California Therapy Finder

Therapists licensed in California, available online across the state

Motivational Interviewing Therapists Licensed in California

This page lists therapists licensed in California who include Motivational Interviewing among their approaches. It is for people looking for clinicians who use collaborative, goal-focused techniques to help you explore change. Compare therapists on training, areas of focus, communication style, and whether they work with issues like substance use, motivation, or behavior change. A California license covers the whole state, so your city inside California is not a barrier to working with any clinician on this list. Read profiles and choose someone whose experience and way of working match what you need.

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  1. 1. 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

  2. 2. William Money, LMFT

    8 years in practice · English · Male

    Strengths-based therapy for stress and relationships

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

    Continue with William Online sessions

  3. 3. Katherine Eldean, LMFT

    20 years in practice · English · Female

    Katherine Eldean, California LMFT focused on relationships and stress

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

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

    Continue with Katherine 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. 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

  6. 6. Michael Ames, LCSW

    35 years in practice · English · Male

    California LCSW with 35 years experience

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

    Continue with Michael Online sessions

  7. 7. 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

  8. 8. Robyn Peace, LCSW

    11 years in practice · English · Female

    LCSW specializing in trauma and parenting

    Works with Trauma and abuse · Parenting

    Continue with Robyn Online sessions

  9. 9. Dr. Malcolm Stanislaus, LMFT

    40 years in practice · English · Male

    Experienced California LMFT for trauma and coaching

    Works with Trauma and abuse · Depression · Coaching

    Continue with Dr. Online sessions

  10. 10. Patricia Riley, LCSW

    20 years in practice · English · Female

    California LCSW supporting relationships and life changes

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

    Approaches Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Motivational Interviewing

    Continue with Patricia Online sessions

  11. 11. 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

  12. 12. 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

  13. 13. 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

  14. 14. Mark Burns, LMFT

    37 years in practice · English · Male

    Affirming therapy for men, relationships, and life transitions

    Works with LGBT · Relationship · Intimacy-related issues · Self esteem · Coping with life changes

    Continue with Mark Online sessions

  15. 15. Shawn Strohfus, LCSW

    11 years in practice · English · Female

    Shawn Strohfus, LCSW for stress and mood

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

    Continue with Shawn Online sessions

About motivational interviewing 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 motivational interviewing 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 Motivational Interviewing and how might it show up in a therapist's work?

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative counselling style that helps people resolve ambivalence about change. In practice, therapists using MI ask open questions, reflect your statements, and support your own motivations. Expect a focus on exploring your reasons for change and building your confidence rather than being told what to do.

How should I compare therapists who list Motivational Interviewing on their profiles?

Compare profiles for MI-specific training, how they describe using MI with particular issues (like substance use, health habits, or motivation for life goals), their other therapeutic approaches, and the populations they work with. Also look at session format, communication preferences, and whether their stated way of working feels like a good fit for you.

Can Motivational Interviewing be combined with other therapies listed by these California-licensed clinicians?

Yes. Many therapists blend MI with approaches like CBT, DBT, or trauma-informed care to match client needs. Look for descriptions of integration and examples of issues they address together. If that isn’t clear, you can ask the clinician how they combine MI with other methods during an initial conversation.

Motivational Interviewing therapists by city

Other focus areas