Addiction Therapists Available in San Francisco
This page is for people in San Francisco seeking online therapy for addiction. Here you can compare licensed California therapists who focus on substance use, process addictions, relapse prevention, and related mental health issues. Look at each therapist’s specialties, treatment approaches, professional licenses, and whether they list experience with specific substances or behaviors. A California license covers the whole state, so a therapist’s physical city is not a barrier to working with you online in San Francisco. Use the listings to narrow choices and prepare questions before reaching out to a therapist.
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)
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2. Christopher Lum, LCSW
Works with Addictions · Grief · Depression · Coping with life changes · Compassion fatigue
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3. Jeanette Abney, LMFT
Guides clients through relationships and recovery
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Relationship · Family · Anger
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4. 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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5. Dr. Frederick Smoot, LMFT
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)
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6. 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
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7. Jared Maloney, LMFT
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)
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8. 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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9. Chauncey Chatman, LMFT
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)
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10. 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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11. 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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12. Dr. David Sommers, LCSW
California LCSW with 40 years experience
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Depression · Addictions · Relationship · Family
Approaches Client-Centered Therapy
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13. 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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14. 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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15. Dr. Katharine Clarke, CA Psychologist
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Relationship · Family · Grief
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About addiction therapy for people in San Francisco
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 Francisco 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 San Francisco
San Francisco has a population of about 873,965. 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 an online therapist in California treat the same addiction issues as an in-person provider in San Francisco?
Yes. Therapists licensed in California can provide online care to people in San Francisco. You should compare therapists’ stated experience with particular substances or behaviors, their therapeutic approaches, and any additional training in addiction. Ask how they coordinate care if you need medication, detox, or local in-person services.
What should I ask a therapist about relapse prevention and aftercare during an initial contact?
Ask whether they use specific relapse-prevention models, how they include family or support systems, and what follow-up or step-down plans they recommend. Inquire about collaboration with local providers for medication management or emergency services, and how they help clients identify community resources in San Francisco.
How do I know if a therapist lists experience with the type of addiction I’m facing?
Read each profile for mentioned substances or behaviors, such as alcohol, opioids, stimulants, gambling, or internet use. Look for stated approaches like CBT, motivational interviewing, or trauma-informed care. If a profile is unclear, contact the therapist to ask directly about their experience and whether they’ve treated issues similar to yours.
Other reasons people in San Francisco look for a therapist
- Anxiety therapists in San Francisco
- Depression therapists in San Francisco
- Self-Esteem therapists in San Francisco
- Relationship therapists in San Francisco
- Life Changes therapists in San Francisco
- Trauma therapists in San Francisco
- Grief therapists in San Francisco
- Family therapists in San Francisco
- Parenting therapists in San Francisco
- Anger therapists in San Francisco
- Career therapists in San Francisco
- LMFT therapists in San Francisco
- LCSW therapists in San Francisco
- LPCC therapists in San Francisco