Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) Therapists in California
Hi, I’m Kari, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Registered Dietitian. I support individuals experiencing anxiety and depression, struggling with an eating disorder, caught in addiction, or navigating a life transition. I have specialized training in the treatment of eating disorders and common co-occurring disorders such as OCD, ADHD, Borderline Personality Disorder, and substance use. I also support people who want to improve their lives by setting healthier boundaries, building confidence, and living more aligned to their values.
Hi, I’m Kari, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Registered Dietitian. I support individuals experiencing anxiety and depression, struggling with an eating disorder, caught in addiction, or navigating a life transition. I have specialized training in the treatment of eating disorders and common co-occurring disorders such as OCD, ADHD, Borderline Personality Disorder, and substance use. I also support people who want to improve their lives by setting healthier boundaries, building confidence, and living more aligned to their values.
I also provide therapy for all ages to offer support to those struggling with navigating difficult emotions or experiencing challenges with behavioral or emotional regulation, making or maintaining relationships, building effective psychological flexibility, understanding or becoming your most authentic self, disability awareness/ acceptance, and more.
I believe that we all have a unique brain narrative and the more you know about yourself, the more engaged you can be in creating a life that stays true to your authentic self. Gaining an understanding of your emotional, behavioral, and cognitive narrative can provide insights about your work/career development, learning, relationships, and beyond. Assessment allows you to understand your strengths and weaknesses and better understand how your brain processes information. Similarly, therapy is an experience that allows you to expand your knowledge base, skillset, and understanding of your world.
I also provide therapy for all ages to offer support to those struggling with navigating difficult emotions or experiencing challenges with behavioral or emotional regulation, making or maintaining relationships, building effective psychological flexibility, understanding or becoming your most authentic self, disability awareness/ acceptance, and more.
I believe that we all have a unique brain narrative and the more you know about yourself, the more engaged you can be in creating a life that stays true to your authentic self. Gaining an understanding of your emotional, behavioral, and cognitive narrative can provide insights about your work/career development, learning, relationships, and beyond. Assessment allows you to understand your strengths and weaknesses and better understand how your brain processes information. Similarly, therapy is an experience that allows you to expand your knowledge base, skillset, and understanding of your world.
Hi! I'm Dr. Lara South, a clinical psychologist licensed in CA and NY. I do not believe one approach fits everyone, so I tailor treatment to each client's unique needs. I welcome people from all backgrounds that are facing many types of challenges. The most common areas my clients seek support for include issues around neurodivergence, stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma. I have worked with clients with diverse backgrounds across age, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, marital status, parental status, socioeconomic status, religion, sexual orientation, relationship orientation, and disability status.
Hi! I'm Dr. Lara South, a clinical psychologist licensed in CA and NY. I do not believe one approach fits everyone, so I tailor treatment to each client's unique needs. I welcome people from all backgrounds that are facing many types of challenges. The most common areas my clients seek support for include issues around neurodivergence, stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma. I have worked with clients with diverse backgrounds across age, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, marital status, parental status, socioeconomic status, religion, sexual orientation, relationship orientation, and disability status.
I help people create meaningful, lasting change by guiding them through a process of deep self-awareness, healing, and intentional action. My clients often discover increased self-worth, a deeper sense of confidence, and stronger, more authentic relationships. Together, we work to uncover and break through limiting beliefs, making space for growth, resilience, and transformation. My approach empowers you to reconnect with your truest self while fostering clarity, emotional balance, and a renewed sense of hope.
I help people create meaningful, lasting change by guiding them through a process of deep self-awareness, healing, and intentional action. My clients often discover increased self-worth, a deeper sense of confidence, and stronger, more authentic relationships. Together, we work to uncover and break through limiting beliefs, making space for growth, resilience, and transformation. My approach empowers you to reconnect with your truest self while fostering clarity, emotional balance, and a renewed sense of hope.
I am devoted to providing a safe place for individuals seeking to learn to practice self-compassion and self- acceptance.
I believe in the power validation and empowerment has in reducing strong feelings of guilt and shame. By providing a safe and positive space for you to explore your core values and strengths, I hope to support you in creating growth and healing within yourself. I utilize a combined approach of ACT, CBT, and strength based therapy to meet your therapy goals.
I am devoted to providing a safe place for individuals seeking to learn to practice self-compassion and self- acceptance.
