Addiction Therapists Available in San Diego
This page lists therapists licensed in California who work with addiction and are available to clients in San Diego. Use it if you are comparing online options for substance use, alcohol, gambling, or behavioral addictions. Look at each therapist’s stated approaches, specialities, experience with relapse prevention, and whether they mention family or dual-diagnosis support. Remember that a California license covers the whole state, so a therapist’s listed availability to San Diego does not depend on a city-based office.
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. Matthew Esselstrom, LMFT
California LMFT with 22 years experience
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Anger · Self esteem · Coping with life changes
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2. 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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3. Gian Sarabia, LMFT
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
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4. Matthew Poje, LPCC, LPC
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
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5. 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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6. 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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7. Dr. Katharine Clarke, CA Psychologist
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Relationship · Family · Grief
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8. 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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9. Jeanette Abney, LMFT
Guides clients through relationships and recovery
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Relationship · Family · Anger
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10. 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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11. 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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12. Claudia Santiago, LCSW
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
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13. Keith Chilton, LMFT
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
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14. Joseph Tillman, LCSW
LCSW with 40 years supporting emotional healing
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Trauma and abuse · Grief · Depression
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15. Katherine Eldean, LMFT
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
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About addiction therapy for people in San Diego
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 Diego 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 Diego
San Diego has a population of about 1,386,932. 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 find a therapist here who treats both substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions?
Yes. Many therapists who work with addiction also describe experience with co-occurring conditions like depression or anxiety. When comparing profiles, check for mention of dual-diagnosis, integrated treatment, or collaboration with psychiatrists. Ask directly about their approach to treating both issues together during an initial call or message.
How do I compare therapists’ approaches to relapse prevention and recovery planning?
Look for explicit mention of relapse prevention, harm reduction, cognitive-behavioral strategies, contingency management, or motivational interviewing in their descriptions. Note whether they include family involvement, aftercare planning, or referrals to higher levels of care. Use your first contact to ask how they design a recovery plan and measure progress.
Are there differences in how therapists handle confidentiality and legal issues related to addiction?
Therapists follow state laws and professional ethics, but practices can vary. Some may have experience with court-ordered treatment, mandated reporting, or documentation for employers or disability claims. Check profiles for mentions of legal experience, and ask about their process for records, reporting obligations, and how they handle requests for documentation.
Other reasons people in San Diego look for a therapist
- Anxiety therapists in San Diego
- Depression therapists in San Diego
- Self-Esteem therapists in San Diego
- Relationship therapists in San Diego
- Life Changes therapists in San Diego
- Trauma therapists in San Diego
- Grief therapists in San Diego
- Family therapists in San Diego
- Parenting therapists in San Diego
- Anger therapists in San Diego
- Career therapists in San Diego
- LMFT therapists in San Diego
- LCSW therapists in San Diego
- LPCC therapists in San Diego