photo courtesy of adorable industries

photo courtesy of adorable industries

Click for a google doc of hotlines, local mental health information (Orange County) & resources

Click for local artist resources

Referrals (updated 07/2024)

This is a list of mental health resources mostly for the Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Diego county areas. I can't perform therapy, but I might know someone who can for you. NOTE: These referrals are given as a courtesy. Please check your insurance, ask questions when you call, and consider whether this person will be a good match for you. It's okay to ask for referrals if you think it's not a good fit. 

Please also note: these practitioners serve their cities but may ALSO offer telehealth in the state(s) they are licensed in. Ask them!

For Advertising Purposes: LMFT means Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, PsyD means Doctor of Psychology,

READ: What is a superbill?

I cannot offer a superbill as a life coach, executive function coach.

ADHD, Autism, Neurodivergence-Eating Disorders Intersection Therapy

Affordable & Accessible Therapy, HMO & PPO Taken

Autism, LGBTQ Affirmative, Sex Positive Therapy, & Psych Assessments (Teens & Adults)- Arroyo Grande

Autistic Psychologist, Dr. Sylvia Liu

BIPOC Neurodivergent Tribe

Coaching for Neurodivergent Minds and Hearts & Trauma Therapy

Counseling for Creative Types (writers, artists, & musicians) - San Diego

Counseling for Gamers, Geeks, Teens, Young Adults, and Substance Use Recovery - San Diego

Counseling for MEN and their Loved Ones

Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant

Executive Coaching in Dynamic Industries

Faith Crises & Religious Transition Depth Work for Adults + EMDR Therapy - Old Towne Orange

Gifted, 2e, Autistic, ADHD, Highly Sensitive Therapy

Gifted & Creative Therapy - Costa Mesa

  • I’m a Kurdish and Queer therapist with specialties in areas of complex trauma and PTSD, neurodivergent-affirming therapy, non-traditional relationships, immigration, grief, depression, OCD and anxiety, couple and family therapy, and with LBGTQIA+ communities.

  • http://www.maryamobeyd.com | 949-385-1978 | maryamobeydmft@gmail.com

High Achieving Teenagers, Encino & Los Angeles

Highly Sensitive People & Children, Irvine

Holistic Psychotherapy for Individual, Couples, & Families - Newport Beach

LGBT Affirmative Therapy - Newport Beach

LGBT affirming, support for military members and their families, and trauma survivor support

Lotus Therapy Fund

Low-Cost Community Mental Health, Laguna Hills

  • SHANTI OC | (949) 452-0888 | HIV Case Management, seminars, groups, chronic disease education, therapy, many insurances taken

Maternal Mental Health, Trauma Therapy

Multicultural Anxiety Counseling for Young Adults, Women, & South Asians

Nerdy College Students, Queer & Trans Centered Therapy, San Diego

Neurodiversity Affirming Psychologist

Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy

Online Counseling for Teens, Young Adults & Men

Parent Consultation, Individualized Plans to Support Children

Personality, Relationship, and Career Coaching

Pomelo Coaching

  • Duy Nguyen & Pomelo Coaching | Mental Agility, ADHD Integration, Trauma-Informed Coaching

  • LGBTQ+ Affirming, Neurodiversity Affirming Coaching from a neuroscience perspective

  • Couples Coaching Specialty

Psychiatrist

Queer Therapists, Long Beach

  • Prospect Therapy | (562) 704-4736

  • Gender + sexuality, 1st gen + bicultural + immigrants + POC, Partners + relationships, Anxiety + Depression, Trauma + PTSD, HAES + Eating Disorders

  • Some reduced-rate spots available!

Queer and Trans-Centered Therapy for Teens & Adults, San Diego

Racial Identity, Trauma, Autism & ADHD

SAGE Holistic Health & Wellness Center, Orange

Sex Therapy, Life Transitions, & Relationships - Tustin

Survivors of Narcissistic Abuse Coaching

  • Jordin James

  • Jordin James helps survivors of narcissistic abuse feel safe in relationships again through the healing power of Parts Work. She works with clients individually as well as with self-paced online courses and programs.

