California Therapy Finder

Therapists licensed in California, available online across the state

ACT Therapists Licensed in California

This page lists therapists licensed in California who include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) among their approaches. It is for people looking for online therapy that uses ACT techniques to address issues like anxiety, depression, chronic pain, or life transitions. Compare each therapist’s stated specialties, therapy style, client focus, and stated experience with ACT. A California license covers the whole state, so your city does not block you from working with any clinician on this list. Read profiles and intake notes to find someone whose approach and communication style fit your needs.

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  1. 1. Deborah Perez, LMFT

    7 years in practice · English · Female

    Compassionate California LMFT for stress and relationships

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Self esteem · Depression · ADHD

    Approaches Client-Centered Therapy

    Continue with Deborah Online sessions

  2. 2. Eileen Maxwel, LMFT

    20 years in practice · English · Female

    Licensed California Marriage and Family Therapist

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

    Continue with Eileen Online sessions

  3. 3. Melissa Fletcher, LCSW, CSW

    12 years in practice · English · Female

    Direct, supportive therapy focused on real-life change

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · LGBT · Parenting · Depression · Coping with life changes

    Approaches Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

    Continue with Melissa Online sessions

  4. 4. 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

  5. 5. Elena Balashova-Shamis, CA Psychologist

    23 years in practice · English, Russian · Female

    California psychologist with integrative expertise

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

    Continue with Elena Online sessions

  6. 6. Dr. Katherine Phillips, LMFT

    12 years in practice · English · Female

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Relationship · Depression · Coping with life changes

    Continue with Dr. Online sessions

  7. 7. Keith Chilton, LMFT

    30 years in practice · English · Male

    Experienced California Marriage and Family Therapist

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

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

    Continue with Keith Online sessions

  8. 8. Sharon Peterson, LCSW

    9 years in practice · English · Female

    Compassionate LCSW supporting anxiety and trauma

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Trauma and abuse · Coping with life changes · ADHD

    Continue with Sharon Online sessions

  9. 9. Dr. Katherine (Kate) Bergam, LMFT

    22 years in practice · English · Female

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Sleeping · Self esteem · Career · ADHD

    Continue with Dr. Online sessions

  10. 10. Susan Sheldon, LMFT

    40 years in practice · English · Female

    Experienced California marriage and family therapist

    Works with Relationship · Family · Self esteem · Career · Coping with life changes

    Continue with Susan Online sessions

  11. 11. Stacey Sugar, MD, LCPC, LPCC

    14 years in practice · English · Female

    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

  12. 12. Deneta Jones-Udefi, LCSW

    13 years in practice · English · Female

    California LCSW for relationships and coaching

    Works with Relationship · Parenting · Self esteem · Coaching · Compassion fatigue

    Continue with Deneta Online sessions

  13. 13. Federico Godina, LCSW

    7 years in practice · English · Male

    California LCSW specializing in stress and trauma

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

    Approaches Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

    Continue with Federico Online sessions

  14. 14. Stella Galarza De Saggese, LPCC

    40 years in practice · English, Spanish · Female

    Seasoned California LPCC focused on healing

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

    Continue with Stella Online sessions

  15. 15. Cheryl Garnica, LMFT

    11 years in practice · English · Female

    Support for change, resilience, and emotional balance

    Works with Relationship · Family · Anger · Depression · Coping with life changes

    Continue with Cheryl Online sessions

About act 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 act 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 ACT and how might it differ from other therapies listed on this page?

ACT focuses on accepting uncomfortable thoughts and feelings while committing to actions aligned with personal values. Unlike therapies that emphasise symptom reduction alone, ACT works on psychological flexibility. On this page, look for therapists who describe how they use ACT techniques alongside other methods, and note whether they emphasise mindfulness, values clarification, or exposure-based exercises.

How should I compare therapists who list ACT among multiple approaches?

Compare how prominently each therapist describes ACT in their profile and what problems they apply it to. Check whether they integrate ACT with trauma work, CBT, DBT, or somatic methods. Read client focus, session format, and any examples of how they use ACT in practice to see which integration aligns with your needs.

If I want an ACT-focused therapist, what questions should I ask at first contact?

Ask how much of their practice uses ACT, what specific ACT techniques they commonly use, and how they measure progress. You can also ask about session structure, homework expectations, and how they tailor ACT to issues like chronic pain, anxiety, or relationship concerns. This helps confirm fit before scheduling.

ACT therapists by city

Other focus areas