What’s the difference between in-person and virtual therapy?

Although there is no research that suggests in-person or virtual therapy is more effective, you may prefer one over the other. Some people prefer the intimacy of being in the same physical space as their therapist, while others prefer receiving treatment in the comfort of their own home. If you have a tight schedule, virtual therapy is a great option since you won’t commute to your therapist’s office. Virtual therapy also allows you to see any therapist throughout your state, which means one less barrier to finding your soulmate therapist!

When should someone start therapy?

Deciding when to start therapy is a very personal decision, but we recommend starting sooner rather than later. Along with running the risk of your mental health declining, you also miss out on time spent working on yourself, repairing your relationships, and so much more. Life is short, so why not make it the best possible as soon as possible?

What type of therapy is right for me?

Your therapist will carefully customize your treatment plan, and they will likely rely on a variety of therapeutic methods. There are some treatment methods that are better for specific disorders (like exposure therapy for OCD or phobias), but a combination of several will likely be the best option for you.

Is going to therapy worth it?

We’re huge advocates for therapy at Best Therapists, but we know that not everyone has a good experience in therapy. Working with a high quality therapist (with whom you have a great relationship) can be life changing. You can change harmful behaviors or thought patterns, shed or improve hurtful relationships, increase your resilience and coping methods for dealing with mental illness, and much more. We think that that’s pretty frigging worth it, but finding the right therapist for YOU is crucial to this equation.

What’s the difference between a psychotherapist and psychologist?

The main difference between psychotherapists and psychologists is their education. Psychologists receive more education, and in some cases, psychologists focus more on research than clinical work. But both therapists and psychologists go through hundreds of hours of clinical training. When choosing a therapist, the skill of the therapist and your relationship with them matters way more than which degree your therapist has.

Do therapists offer free consultations?

Yes, most therapists offer free consultations. This not only benefits you, but the therapist too! Therapists want to see if you are a good fit before doing an official therapy session with you to save you (and them) time and energy. Although your relationship has barely begun, you both will feel out your chemistry. You won’t be BFFs by the end of the consultation, but should get a sense of whether or not you’ll work well together.

The Best Therapists In Los Angeles, CA → Best Therapists

Hi, we’re Best Therapists.

We vet therapists, so you can focus on fit—not quality.

Through peer reviews, license verification, online reviews, and requiring acknowledgement of trauma-informed care, we do our best to make sure that your best therapist provides high quality care (and that's regardless of your race, sexual orientation, or background).

But your friend’s best therapist might not be your best therapist. That's why personality fit between you and your therapist is crucial. It’s not something that we can verify for you, so we encourage you to schedule free consultations with multiple therapists to get a sense of your chemistry together.

Why choose Best Therapists

There are plenty of therapist directories to choose from.

But other therapist directories like Psychology Today, Good Therapy, Choosing Therapy, and more have hundreds (if not thousands) of results for therapists in your city alone. The search for your best therapist becomes instantly overwhelming, which stops some therapy-seekers in their tracks. Our involved vetting process goes way beyond a basic license check (unlike the other guys), which simplifies YOUR search.

Finding the best therapist for you is hard enough, so we curate lists like these so you can get quality care as quickly and seamlessly impossible. And no need to check a therapist's availability or add your name to their waitlist—all Best Therapists are currently accepting new clients.

Not feeling any of the therapists on our list? No worries. Keep scrolling to find other vetted therapists in cities near you.

When to not choose Best Therapists

In some situations, we may not be the best therapist directory for you. For example...

If you are looking for free therapy or want therapy that's supplemented by another organization, Best Therapists isn't the best therapist directory for you.
If you're only open to seeing a therapist that's in-network with your insurance provider, Best Therapists might not be a good fit. Many of our therapists don't work directly with insurance companies, so we encourage you to check your out-of-network mental health benefits (use our free benefits checker). Don't let your insurance company prevent you from working with your soulmate therapist!
Finally, this site is not intended for medical emergencies. If you are in an immediate mental health crisis, please call the national suicide hotline at 988.

Want to learn more about starting therapy? Read our guide on how to start therapy.

Meet the best therapists* in Los Angeles.

What kind of therapist do you need?

Our process

Best therapists in Los Angeles

Best anxiety therapists

Camille Tenerife, LMFT

Carly Dosh, LCSW

Tessa Ritchie, LPCC

Best children and teen therapists

Ashley Hudson, LMFT

Chloe Bean, AMFT

Jonathan Monteverdi, LCSW

Monique Merritt Romick, LMFT

Best couples therapists

Eliza Monteverdi, LMFT

Kelli Penner, LMFT

Best depression therapists

Avital Schlesinger, LMFT

Sarah Finch, LMFT

Best EMDR therapists

Molly Vasa Bertolucci, LCSW

Jenny Flora Wells, ACSW

Best family therapists

Best grief therapists

Gabe Kenney, AMFT

Wendy Rolon, LMFT

Best OCD therapists

Regina Lazarovich, PhD

Best trauma therapists

Michelle King Rayfield, LMFT

Emily Morgan, LMFT

Natalie Alderson, LMFT

Frequently asked questions about therapy

Hi, we’re Best Therapists.

Why choose Best Therapists

When to not choose Best Therapists

Meet the best therapists* in Los Angeles.

What kind of therapist do you need?

Our process

Best therapists in Los Angeles

Best anxiety therapists

Camille Tenerife, LMFT

Carly Dosh, LCSW

Tessa Ritchie, LPCC

Best children and teen therapists

Ashley Hudson, LMFT

Chloe Bean, AMFT

Jonathan Monteverdi, LCSW

Monique Merritt Romick, LMFT

Best couples therapists

Eliza Monteverdi, LMFT

Kelli Penner, LMFT

Best depression therapists

Avital Schlesinger, LMFT

Sarah Finch, LMFT

Best EMDR therapists

Molly Vasa Bertolucci, LCSW

Jenny Flora Wells, ACSW

Best family therapists

Best grief therapists

Gabe Kenney, AMFT

Wendy Rolon, LMFT

Best OCD therapists

Regina Lazarovich, PhD

Best trauma therapists

Michelle King Rayfield, LMFT

Emily Morgan, LMFT

Natalie Alderson, LMFT

Frequently asked questions about therapy

Hi, we’re Best Therapists.

Why choose Best Therapists

When to not choose Best Therapists

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