Online Therapy In California
for Adults & College Students
Relational, Depth-Oriented Telehealth | Bountiful Health
wherever you are in California
Is Online Therapy Real Therapy?
Yes. And not in a hedged, “it depends” way.
The research is clear: for most of the concerns adults bring to therapy, anxiety, depression, relationship patterns, life transitions, self-esteem, grief — online therapy is as effective as meeting in person. That has been borne out consistently across clinical studies over the past decade.
But the research aside, what actually makes therapy work is the relationship. The trust that builds over time. The experience of feeling genuinely seen and understood by another person. That doesn’t require being in the same room.
For many clients, meeting online is actually easier. There’s no commute, no transition, no managing the logistics of getting somewhere and back. Some people find they show up more honestly from the comfort of their own space — that the walls come down a little faster than they expected.
Online therapy is not a workaround. It’s the same work.
Why Choose Online Therapy?
You’ve been thinking about therapy.
Maybe for a while. There’s something you’ve been carrying, a low-grade anxiety that won’t quiet, a pattern in your relationships that keeps repeating, a persistent sense that something is off without a clear explanation for why.
But something keeps getting in the way. The schedule. The commute. Not being sure you can find the right person. Or a quiet doubt: can you actually do real work over a screen?
Those are fair questions. And they deserve honest answers.
What Online Therapy at Bountiful Health Actually Looks Like
My approach is relational, depth-oriented, and trauma-informed — the same online as it is in person.
That means I’m working with what’s underneath: the emotional patterns that formed over time, the beliefs about yourself that run quietly in the background, the ways your nervous system learned to adapt that may no longer be serving you. The work isn’t about techniques or homework. It happens in the relationship between us.
Sessions are 50 minutes, weekly, via a secure HIPAA-compliant video platform. You’ll receive a link before each session. All you need is a private space, a device with a camera, and an internet connection.
The depth of the work is the same. The pace is the same. What changes is simply where you’re sitting
Who Online Therapy Works Well For
Online therapy at Bountiful Health tends to be a good fit for:
Adults anywhere in California who want depth-oriented therapy but aren’t close to the Orinda office
Professionals and parents with full schedules who need the flexibility of meeting from home
Young adults who are between cities, in college, or navigating early adulthood on the move
People who have looked for the right therapist and haven’t found them locally
Anyone who is curious about therapy but finds the idea of sitting in a waiting room harder than the actual work
Clients who travel frequently or work irregular hours
It tends to work less well when someone has a strong need for the particular physicality of in-person presence — the shared space, the same room. That’s a real thing, and if it applies to you, it’s worth saying. The free consultation is a good place to talk through what’s right for your situation.
What We Work On
Online sessions cover the same areas as in-person work. I specialize in working with adults and college students navigating:
Anxiety & Depression — including high-functioning anxiety, perfectionism, and the kind of low mood that’s hard to name because your life looks okay on paper
Relationship & Boundary Patterns — people-pleasing, codependency, difficulty knowing where you end and others begin, attachment patterns that keep repeating
Self-Esteem & Inner Critic — persistent self-doubt, the voice that critiques everything, difficulty feeling like enough despite evidence to the contrary
Life Transitions — career changes, relationship shifts, grief, moves, and the disorientation of not knowing who you are in a new chapter
Therapy for Young Adults & College Students — quarter-life uncertainty, the pressure to have it figured out, the particular loss that comes when the structure of school disappears
Midlife Transitions — empty nesting, career pivots, identity shifts, and the quiet grief that can accompany getting exactly what you planned for
How It Works, Practically
If you’ve never done online therapy before, here’s what to expect:
Sessions are 50 minutes, weekly
You’ll receive a secure video link before each appointment — no app download required
Sessions are HIPAA-compliant and fully confidential
You can join from your phone, tablet, or computer
All you need is a private space where you feel comfortable speaking openly
If finding a private space at home is a concern — a busy household, thin walls, kids around — that’s worth mentioning when we talk. Some clients meet from their car, a quiet office, or another private space. We can think through what will work for your situation.
Is This the Right Fit?
This work tends to be a good fit if:
You’re ready to do real work, not looking for quick fixes or scripted advice
You feel something is off but can’t fully name it, or you can name it but can’t seem to move it
You’ve tried to think your way through it and that hasn’t been enough
You want a therapist who will actually know you, not just nod at you
The logistics of in-person therapy have been part of what’s kept you from starting
You don’t need to be in crisis to reach out. Many of the people I work with aren’t. They’re simply carrying something that’s been there long enough that they’re ready to look at it.
Frequently Asked Questions
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For most of the work adults bring to therapy, anxiety, depression, relationship patterns, self-esteem, grief, life transitions, yes. The clinical research supports it clearly. What makes therapy effective is the relationship between therapist and client, and that builds just as genuinely over video as it does in a shared room. Some clients find they actually go deeper online, because the comfort of their own space lowers certain barriers more quickly.
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No. Online therapy is available to anyone in California. I’m licensed in California (LMFT #134882), which means I can work with clients anywhere in the state, from San Diego to Sacramento, Los Angeles to the North Coast. You don’t need to be near the Orinda office.
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Sessions are conducted via a HIPAA-compliant, encrypted video platform. You’ll receive a secure link before each session. No app download is required — it works directly in your browser. Your sessions are private and confidential.
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A device with a camera and microphone (phone, tablet, or computer), a stable internet connection, and a private space where you feel comfortable speaking openly. That’s it. If finding privacy is a concern in your home, it’s worth raising when we talk, many clients meet from their car, a closed office, or another quiet space.
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It’s significantly different. Apps like BetterHelp or Talkspace offer messaging-based or short video sessions with rotating therapists and a high-volume model. What I offer is weekly 50-minute video sessions with the same therapist, in a relational, depth-oriented approach. The goal is a real therapeutic relationship that goes somewhere over time, not a subscription service.
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Yes, and this is the question I find most worth answering carefully. Depth therapy is relational. It depends on the quality of the connection, the attention in the room, the ability to track what’s being said and what’s underneath it. All of that is possible over video. I’ve worked with clients online for years and found the depth of the work to be just as real as in-person sessions. The medium is different. The work isn’t.
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That’s always an option. If you’re in the East Bay and decide you’d prefer to come to the Orinda office, we can make that transition. Some clients start online and move to in-person once they’re settled in a new city or have more flexibility in their schedule. We’ll figure out what works.
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I’m an out-of-network provider and don’t bill insurance directly. A superbill is available for clients who want to submit for potential out-of-network reimbursement. For current fees, visit the Fees & Insurance page.
Taking the First Step
If something here has resonated, that’s worth paying attention to.
A free 20-minute consultation is a conversation — not a commitment. It’s a chance to get a sense of how I work, ask whatever you need to ask, and see if it feels like the right fit. No pressure in either direction.
📞 (925) 259-3145
I typically respond within two business days.
