California Therapy Finder

Therapists licensed in California, available online across the state

Addiction Therapists Licensed in California

This page is for Californians looking for therapists who specialise in addiction and substance use issues. It helps you compare therapists by their treatment approaches, areas of focus, and the types of addiction they work with, such as alcohol, opioids, stimulants, behavioural addictions, and relapse prevention. Note that a California licence covers the whole state, so where the therapist is based is not a barrier to working with them. Look for descriptions of modality (CBT, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care), populations served, and whether they coordinate with medical or residential services.

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  1. 1. Cynthia "Cindi" Christiansen, LMFT

    21 years in practice · English · Female

    LMFT supporting stress and relationship recovery

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

    Continue with Cynthia Online sessions

  2. 2. 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

  3. 3. Gian Sarabia, LMFT

    6 years in practice · English, Spanish · Male

    California LMFT offering thoughtful, individualized therapy

    Works with Trauma and abuse · Intimacy-related issues · Bipolar · Depression · Stress, Anxiety

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

    Continue with Gian Online sessions

  4. 4. Mary Ann Godefroy, LPCC, LPC

    14 years in practice · English · Female

    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)

    Continue with Mary Online sessions

  5. 5. Lynda Green Alter, LMFT

    25 years in practice · English · Female

    California LMFT specializing in relationships and trauma

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

    Continue with Lynda Online sessions

  6. 6. Nathalie Contro, LMFT

    3 years in practice · English, Spanish · Female

    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

  7. 7. Claudia Santiago, LCSW

    12 years in practice · English, Spanish · Female

    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

    Continue with Claudia Online sessions

  8. 8. Matthew Esselstrom, LMFT

    22 years in practice · English · Non-binary

    California LMFT with 22 years experience

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Anger · Self esteem · Coping with life changes

    Continue with Matthew Online sessions

  9. 9. Jeanette Abney, LMFT

    20 years in practice · English · Female

    Guides clients through relationships and recovery

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Relationship · Family · Anger

    Continue with Jeanette Online sessions

  10. 10. 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

  11. 11. Katherine Eldean, LMFT

    20 years in practice · English · Female

    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

    Continue with Katherine Online sessions

  12. 12. Alejandro Holguin, LCSW

    13 years in practice · English · Male

    Compassionate, evidence-based support for lasting emotional balance

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

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

    Continue with Alejandro Online sessions

  13. 13. Michelle Varady, LCSW

    10 years in practice · English · Female

    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

  14. 14. Christopher Lum, LCSW

    15 years in practice · English · Male

    Works with Addictions · Grief · Depression · Coping with life changes · Compassion fatigue

    Continue with Christopher Online sessions

  15. 15. Carol Wood, LMFT

    29 years in practice · English · Female

    LMFT providing relationship and trauma support

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Family · Intimacy-related issues · Self esteem

    Approaches Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Mindfulness Therapy

    Continue with Carol Online sessions

About addiction 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.

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.

Common questions

How do I choose a therapist who understands addiction and relapse triggers?

Look for therapists who list expertise in addiction, relapse prevention, and trigger management. Check for mentions of evidence-based approaches like cognitive behavioural therapy and motivational interviewing. Also note if they work with co-occurring mental health issues, trauma, or use a harm-reduction or abstinence-focused model. Read their profile to see which substances or behaviours they have experience treating.

Can I get therapy for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) support from an online California-licensed therapist?

Some therapists provide counselling that complements medication-assisted treatment by addressing coping skills, relapse prevention, and psychosocial factors. Therapists do not prescribe medications, but they can coordinate care with prescribers when you consent. Check therapist profiles for experience supporting clients on MAT and whether they mention collaboration with medical providers.

What should I compare if I’m looking for family support or couples therapy around addiction?

Compare providers on whether they offer family therapy, couples counselling, or support for loved ones of someone with an addiction. Look for experience managing boundaries, enabling behaviours, and communication skills. Note if the therapist works with systems approaches, offers education about addiction, or provides separate individual and family sessions to balance safety and treatment goals.

Addiction therapists by city

Other focus areas