Find Therapists, Counselors and Psychologists in Whittier, California
Find a therapist in Whittier, California that meets your needs. Browse our comprehensive list of affordable and licensed therapists in Whittier to find a professional specializing in counseling people with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, grief and more.
Chai Benson
MS, LMFT
14 years experience
I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California. My focus for the last 14 years has been to help people with their relationships and communicate better. I have led numerous anger management groups and worked with couples and families to meet their goals. Primarily, my experience has been with LGBT couples and individuals, African American families and women, single dads and Latino grandparents. Individually, I have helped those... Read More
I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California. My focus for the last 14 years has been to help people with their relationships and communicate better. I have led numerous anger management groups and worked... Read More
I am glad that you are reaching out for help; that is the first step and shows a tremendous amount of strength and courage on your part. I am a licensed marriage and family therapist in the state of California with over 25 years of counseling experience. I have worked with clients with many different struggles including addiction, relational issues, depression, anxiety, empowerment and self-esteem issues. I use many different therapeutic... Read More
I am glad that you are reaching out for help; that is the first step and shows a tremendous amount of strength and courage on your part. I am a licensed marriage and family therapist in the state... Read More
Welcome! I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist through the Board of Behavioral Sciences for the state of California #99355 and the Counselor, Social Worker & Marriage and Family Therapist Board in Ohio #F.1800080. Providing therapy and helping others is my passion and purpose! I work best with those who are ready for and motivated towards a pivotal change. I use a down to earth and open minded approach as I partner with... Read More
Welcome! I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist through the Board of Behavioral Sciences for the state of California #99355 and the Counselor, Social Worker & Marriage and Family Therapist Board in Ohio #F.1800080. Providing therapy and helping... Read More
Welcome and thank you for visiting my BetterHelp profile! Seeking therapy takes a great deal of courage and I commend you for exploring therapy as a tool for self-exploration and growth. Many people find that building a supportive and collaborative relationship with their therapist contributes to the overall effectiveness and success of therapy. I strive to offer a safe and non-judgmental environment with a commitment to placing the highest priority on your care. We will... Read More
Welcome and thank you for visiting my BetterHelp profile! Seeking therapy takes a great deal of courage and I commend you for exploring therapy as a tool for self-exploration and growth. Many people find that building a supportive and collaborative... Read More
Hi, I'm Kelli and I'm a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in California. I have provided therapy services in Utah and California, and have been doing so for the last 4 years. I am passionate about the work I do and truly find it rewarding to be able to help someone through a challenging time in their life. I value the opportunity to empower my clients and help them to be their best selves.It is so... Read More
Hi, I'm Kelli and I'm a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in California. I have provided therapy services in Utah and California, and have been doing so for the last 4 years. I am passionate about the work I do and... Read More
I am a licensed Marriage Family Therapist in California. This includes the treatment of individuals. I have experience as a practicing psychotherapist and Life Coach. I treat anxiety, depression,post traumatic stress, sexuality, marriage/ relationship issues, stress, addictions, self esteem, career issues and a desire to increase your sense of happiness,well being and personal growth. I have expertise in Anger Management.. My approach is a combination of a humanistic strength based approach as well as... Read More
I am a licensed Marriage Family Therapist in California. This includes the treatment of individuals. I have experience as a practicing psychotherapist and Life Coach. I treat anxiety, depression,post traumatic stress, sexuality, marriage/ relationship issues, stress, addictions,... Read More
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I earned my Masters in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University in 2011, and I have been working as a therapist since that time. I work with clients who are dealing with anxiety, depression, career concerns, substance abuse, LGBT issues, family and relationship issues, and coping with chronic illnesses. I utilize various types of therapy in my practice, such as, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT),... Read More
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I earned my Masters in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University in 2011, and I have been working as a therapist since that time. I work with clients who are... Read More
During the past nineteen years, I have worked as an integral member of a multidisciplinary treatment team providing therapeutic intervention, case management and chemical dependency counseling for a large diverse patient population in an acute psychiatric hospital setting.
As a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist, I have consistently demonstrated a high level of professionalism, therapeutic innovation and ethically responsible approach with resolving the critical issues encountered by our patients. I believe that this quote by Emmett Fox... Read More
During the past nineteen years, I have worked as an integral member of a multidisciplinary treatment team providing therapeutic intervention, case management and chemical dependency counseling for a large diverse patient population in an acute psychiatric hospital setting.
