Best Therapists in San Diego, CA of 2025
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Best Therapists in San Diego, California of 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Therapists in San Diego, CA
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Eileen Beirich
- 20 years of Experience
- United States
- Pasadena, California
- Visit Website
Areas of focus: Adoption, Anxiety, Depression, Marital / Premarital, Relationship Issues
Languages: English
Treatment Approaches: Psychodynamic
State License: California
Steven Garman
- 30 years of Experience
- United States
- Chino, California
- Visit Website
Areas of focus: ADHD, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Codependency, Divorce, Marital / Premarital, Relationship Issues, Self Esteem, Sexual Abuse, Spirituality
Languages: English
Treatment Approaches: Family / Marital, Jungian, Psychodynamic
State License: California
Maelisa Hall
- 11 years of Experience
- United States
- Irvine, California
- Visit Website
Languages: English
Treatment Approaches: Coaching, Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Multicultural, Psychological Testing and Evaluation, Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)
State License: California
Soad Tabrizi
- 10 years of Experience
- United States
- Mission Viejo, California
- Visit Website
Areas of focus: Addiction, Alcohol Abuse, Anxiety, Behavior Issues, Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality, Career Counseling, Codependency, Coping Skills, Depression, Drug Abuse, Dual Diagnosis, End of Life Issues, Faith Transition, Goal Setting, Life Coaching, OCD, Self Esteem, Spirituality
Languages: English, Farsi
Treatment Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Dialectical (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Narrative, Psychoanalytic, Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)
State Licenses: California, Florida, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia
Nancy Culhane
- 40+ years of Experience
- United States
- Fairfax, California
- Visit Website
Areas of focus: Coping Skills, Divorce, Goal Setting, Grief, Infidelity, Interpersonal Relationships, Life Transitions, Marital / Premarital, Parenting, Relationship Issues, Women's Issues
Languages: English, Finnish
Treatment Approaches: Family / Marital, Integrative, Narrative, Relational
State Licenses: California and Nevada
Melissa Jones
- 11 years of Experience
- United States
- Online, California
- Visit Website
Languages: English
Treatment Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Eclectic, Existential, Family / Marital, Family Systems, Gestalt, Humanistic, Hypnotherapy, Relational
State License: California
Lori Kandels
- 28 years of Experience
- United States
- San Francisco, California
- Visit Website
Languages: English
Treatment Approaches: Coaching, Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Culturally Sensitive, EMDR, Family / Marital, Feminist, Mindfulness-based (MBCT), Motivational Interviewing, Multicultural, Narrative, Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)
State License: California
Lisa Larsen
- 15 years of Experience
- United States
- Lancaster, California
- Visit Website
Languages: English
Treatment Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), EMDR, Humanistic, Hypnotherapy
State License: California
Reid Kessler
- 10 years of Experience
- United States
- Encinitas, California
- Visit Website
Areas of focus: Anxiety, Infidelity, Leadership, Marital / Premarital, Men's Issues, Trauma / PTSD, Workplace Stress
Languages: English
Treatment Approaches: Attachment-based, Mindfulness Based Approaches, Psychoanalytic, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic, Relational
State License: California
Candice Seti
- 16 years of Experience
- United States
- San Diego, California
- Visit Website
Areas of focus: Anxiety, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Coping Skills, Eating Disorders, Goal Setting, Life Coaching, Obesity, Self Esteem, Sleep or Insomnia, Stress, Weight Loss, Workplace Stress, Women's Issues
Languages: English
Treatment Approaches: Behavioral, Coaching, Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Eclectic, Mindfulness Based Approaches, Motivational Interviewing, Nutrition Counseling, Person-Centered Therapy, Short-Term (Brief Treatment), Solution Focused Brief (SFBT), Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT)
State Licenses: California and Florida
II. The Best Therapists in San Diego, CA
|
Online Therapy selected the 14 best therapists in San Diego based on eight key factors, including professional credentials, accessibility, cost, and specializations. These factors are important for determining if a therapist offers high-quality care that fits your budget and meets your personal needs. |
Choosing the Best San Diego, CA TherapistsCredentialsOnly therapists with valid California therapy credentials were considered. In California, professional counselors must hold a graduate degree from an accredited institution, complete 3,000 supervised hours of training, and pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Exam. Professional counselors must also pass the California LPCC Law and Ethics Exam to qualify for licensure. AccessibilityNot all therapists offer the same services and scheduling options. Therapists were chosen based on their services, how easy it is to book an appointment, and their specializations. Some therapists offer remote sessions or other flexible arrangements. CostAffordable therapy makes it easier to address your mental health needs without worrying about how it will affect your budget. These best therapists in San Diego were selected based on how much they charge per session, how many insurance plans they accept, and whether they offer payment arrangements or use a sliding fee scale to determine their rates. |
Julie Morell: MFT | Best for EMDR therapy
619-857-1355
Website
Julie Morrell is a San Diego marriage and family therapist with 30 years of experience helping people strengthen their relationships. She is trained in EMDR therapy and has extensive experience using Christian counseling techniques.
