Online therapy in San Diego, CA
From home in San Diego, see a therapist licensed in California by video — no commute, no waiting room.
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Online therapists for San Diego
Melissa Barsotti
Alex Silberstein
Alexander Goitein
Alexandra Moy Torres
Alexandria Swanson
Alexis Sebastian Kuney
Alexis Warrington
Alissa Burnham
Allison Hart
Alyssa Theis
Amanda Silva
Amber Curry
+ 52 more therapists available.
Browse San Diego therapists by type
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Therapists offering online sessions in California
63 therapists listed in California work online only; 11 are in the list above and 12 more are linked here. Open a profile to see their specialties and how to reach them.
- Amina BenkheloufClinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
- Amina MohabbatClinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
- Ana VivarClinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
- Anahita JannesariPsychological Associate, PsyD
- Ancy CherianPsychologist, PhD
- Andrea MartelClinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
- Andrea StarnMarriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, MF33056
- Andrew BensonClinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
- Andrew NyxPsychologist, PhD
- Angel RodriguezClinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
- Angela MullMarriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
- Angelyna LowePsychologist, PhD
Therapy in San Diego by the numbers
Based on the 25 licensed therapists listed in San Diego · Updated July 2026
Specialization breakdown
Online vs. in-person therapy in San Diego
Compare the two formats to find what works best for you
| Aspect | Online | In-Person |
|---|---|---|
| Who can see you | Any therapist licensed in California, wherever their office is — San Francisco and Los Angeles included | The 25 therapists listed in San Diego, or a trip to San Francisco (22 listed) |
| Typical fee | $110–$230 a session in San Diego, usually the same as an office visit | $110–$230, plus the time and cost of getting there |
| License needed | A California license (or a compact privilege covering California): it follows where you are during the session | A license for the state the office is in — California, for an office in San Diego |
| Across a state line | A session taken from Arizona, Nevada, or Oregon generally falls under that state's rules | An office visit in Arizona, Nevada, or Oregon is covered by the therapist's own license there |
| Time zone | Pacific time: confirm times with a therapist whose calendar is in another state | Local time, nothing to convert |
| Getting there | Wherever you are in California: a private room, a camera and a steady connection | The trip across San Diego to the office and back every week |
| Effectiveness | Studies comparing the two find similar outcomes for common concerns such as anxiety and depression | Preferable in a crisis, or when care depends on being in the same room |
What to expect from therapy in San Diego
Here's what to expect when starting online therapy in San Diego. Things like military veteran support, cross-border cultural dynamics, and substance abuse are fine to bring up with someone new.
Setting up your space
Pick the room in your San Diego home where a closed door means privacy, and sit facing the light, not a window. If someone else joins some sessions, the San Diego profiles include 1 that works with couples and 1 with families; set up where everyone fits in the frame.
First online session
Expect a few minutes on practicalities — a backup number, where you'll be during sessions — then questions about what brought you. Focus areas named most on the San Diego listings: anxiety, depression, and trauma (2 each). Ask how the therapist works with yours by video.
Building the therapeutic relationship
Research finds the working relationship forms about as well on video as in person. Give the fit three or four sessions — roughly $330–$920 in San Diego — and say early if something feels off.
Between sessions
Between sessions, keep an eye on the practical side too: at San Diego's typical $110–$230, a weekly slot adds up, so check early what your plan pays toward telehealth sessions and whether a less frequent rhythm would suit you later on.
Knowing when to switch
Format isn't fixed: moving to in-person or a more intensive program is a normal next step, not a failure. For in-person later, start with the 25 therapists listed in San Diego, then San Francisco (22) and Los Angeles (21).
What online therapy costs in San Diego, CA
Expect roughly $110–$230 per session in San Diego — online sessions are generally priced like in-person ones, so the saving is in travel rather than the fee itself.
By video, the fee follows the therapist, not your address: typical ranges run $160–$300 in San Francisco and $120–$250 in Los Angeles, and a therapist there licensed in California can see you from San Diego. Sliding-scale rates exist online as they do locally; ask directly.