I believe in the power validation and empowerment has in reducing strong feelings of guilt and shame. By providing a safe and positive space for you to explore your core values and strengths, I hope to support you in creating growth and healing within yourself. I utilize a combined approach of ACT, CBT, and strength based therapy to meet your therapy goals.
Mireya Peña
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
1 Endorsed
San Francisco, CA 94122
Waitlist for new clients
Do you or a loved one want to change your relationship with substances? I work with individuals, couples and families who are struggling with addiction and substance use through a harm reduction framework. Through this framework I pay special attention to creating a non-judgmental relationship with clients along every part of their relationship with substance use, be that with the goal of moderation or abstinence.
Do you or a loved one want to change your relationship with substances? I work with individuals, couples and families who are struggling with addiction and substance use through a harm reduction framework. Through this framework I pay special attention to creating a non-judgmental relationship with clients along every part of their relationship with substance use, be that with the goal of moderation or abstinence.
Life can be hard, and everyone needs support sometimes. Congratulations on taking the first big step toward healing. I specialize in listening deeply and supporting individuals through life’s challenges. Each person’s journey is unique, which is why every session is tailored to your specific needs and goals. When you're ready to begin your therapy journey, I’m here to provide a safe, compassionate space.
Life can be hard, and everyone needs support sometimes. Congratulations on taking the first big step toward healing. I specialize in listening deeply and supporting individuals through life’s challenges. Each person’s journey is unique, which is why every session is tailored to your specific needs and goals. When you're ready to begin your therapy journey, I’m here to provide a safe, compassionate space.
Schyna treats patients depending on each client’s needs, she uses methods/therapeutic models including: play therapy, music, role play, and guided imagery, Cognitive-Behavioral, Humanistic, Person-centered, Holistic, Gestalt, Motivational Interviewing, Brief Solution-focused, Mindfulness, Trauma-focused, Gottman Couples. Schyna believes therapy is a healing conversation that provides clients with a safe, non-judgmental, person-centered, strengths-based and eclectic place to express their challenges, and help them to rediscover their strengths, talents and resources.
Schyna treats patients depending on each client’s needs, she uses methods/therapeutic models including: play therapy, music, role play, and guided imagery, Cognitive-Behavioral, Humanistic, Person-centered, Holistic, Gestalt, Motivational Interviewing, Brief Solution-focused, Mindfulness, Trauma-focused, Gottman Couples. Schyna believes therapy is a healing conversation that provides clients with a safe, non-judgmental, person-centered, strengths-based and eclectic place to express their challenges, and help them to rediscover their strengths, talents and resources.
My ideal client is the person who’s tired of suffering in silence; whether they’re overwhelmed, anxious, fighting old trauma, numbing with habits that aren’t helping, or crying in the dark while keeping it together for everyone else. They’re burnt out, disconnected from themselves, and ready for relief that lasts. They want a therapist who sees beyond the mask, gets the chaos behind the scenes, and can help them rebuild with real skills, real honesty, and real support.
My ideal client is the person who’s tired of suffering in silence; whether they’re overwhelmed, anxious, fighting old trauma, numbing with habits that aren’t helping, or crying in the dark while keeping it together for everyone else. They’re burnt out, disconnected from themselves, and ready for relief that lasts. They want a therapist who sees beyond the mask, gets the chaos behind the scenes, and can help them rebuild with real skills, real honesty, and real support.
Do you often feel overwhelmed, stuck, afraid of life's uncertainties? Are you having a hard time with self-worth, motivation, and problem solving? Therapy can help you navigate the difficulties you encounter in life and work towards personal growth and exploration. Making a commitment to therapy can help bring light to the patterns and behaviors that contribute to personal challenges. In therapy, I strive to collaborate with you to raise self-awareness and make meaningful change. The goal is to develop the tools that can guide you in approaching life's stressors as they occur.
Do you often feel overwhelmed, stuck, afraid of life's uncertainties? Are you having a hard time with self-worth, motivation, and problem solving? Therapy can help you navigate the difficulties you encounter in life and work towards personal growth and exploration. Making a commitment to therapy can help bring light to the patterns and behaviors that contribute to personal challenges. In therapy, I strive to collaborate with you to raise self-awareness and make meaningful change. The goal is to develop the tools that can guide you in approaching life's stressors as they occur.
