continue with Christine Online sessions

  8. 8. Dr. Frederick Smoot, LMFT

    5 years in practice · English · Male

    Compassionate LMFT for relationships and transitions

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Family · Depression · Compassion fatigue

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

    Continue with Dr. Online sessions

  9. 9. 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

  10. 10. 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

  11. 11. 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

  12. 12. Sheryl Cook, CA Psychologist

    36 years in practice · English · Female

    California psychologist for stress and life changes

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

    Continue with Sheryl Online sessions

  13. 13. Nathalie Contro, LMFT

    3 years in practice · English, Spanish · Female

    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)

    Continue with Nathalie Online sessions

  14. 14. 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

  15. 15. Eugene Yamamoto, LCSW

    30 years in practice · English · Male

    California LCSW for stress and life changes

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

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

    Continue with Eugene Online sessions

About life changes 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.

1,737 therapists match this page, all of whom name life changes 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 do I choose a therapist for a specific life change like career transition or becoming a parent?

Look for therapists who mention experience with your specific type of change and whose therapeutic approach matches your preferences (for example, solution-focused, cognitive, or narrative work). Check whether they note work with similar situations and read any descriptions of their typical goals in such cases. Contact several to ask how they would approach your particular transition.

Can I work with a therapist licensed anywhere in California if I live in a small town or move during treatment?

Yes. A California licence allows a therapist to work with clients anywhere in the state, so your current city does not restrict who you can choose. If you move during treatment, confirm with the therapist that they can legally continue to provide services in your new location within California and discuss any practical changes to scheduling or session format.

What should I ask a therapist about when I want help managing the emotional impact of a big life transition?

Ask how they typically support clients through transitions, what techniques they use for stress and identity shifts, and how they measure progress. You can also ask about session structure, expected length of work, and whether they offer short-term focused plans or longer-term therapy to address ongoing adjustment and meaning-making.

Life Changes therapists by city

Other focus areas