Pergola
Santa Monica · Silver Lake · Pasadena · The Eastside

Therapists in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is an easy city to feel alone in. You can know a lot of people and still drive an hour to see anyone. You can have a full calendar and a quiet inner life. You can love it here and still be tired.

The therapists below are independent clinicians practicing across LA — from Santa Monica to Silver Lake, Pasadena to Long Beach. They run their own practices. They set their own rates. They write their own profiles. What that means in practice is that every person on this page has chosen the kind of work they want to do, which is usually the first sign of someone who'll actually be present in the room.

Most offer a hybrid of video and in-person, because traffic is traffic. Read a handful of profiles and notice whose voice feels like someone you could tell the truth to. That's the most useful signal you have at this stage.

2 therapists
Marcus Alvarez, LCSW, therapist in Los Angeles
Marcus Alvarez, LCSW
Silver Lake, Los Angeles

Therapy for men, couples, and the complicated middle

CouplesDepressionLife Transitions
Accepting new clients$250/session
Hannah Weiss, LMFT, therapist in Los Angeles
Hannah Weiss, LMFT
Santa Monica

Postpartum, grief, and the seasons of motherhood

PostpartumGriefDepression
Accepting new clients$230/session

Common questions

How much does therapy cost in Los Angeles?+
Independent therapy in LA generally runs $180–$300 per session. Psychologists and experienced clinicians tend to charge at the top of that range; newly-licensed LMFTs and LCSWs start lower. Sliding-scale spots exist on most Pergola profiles — ask directly in your first message if that matters for you.
Do LA therapists take insurance?+
Most independent therapists here are out-of-network. You pay them directly and, if you have a PPO, submit a superbill for partial reimbursement. Call your insurance and ask: "What's my out-of-network outpatient mental health benefit?" — that one question tells you what you'd actually owe.
Is video therapy a real option or should I go in person?+
Both work. LA's geography means most therapists on Pergola offer at least some video availability, and for many people it's a better fit — you skip the drive and therapy doesn't eat an entire afternoon. Video therapy is as effective as in-person for most concerns. For trauma, couples work, or somatic therapy, some clients prefer in-person; your therapist can help you decide.
How do I verify a therapist is actually licensed?+
Every therapist on Pergola has been verified as currently licensed in California. You can double-check any clinician yourself at the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC) or the Board of Psychology (PsyD, PhD). Licensed therapists are happy to share their license number on request.
What do I say in a first message?+
Keep it short and honest. A sentence about what's bringing you to therapy, a sentence about your rough schedule, and a question about their availability. You don't need to explain everything — you can tell the rest in session.

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