My ideal Client would be someone struggling with very difficult circumstances in their interpersonal life. They may feel that things even look hopeless from their perspective. However; the Client comes to the first session and receives 30 CC's of hope, insight, and encouragement. They leave that first session with a clear understanding of their own personal goals that this therapist was able to help the Client discover. The objectives would be then identified from the Client's strengths, values, morals, and their own principles.
My ideal Client would be someone struggling with very difficult circumstances in their interpersonal life. They may feel that things even look hopeless from their perspective. However; the Client comes to the first session and receives 30 CC's of hope, insight, and encouragement. They leave that first session with a clear understanding of their own personal goals that this therapist was able to help the Client discover. The objectives would be then identified from the Client's strengths, values, morals, and their own principles.
Hi there, I'm Diane Mulhern. People call me Diane, Di and/or Diana. I am a licensed CA therapist now primarily working with adult clients via Statewide telehealth services. I consider clients to be the real experts on their lives and think of myself as a consultant whose job it is to explore meanings and find answers. Whatever the issues brought to a session, my underlying focus is to understand the client's reality, which allows us to further illuminate concerns and collaboratively navigate towards new possibilities, strengths, abilities, goals, and wiser decisions.
Hi there, I'm Diane Mulhern. People call me Diane, Di and/or Diana. I am a licensed CA therapist now primarily working with adult clients via Statewide telehealth services. I consider clients to be the real experts on their lives and think of myself as a consultant whose job it is to explore meanings and find answers. Whatever the issues brought to a session, my underlying focus is to understand the client's reality, which allows us to further illuminate concerns and collaboratively navigate towards new possibilities, strengths, abilities, goals, and wiser decisions.
Are you struggling with issues of depression, anxiety, grief, attachment, and meaning-making? I work collaboratively, from a client-centered approach, tapping into your own expertise about your life and your experience. I bring empathy and compassion to all issues, and use an integrative model of therapy to tailor treatment to each individual's specific needs. Drawing from psychodynamic and humanistic principles, I believe that we make changes in our lives when we are truly ready. I am here to help you explore any obstacles to change and find your motivation to grow into who you want to be.
Are you struggling with issues of depression, anxiety, grief, attachment, and meaning-making? I work collaboratively, from a client-centered approach, tapping into your own expertise about your life and your experience. I bring empathy and compassion to all issues, and use an integrative model of therapy to tailor treatment to each individual's specific needs. Drawing from psychodynamic and humanistic principles, I believe that we make changes in our lives when we are truly ready. I am here to help you explore any obstacles to change and find your motivation to grow into who you want to be.
With advanced training in EMDR, Brainspotting, ACT, DBT, and CBT, I take an integrative, mind–body approach to help clients regulate their nervous system, reduce anxiety, and support lasting emotional healing.
I specialize in helping adults, teens, and families heal from complex trauma and anxiety. Together, we explore how past and present traumatic experiences, chronic stress, and ongoing pressure continue to shape emotions, relationships, and daily reactions at home or school. Trauma doesn’t only live in memory—it lives in the nervous system, often showing up as emotional overwhelm, relationship conflict, perfectionism, or feeling stuck in survival mode. My work goes beyond coping strategies to help you build emotional regulation, healthy boundaries, and self-trust while learning to manage and respond to life’s demands with ease.
With advanced training in EMDR, Brainspotting, ACT, DBT, and CBT, I take an integrative, mind–body approach to help clients regulate their nervous system, reduce anxiety, and support lasting emotional healing.
I specialize in helping adults, teens, and families heal from complex trauma and anxiety. Together, we explore how past and present traumatic experiences, chronic stress, and ongoing pressure continue to shape emotions, relationships, and daily reactions at home or school. Trauma doesn’t only live in memory—it lives in the nervous system, often showing up as emotional overwhelm, relationship conflict, perfectionism, or feeling stuck in survival mode. My work goes beyond coping strategies to help you build emotional regulation, healthy boundaries, and self-trust while learning to manage and respond to life’s demands with ease.
Whether this is your first therapeutic rodeo or you need a tune-up and a fresh start, we will work together to help you reach your goals and create a a life that feels connected and aligned with your best self. If you struggle with eating, have an eating disorder, suspect you might have one; if you are struggling with anxiety, body image distress, depression, have endured trauma, or you just feel generally stuck, you can move towards recovery. Let's discover your path to a more peaceful and passionate life. Will it be fun? Sometimes. Will it be worth it? Yes, because you are.