How San Diego compares for teletherapy
Set against the rest of California: 8% of San Diego listings mention video, against 9% across all 68 therapists FindSupport lists in California's cities, San Francisco (22) and Los Angeles (21) included. Where a profile is based matters less online — the California license is what counts.
San Diego, a major city on the California coast, accounts for 25 of the 68 therapists FindSupport lists in California's cities (37%) — more than any other California city listed. For video, that split matters little. It matters if you'd like the option of meeting in person later: the 25 based in San Diego are the ones within reach.
FindSupport lists 25 therapists in San Diego, and 2 of them mention online sessions on their profile. The others haven't said either way, which usually means "not stated" rather than "no" — ask about video in your first message.
If you've browsed therapists in Scottsdale, Arizona (32 listed), check the license line first: video sessions from San Diego need a therapist licensed in California. Some hold both licenses — the profile or a quick message will tell you.
Licenses, borders and time zones for San Diego
For service members and spouses in San Diego, the license question comes up with every set of orders. Video can carry therapy through a move only when the therapist is licensed in the new state, so raise it early. Military OneSource also offers free, confidential non-medical counseling, which can bridge a gap.
Telehealth rules generally look at where the client is during the session. For you that means a therapist licensed in California: a practice just over the line in Arizona, Nevada, or Oregon isn't enough on its own, unless the therapist also holds a California license or a compact privilege that covers it.
Expect the therapist to confirm your location at the start of every video session from San Diego: that's the licensing rule at work, so say so if you'll be joining from outside California that day.
Budget for online counseling as you would for an office visit in San Diego — $110–$230 a session is typical, so 6 weeks runs about $660–$1,380 before any insurance. Using insurance? Check that your plan covers telehealth therapy and that the therapist is in-network; out of network, ask for a superbill — at $110–$230 a session, partial reimbursement adds up.
California runs on Pacific time. Most therapists licensed here book in that zone, but some who hold licenses in several states keep their calendar elsewhere — confirm the session time in Pacific time when you book.
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Find online therapy →Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find a virtual therapist in San Diego, CA?
About 8% of the 25 therapists we list in San Diego mention online sessions on their profile; others may add video if you ask. Elsewhere in California, 4 more of our 43 listings mention video, and any of them licensed in California can see you here. These numbers leave out therapists licensed in California who work online only; FindSupport lists them by state rather than by city.
Must a therapist be licensed in California to see me online?
Generally, yes — telehealth follows where you are during the session, so a therapist needs a license (or an interstate-compact privilege, such as PSYPACT for psychologists) that covers California. If you travel or move away from San Diego, check with your therapist before a session from another state.
Can I see a Scottsdale therapist by video from San Diego?
Not on an Arizona license alone. Where you are during the session decides it, so a Scottsdale therapist (FindSupport lists 32) would need to be licensed in California too. For comparison, typical fees there run $120–$250, against $110–$230 in San Diego.
Can an online psychiatrist prescribe medication in California?
Yes, if they're licensed in California. Psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners can evaluate you and prescribe by video; counselors, social workers and most psychologists don't prescribe. A prescriber licensed only in Arizona, Nevada, or Oregon generally can't prescribe while you're in California; the prescription goes to a pharmacy you choose in San Diego. Controlled substances carry extra federal rules.
Can I have online therapy in Spanish in San Diego?
Yes, if you find a therapist licensed in California who works in Spanish — by video, they don't need to be near you. Profiles list languages; you can describe what you need in Spanish or English.
What do virtual therapy sessions cost in San Diego?
Online sessions are usually priced like in-person ones — in San Diego, typically $110–$230 per session. Many plans that cover therapy also cover telehealth; ask your insurer, and ask therapists about sliding-scale fees. For comparison, typical fees in San Francisco run $160–$300, and a therapist there who is licensed in California can see you by video.
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