As a Licensed... Read More
Welcome, I’m Jessica, and my goal is to provide a supportive environment as well as to equip you with the tools you need to empower yourself and maintain positive changes in your life. I enjoy the work I do and find the therapeutic relationship to be a powerful component of this long-lasting change. I have my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Communication from the University of California, Santa Barbara. My Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology... Read More
Welcome, I’m Jessica, and my goal is to provide a supportive environment as well as to equip you with the tools you need to empower yourself and maintain positive changes in your life. I enjoy the work I do and... Read More
Hello, and congratulations for taking that important first step toward feeling better. My name is Deborah Corey and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in managing depression and anxiety, ADHD, relationship counseling, career counseling, grief and loss, conflict resolution, and social/communication skill building. I have been counseling people from all walks of life for over 15 years and I love what I do. My clients have told... Read More
Hello, and congratulations for taking that important first step toward feeling better. My name is Deborah Corey and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in managing depression and anxiety, ADHD, relationship counseling, career counseling, grief and... Read More
An Overview of Mental Health in Whittier, California
Just 12 miles from Los Angeles, Whittier is home to just over 87,000 people inside its 14.8 square miles. This is one of the more economically stable areas with a median household income of $73,886 as of 2016, which was higher than the state median at that time by about $6,000. Estimated median real estate values in Whittier are approximately $30,000 higher than the state median. The population of the city is predominantly Hispanic (66.3 percent), followed by 25 percent Caucasian people, and 5.4 percent Asian residents. The remaining individuals are from a variety of groups each representing less than 1 percent of the population.
Another appealing aspect of living in Whittier is the crime rate of 248.9 incidents per 100,000 residents, which is lower than the national average. Only a small percentage of crimes are violent with the vast majority being offenses against property. Jobs are plentiful, and the unemployment rate of 4.8 percent is lower than the state average as well. Even the weather contributes to the pleasantness of living in Whittier. Typical for this part of California, Whittier receives much less precipitation than the rest of the United States through the spring and summer months.
However, even in this idyllic setting, people still need help dealing with mental health challenges and their overall emotional well-being. As part of Los Angeles County, Whitter was evaluated as part of the Community Health Needs Assessment published in 2016 by PIH Health Hospitals. Los Angeles County did not meet its targets in terms of mental and behavioral health when compared to the rest of the state and the Healthy People 2020 benchmarks. The same was true for substance abuse. Mental health care was one of the top three health issues, along with obesity and cardiovascular disease, found to be having a severe or very severe impact on the community.
Barriers to Mental Health Care in Whittier, California
Whittier is part of Service Planning Area 7 in the Community Health Needs Assessment. In this region, respondents indicated that mental health needs were significant.
Of adults responding, 9.2 percent reported serious psychological distress in the last year.
Approximately 21 percent indicated needing help for emotional and/or substance abuse issues in the past year. However, only 12.2 percent of the population actually received that type of help.
Almost half of the responding population reported needing mental health and/or substance abuse services and being unable to access it.
For teenagers responding to the survey, 18.9 percent reported needing help with emotional or mental health difficulties in the past year. Stress is cited as a primary cause of mental health distress among teens.
The community includes a high percentage of foreign born and non-English speakers. This population is more susceptible to a perceived stigma associated with seeking out help with mental health difficulties.
In spite of increasing availability of insurance coverage for behavioral and mental health services, copays and deductibles are high and benefits are limited.
Innovation in Whittier, California
As awareness has grown about these issues, the Whittier Police Department and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) entered into an innovative partnership. Together these two agencies create the Whittier Mental Health Evaluation Team (WMHET). Officers and mental health professionals work together to handle calls involving people who may be experiencing a mental health crisis. The teams can also respond to situation that call for a social services intervention. Once the initial emergency has passed, the WMHET arranges for follow up and ongoing care. Besides leading to better outcomes for consumers, this approach has led to an improved relationship between law enforcement and the provider community.
How to Find the Help You Need in Whittier, California
If you’re looking for the help of a qualified mental health professional in Whittier, E-Counseling.com offers a directory to help you find the information you need quickly and anonymously. This comprehensive list includes each provider’s credentials, level of experience, and any specialties. You can also read a statement written by each counselor or therapist, so you can get a sense of how he or she approaches the therapeutic relationship. Consumers find this helpful in identifying someone they can work with comfortably without having to waste time on phone calls and visits that don’t help them get better.