Technology, Teens, and Psychology - Encino 

Thought Leadership Coaching

Trans & LGBQ Affirmative Counseling

Trauma and Couple’s Therapy - Pasadena and West Covina

Whole-Person, Trauma-Informed, Inclusive Therapy Practice - Fullerton

Work Skills, Career Coaching

Free Therapy Resources

Low-Cost Therapy Resources

  • If you live next to or have graduate counseling programs in your area/state, they may be able to provide low-cost or free therapy to the community.

  • They can also offer GROUPS and WORKSHOPS. If they are full, they most likely have a referral list of therapists offering sliding scale or low cost services,

  • It’s okay to ask therapists if they offer sliding scale or low-cost services. Many have a few spots for the week. They can also put you on a waiting list if they have one.

Text Lines

Geek Therapy Community

  • Gamer Therapist - I consult, write and teach about the interface between online technologies & psychotherapy. In particular I focus on the use of video games from a psychodynamic perspective. I provide private supervision for psychotherapists who are seeking to start, grow, & market their private practice. I’m really excited about the seismic shifts in how we can practice psychotherapy in a Web 2.0 (and beyond) world.

  • Blue Box Counseling - LMFT, LADC: I specialize in working with clients who consider themselves to be outside the mainstream: Geeks, LGBTQIA+, Secular community, etc. I primarily use a narrative approach that incorporates pop culture (modern mythologies) to explore clients' stories. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

  • RPG Reseach Project Community - A repository of published studies related to role playing games and their effects on participants. The community's goals are to establish educational and therapeutic effects while being able to implement evidenced-based interventions for services provided through the organization.

  • Rise Above the Disorder - Nonprofit that connects gamers to free to low-cost therapists who understand the world of gamers, now including all people, LGBTQ+ affirmative. Social workers are connected to local therapists to help find a good-fit therapist for you. (Formerly Anxiety Gaming)

  • The Telos Project - Nonprofit aimed at improving the quality and access to mental health services in Texas.

  • Kelli Dunlap, PsyD. - Psychologist & Game Designer (not practicing therapy)

  • Victims & Villains - We are suicide prevention nerd news podcast. We tallk about everything in pop culture, while raising awareness of hope for those who are suicidal, depressed, self-harmful and addiction. Every event we do, we partner with local therapists and churches in that respective area to see breakthrough for suicide.

  • Empowered Therapy - Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in both MN and IL. Empowered Therapy is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and trauma informed care for individuals and couples in Chicago and the surrounding area.

  • Clear Mind Group - Clinical hypnotherapy. Short term therapies. Specialize in trauma & entrepreneurs. Individuals, families, and couples. Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

  • Adam Johns Therapy - Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in Geeks and Gamers. Counseling and consulting services focused on the intersection of therapy and geek and gaming culture. Located in Seattle, Washington.

  • Rolling For Change, LLC - LPC specializing in anxiety disorders, trauma, and self esteem. I use board games, music, and other experiential modalities to help clients meet there goals. I also run the Rolling for Change podcast with Josue Cardona and Brian Peace. Located in Atlanta, Georgia.

Geek Therapy Websites (Mental health):

  • www.youarerad.org Nonprofit that advocates for mental health accessibility for all. (Gamer inclusive)

  • www.takethis.org Nonprofit that advocates for geek mental health, and provides safe spaces for attendees at conventions through their AFK room (run by trained mental health volunteers)

  • www.anykey.org Nonprofit aimed at increasing representation in the gaming community through outreach, workshops on online harassment, and white papers on diversity in gaming.

  • http://www.sugargamers.com/ Founded as a community for female gamers, Sugar Gamers evolved into a hub for increasing representation in geek culture, and sharing perspectives in tech and gaming.

  • http://wheelhouseworkshop.com/ Therapeutic groups using table top games for the past 6 years, currently expanding to Game to Grow where more services will be offered.

  • Geek Therapy - Geek Therapy celebrates Mental Health and Geek Culture through podcasts, videos, blog posts, community outreach, education, and convention appearances.