Addiction Therapists Available in Oakland
This page is for people in Oakland looking for online therapists who work with addiction. Use it to compare clinicians by their approaches, areas of focus, languages, and who they say they help. All therapists listed are licensed in California, and a California license covers the whole state, so being inside California is not a barrier. Look for therapists who mention addiction, substance use, or recovery in their profiles, and note whether they offer evidence-informed methods, support for co-occurring mental health concerns, or experience with family and partner involvement.
This is a partner link. We will earn a commission if you sign up through it, at no cost to you. It does not change what you pay or the order of the listings.
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1. 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)
Continue with Nathalie Online sessions -
2. 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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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. Joseph Tillman, LCSW
LCSW with 40 years supporting emotional healing
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Trauma and abuse · Grief · Depression
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5. Patricia Riley, LCSW
California LCSW supporting relationships and life changes
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Family · Parenting · Depression
Approaches Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Motivational Interviewing
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6. 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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7. Matthew Poje, LPCC, LPC
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
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8. 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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9. Jeanette Abney, LMFT
Guides clients through relationships and recovery
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Relationship · Family · Anger
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10. Christopher Lum, LCSW
Works with Addictions · Grief · Depression · Coping with life changes · Compassion fatigue
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11. Cynthia "Cindi" Christiansen, LMFT
LMFT supporting stress and relationship recovery
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Relationship · Depression · Coping with life changes
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12. 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 -
13. 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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14. Dr. Katharine Clarke, CA Psychologist
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Relationship · Family · Grief
Continue with Dr. Online sessions -
15. 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)
Continue with Stacey Online sessions
About addiction therapy for people in Oakland
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 Oakland 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 Oakland
Oakland has a population of about 440,646. 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
Can I work online with a therapist who treats addiction if I live in Oakland?
Yes. Therapists who are licensed in California can work online with clients anywhere in the state, including Oakland. Confirm with the therapist that they accept new clients from your area and that they list addiction or substance use as part of their practice. Ask about the types of online sessions they offer and any specific experience they have with addiction.
What therapeutic approaches are commonly used for addiction treatment online?
Common approaches include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, relapse prevention, and certain forms of trauma-informed care. Some therapists also integrate family work or support for co-occurring conditions like anxiety or depression. Ask each therapist which methods they use and how they tailor treatment to individual substance use or recovery goals.
How do I choose between therapists who list addiction as a focus?
Compare providers by their stated specialisms, years of experience with addiction (without relying on exact numbers), client populations they serve, and the types of support they offer, such as individual therapy, family sessions, or group options. Also check whether they mention working with specific substances, stages of recovery, or co-occurring mental health issues to find a better fit.
Other reasons people in Oakland look for a therapist
- Anxiety therapists in Oakland
- Depression therapists in Oakland
- Self-Esteem therapists in Oakland
- Relationship therapists in Oakland
- Life Changes therapists in Oakland
- Trauma therapists in Oakland
- Grief therapists in Oakland
- Family therapists in Oakland
- Parenting therapists in Oakland
- Anger therapists in Oakland
- Career therapists in Oakland
- LMFT therapists in Oakland
- LCSW therapists in Oakland
- LPCC therapists in Oakland