What patients say: “She is an expert in many areas and very skilled in what she does and yet she is one of the most down to earth and comfortable people to talk to. I was impressed with her professionalism and yet felt valued as a client.”
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Relationship Issues Trauma and PTSD Anxiety |
Aetna Cigna TRICARE |
Cost per Session:$100 per hour | No | Yes |
Cara Fairfax: MSW, LCSW | Best for parents
619-219-4313
Website
Cara Fairfax focuses on helping people through tough parenting challenges, such as the loss of a child or the trauma of having a baby in the NICU. She also loves working with babies and toddlers, adjusting her therapeutic approach based on each child’s age and specific developmental needs. Cara relies on trauma-informed therapy techniques to help parents and children feel better about themselves. Couples counseling and group counseling are also available.
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Parenting Trauma and PTSD Pregnancy, Prenatal, Postpartum |
N/A | Cost per Session:$175 per 50 minutes | No | Yes |
Jill Maher: LMFT | Best for women
619-363-2976
Website
Jill Maher is a San Diego marriage and family therapist with more than 15 years of experience helping individuals and families recover from trauma. She has worked with many women recovering from domestic violence and sexual assault. She is passionate about supporting clients who have difficulty achieving physical and emotional balance in their lives. Some of the techniques Jill uses to help clients overcome stress and develop better coping skills include trauma-focused CBT, EMDR therapy, and DBT.
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Trauma and PTSD Domestic Violence Substance Use |
N/A | Cost per Session: $175 | No | Yes |
Kimberly Panganiban: M.A., LMFT | Best for couples
858-361-6016
Website
Kimberly Panganiban is a marriage and family therapist who focuses on helping couples address their relationship challenges. She works with couples in all stages of life, from newlyweds to older adults who have been together for decades. Kimberly is a Certified Gottman Therapist, Trainer, Consultant and Art & Science of Love weekend workshop leader.
What patients say: “I cannot recommend Kim enough – she is certified in Gottman couples therapy, is incredibly competent, compassionate and knowledgeable about working with couples and helping rebuild relationships.”
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Marital and Premarital Relationship Issues Parenting |
N/A | Cost per Session: $225 per 75 minutes $180 per 60 minutes $140 per 45 minutes |
Yes | Yes |
Erica Petree: LCSW | Best for families
619-839-9730
Website
Erica Petree is a licensed clinical social worker who focuses on helping families address conflict, overcome problems at work and school, and communicate effectively. She has more than 15 years of experience and offers in-home therapy to help clients feel more comfortable discussing their emotions. Erica specializes in postpartum therapy, trauma therapy, family mediation, and infant mental health and is a member of the Postpartum Health Alliance of San Diego.
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Child or Adolescent Trauma and PTSD Family Conflict |
N/A | Cost per Session:$150 per 45 minutes | No | Yes |
Shelley Wisdom-Lazar: LCSW | Best for help with life transitions
619-540-7811
Website
Shelley Wisdom-Lazar is a licensed clinical social worker who focuses on helping clients overcome the stress associated with job changes, relationship issues, health problems, and other life transitions. She’s known for providing direct support and encouragement to help clients address anxiety, sleep problems, depression, and other symptoms of major life changes. Shelley also helps parents whose children are having trouble launching and teaches divorced couples how to be good co-parents.
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Divorce Depression Coping Skills |
Cigna Medicare Scripps Health Plan Services |
Cost per Session: $150 | Yes | Yes |
Donna S. Scott: M.A., LMFT | Best for Christian counseling
619-500-4653
Website
Donna S. Scott is a San Diego therapist who helps clients strengthen their relationships with each other and with God. She has more than 30 years of experience helping individuals and couples improve their communication skills and heal from past trauma, all within the context of their Christian faith.
What patients say: “Donna’s passion for helping marriages be the best they can be shows in her work. Donna is the best, and I would recommend everyone who desires to improve their marriages to see Donna Scott.”
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Relationship Issues Spirituality Sexual Abuse |
N/A | Cost per Session: $200 | Yes | Yes |
Christy A. George: LMFT, SEP | Best for gifted adults and children
760-410-8186
Website
Christy A. George is a marriage and family therapist who concentrates on helping gifted adults and children reduce stress, improve their communication skills, and learn how to build successful relationships. She also offers coaching to help parents better understand the needs of their gifted children.
What patients say: “Christy is a natural therapist with a lot of compassion and she’s an excellent listener. I felt comfortable talking to her about my experiences. She provided wise and helpful counseling and resources.”
