Life Changes Therapists Available in San Diego
This page is for adults in San Diego seeking online therapy for life changes, such as career transitions, relationship shifts, divorce, moving, retirement, or becoming a parent. Compare therapists by their stated approaches, experience with particular life transitions, and notes about sessions (for example, coaching-style vs. more exploratory therapy). All therapists listed are licensed in California, which means a California licence covers the whole state and being in San Diego is not a barrier to working with any clinician on this page. Read profiles to match your needs and contact therapists directly for details.
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1. Cynthia Rumford-Jones, LCSW
Compassionate LCSW for life transitions
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Anger · Self esteem · Depression · Coping with life changes
Approaches Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
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2. Sheryl Cook, CA Psychologist
California psychologist for stress and life changes
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Sleeping · Self esteem · Depression · Coping with life changes
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3. 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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4. Sharon Peterson, LCSW
Compassionate LCSW supporting anxiety and trauma
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Trauma and abuse · Coping with life changes · ADHD
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5. Alexander "Alex" Dannin, LMFT
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
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6. Christine Piddington, LCSW
Support for grief, stress, and life transitions
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Family · Trauma and abuse · Grief · Depression
Approaches Existential Therapy · Solution-Focused Therapy
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7. 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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8. Eugene Yamamoto, LCSW
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
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9. Eileen Maxwel, LMFT
Licensed California Marriage and Family Therapist
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Family · Parenting · Depression
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10. Deana Porter, LMFT
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
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11. Katherine Eldean, LMFT
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
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12. Menachem Stulberger, LMFT
Compassionate LMFT specializing in relationships and anxiety
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Family · Parenting · Self esteem · Depression
Approaches Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
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13. Kendall Jones, LCSW
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)
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14. Cheryl Garnica, LMFT
Support for change, resilience, and emotional balance
Works with Relationship · Family · Anger · Depression · Coping with life changes
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15. Matthew Esselstrom, LMFT
California LMFT with 22 years experience
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Anger · Self esteem · Coping with life changes
Continue with Matthew Online sessions
About life changes therapy for people in San Diego
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 San Diego 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.
Therapy in San Diego
San Diego has a population of about 1,386,932. 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 with a therapist here if I live in San Diego but want remote sessions only?
Yes. Each therapist listed is licensed in California, so they may provide online services to clients in San Diego. Check individual profiles for mention of online-only practice or a mix of online and in-person options. Contact the therapist to confirm they are currently offering remote sessions and to ask about their session formats.
How do I choose a therapist who specialises in major life transitions like divorce or career change?
Look for profiles that explicitly mention experience with the specific transition you are facing. Note the therapist’s stated approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral, narrative, or solution-focused work, and whether they mention short-term transition support versus longer-term therapy. Reach out and ask about their typical process for life changes and what a first few sessions might focus on.
What should I ask during an initial contact to see if a therapist fits my needs for handling life changes?
Ask about their experience with your specific type of transition, the methods they use to support change, typical session length and frequency, and how they track progress. You can also ask how they handle crisis moments related to major changes and whether they provide resources or homework between sessions. Use this to judge fit before booking.
Other reasons people in San Diego look for a therapist
- Anxiety therapists in San Diego
- Depression therapists in San Diego
- Self-Esteem therapists in San Diego
- Relationship therapists in San Diego
- Trauma therapists in San Diego
- Grief therapists in San Diego
- Family therapists in San Diego
- Parenting therapists in San Diego
- Anger therapists in San Diego
- Career therapists in San Diego
- Addiction therapists in San Diego
- LMFT therapists in San Diego
- LCSW therapists in San Diego
- LPCC therapists in San Diego