California Therapy Finder

Therapists licensed in California, available online across the state

Life Changes Therapists Available in Irvine

This page is for people in Irvine seeking online therapists who work with life changes. Use it to compare therapists by their approaches, areas of focus, and how they describe helping with transitions like career shifts, relationship changes, grief, or family adjustments. All therapists listed are licensed in California, and that license lets them work with clients across the state, so being inside California is not a barrier. Look at each profile for specialties, modalities, and whether they mention experience with the specific kind of change you are facing. Contact therapists directly to learn more about fit and next steps.

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  1. 1. 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
  2. 2. 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
  3. 3. 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
  4. 4. Romeo Flora-Gomez, LCSW

    25 years in practice · English · Male

    Licensed LCSW supporting LGBTQ+ and relationship health

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

    Continue with Romeo Online sessions
  5. 5. Eugene Yamamoto, LCSW

    30 years in practice · English · Male

    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

    Continue with Eugene Online sessions
  6. 6. 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
  7. 7. 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
  8. 8. Kendall Jones, LCSW

    25 years in practice · English · Male

    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)

    Continue with Kendall Online sessions
  9. 9. Sheryl Cook, CA Psychologist

    36 years in practice · English · Female

    California psychologist for stress and life changes

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Sleeping · Self esteem · Depression · Coping with life changes

    Continue with Sheryl Online sessions
  10. 10. 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
  11. 11. Matthew Poje, LPCC, LPC

    20 years in practice · English · Male

    Trauma-focused support grounded in neuroscience

    Works with Trauma and abuse · Addictions · Grief · Coping with life changes · Compassion fatigue

    Approaches Motivational Interviewing · Trauma-Focused Therapy

    Continue with Matthew Online sessions
  12. 12. Dr. Frederick Smoot, LMFT

    5 years in practice · English · Male

    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)

    Continue with Dr. Online sessions
  13. 13. 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
  14. 14. Christine Piddington, LCSW

    11 years in practice · English · Female

    Support for grief, stress, and life transitions

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

    Approaches Existential Therapy · Solution-Focused Therapy

    Continue with Christine Online sessions
  15. 15. Dr. Andrea Shirley, LMFT

    27 years in practice · English · Female

    Experienced California LMFT supporting relationships and life changes

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · LGBT · Relationship · Family · Self esteem

    Approaches Client-Centered Therapy · Narrative Therapy · Solution-Focused Therapy

    Continue with Dr. Online sessions

About life changes therapy for people in Irvine

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 Irvine 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 Irvine

Irvine has a population of about 307,670. 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 who specializes in career transitions if I live in Irvine?

Yes. Therapists licensed in California may take clients anywhere in the state, including Irvine. When comparing profiles, look for mention of career transition, vocational counseling, or work-life balance. Ask the therapist about their experience with job loss, promotion, or vocational identity to see if their approach matches your needs.

How do therapists on this page help with major life transitions like divorce or relocation?

Therapists use different methods for transitions, such as cognitive-behavioral strategies, narrative work, and solution-focused techniques. Many help with coping skills, decision-making, and rebuilding routines. Check each profile for stated approaches and examples of life-change work, and contact a therapist to discuss whether their methods fit your specific situation.

What should I compare if I want support for grieving after a big life change?

Compare therapists on their grief and loss experience, training in bereavement or trauma, and whether they mention working with complicated or recent losses. Also note the therapeutic modalities they use, any population focus (for example adult, parent, or older adult), and how they describe goals for grief counseling. Use those details to prioritize who to contact first.

Other reasons people in Irvine look for a therapist

Life Changes in nearby cities