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Anxiety Trauma and PTSD Relationship Issues |
N/A | Cost per Session: $165 | No | Yes |
Stephanie Evans: LMFT, CDWF | Best for experiential therapy
858-519-8682
Website
Stephanie Evans is a marriage and family therapist who uses the Daring Way and Rising Strong methods developed by Brené Brown to help people improve their self-esteem and learn to love themselves. Using both methods, she helps clients examine the thoughts and behaviors that have been holding them back in life and identify ways to live more authentically. Stephanie has 15 years of experience providing couples therapy, relationship therapy, and divorce therapy.
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Divorce Depression Relationship Therapy Couple Therapy |
N/A | Cost per Session: $175 | No | Yes |
Jennifer York: LMFT, CBT | Best for anxiety
760-525-6442
Website
Jennifer York is a San Diego marriage and family therapist with 17 years of experience helping people break down the barriers they’ve put up to shield themselves from trauma. She focuses on helping clients manage the symptoms of depression and anxiety, recover from addiction, and fully realize their strengths. Jennifer uses techniques from a variety of disciplines, including bioenergetic analysis, emotional brain training, art therapy, somatic experiencing, internal family systems, and cognitive behavior therapy.
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Depression Anxiety Addiction |
TRICARE TriWest |
Cost per Session:$150 per 50 minutes | No | Yes |
Rita Romero: Ph.D. | Best for adolescents
760-846-0361
Website
Dr. Rita Romero is a licensed psychologist who provides individual therapy for adolescents and adults. She uses a variety of techniques to help adolescents feel comfortable discussing their feelings. Dr. Romero works with adolescents who are struggling academically or finding it difficult to form healthy relationships, helping them improve their communication skills and make better decisions.
What patients say: “I highly endorse Dr. Romero. She is extremely qualified and professional and has been very supportive in a variety of therapeutic areas…”
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Anxiety Depression Trauma and PTSD |
Aetna MHN Medicare TRICARE TriWest |
Not Provided | No | Yes |
Jason Unruh: LMFT | Best for men
858-987-8088
Website
Jason Unruh is a licensed marriage and family therapist with more than nine years of experience helping clients reduce anxiety, cope with depression, and manage life transitions. He helps clients live their best lives by working to identify negative thought patterns, deal with difficult emotions, and teaching people how to overcome their problems. Jason uses mindfulness-based approaches and a holistic perspective to help clients get unstuck and fulfill their potential.
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Anxiety Depression Life Transitions |
Blue Shield Cigna MHN Magellan Open Path |
Cost per Session:$120 per 50 minutes | Yes | Yes |
Daniel Sharer: LMFT | Best for addiction recovery
619-403-9307
Website
Daniel Sharer is a San Diego marriage and family therapist with nine years of experience helping people see their problems from a different perspective and learn how to overcome negative thoughts and emotions. He provides a wide range of counseling services, but he’s known for offering personal addiction counseling, which helps clients with substance use disorders improve their coping skills and understand their triggers. Clients also have the opportunity to address co-occurring disorders, including depression and PTSD.
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Anxiety Addiction Relationship Issues |
Healthnet MHN Optum UnitedHealthcare |
Cost per Session: $100 per hour |
Yes | Yes |
Jeffrey W. Penner: Ph.D. | Best for improving self-confidence
619-886-3099
Website
Jeffrey W. Penner is a San Diego psychotherapist who concentrates on helping clients develop a positive view of themselves so they have the confidence needed to face life’s challenges head-on. Jeffrey uses several therapeutic approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoanalytic therapy, emotionally focused therapy, and attachment-based therapy to help clients address their anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, and relationship issues. As a Qualified Medical Examiner, he’s also qualified to conduct psychological evaluations and administer psychological tests.
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Depression Anxiety Behavioral Issues |
Cigna Medicare |
Not Provided | No | Yes |
III. What You Should Know About San Diego Therapy
How are San Diego therapists licensed?
In San Diego, licensed professional counselors must meet stringent education and training requirements. The first step is completing a 60-semester-unit master’s degree or doctoral degree in counseling or psychotherapy. After completing the required degree, the LPCC candidate must register as a Professional Clinical Counselor Intern and complete 3,000 supervised hours of training over at least two years. The candidate must also pass the LPCC Law and Ethics Exam and the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Exam.
How much does therapy cost in San Diego?
A limited number of therapists in San Diego have sliding scales for their fees, but about half the therapists on this list accept private insurance. One way to make therapy more affordable is to schedule an appointment with a therapist who offers a free initial consultation. Once you start paying for services, you can expect to pay an average of $100 to $200 per session, with each session lasting for 50 minutes to one hour.
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IV. Sources
- California Board of Behavioral Sciences | Last accessed April 2025
- National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination | Last accessed April 2025
- National Counselor Examination | Last accessed April 2025