Whether this is your first therapeutic rodeo or you need a tune-up and a fresh start, we will work together to help you reach your goals and create a a life that feels connected and aligned with your best self. If you struggle with eating, have an eating disorder, suspect you might have one; if you are struggling with anxiety, body image distress, depression, have endured trauma, or you just feel generally stuck, you can move towards recovery. Let's discover your path to a more peaceful and passionate life. Will it be fun? Sometimes. Will it be worth it? Yes, because you are.
I am committed to supporting clients in rebuilding trust with their voices and bodies through evidence-based care.
I'm here to provide a space for clients to show up authentically. I’m dedicated to fostering an environment where clients feel safe, seen, and supported. For the last 4 years, I’ve worked in a PHP/IOP treatment setting supporting clients on their eating disorder recovery journey. Sessions were geared towards increasing insight to patterns, learning effective coping strategies, and better managing co-occurring disorders such as anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and depression. I welcome clients in any stage of recovery.
I am committed to supporting clients in rebuilding trust with their voices and bodies through evidence-based care.
I'm here to provide a space for clients to show up authentically. I’m dedicated to fostering an environment where clients feel safe, seen, and supported. For the last 4 years, I’ve worked in a PHP/IOP treatment setting supporting clients on their eating disorder recovery journey. Sessions were geared towards increasing insight to patterns, learning effective coping strategies, and better managing co-occurring disorders such as anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and depression. I welcome clients in any stage of recovery.
Hello, my name is Lisa. I am an emerging therapist in telehealth services. I am privileged to have the opportunity to help you navigate through difficult and complex life stressors. My approach is collaborative, to ensure you feel heard and understood. I draw from evidence-based practices while respecting each person’s unique experience. My goal is to help you reconnect with your strengths, gain insight and move forward with greater confidence and clarity.
Hello, my name is Lisa. I am an emerging therapist in telehealth services. I am privileged to have the opportunity to help you navigate through difficult and complex life stressors. My approach is collaborative, to ensure you feel heard and understood. I draw from evidence-based practices while respecting each person’s unique experience. My goal is to help you reconnect with your strengths, gain insight and move forward with greater confidence and clarity.
My ideal clients are strong, capable people who feel weighed down by trauma, stress, or sudden life changes. They often appear high-functioning but inside feel anxious, disconnected, or burned out. What they need most is a safe, judgment-free space with someone who understands their struggles. Their goals are to regain control, ease symptoms, reconnect with loved ones, and rediscover who they are beyond the pain. Above all, they want real relief, hope, and a path forward they can trust.
My ideal clients are strong, capable people who feel weighed down by trauma, stress, or sudden life changes. They often appear high-functioning but inside feel anxious, disconnected, or burned out. What they need most is a safe, judgment-free space with someone who understands their struggles. Their goals are to regain control, ease symptoms, reconnect with loved ones, and rediscover who they are beyond the pain. Above all, they want real relief, hope, and a path forward they can trust.
We all have ideals-- how we think we should feel, how we feel we should think, how we want others to behave towards us, how we want our life to unfold. When reality doesn’t match our ideals, it can bring confusion, frustration, even despair. We may feel trapped between our ideals and reality, leading us to believe we are spinning in circles. I see the therapeutic process as one that allows for an exploration of these ideals and an opportunity to understand how they play a role in one’s relationship with self and with others. My hope is that, through this process, you will find a deeper clarity of your values, wants, and needs.
We all have ideals-- how we think we should feel, how we feel we should think, how we want others to behave towards us, how we want our life to unfold. When reality doesn’t match our ideals, it can bring confusion, frustration, even despair. We may feel trapped between our ideals and reality, leading us to believe we are spinning in circles. I see the therapeutic process as one that allows for an exploration of these ideals and an opportunity to understand how they play a role in one’s relationship with self and with others. My hope is that, through this process, you will find a deeper clarity of your values, wants, and needs.
I am a licensed therapist with over 20 years of experience working with individuals, couples, and families. My expertise includes anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship challenges. I hold a master's degree in clinical psychology and have advanced training in cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based approaches, also tailored to the unique experiences of ethnic minority communities.
I am a licensed therapist with over 20 years of experience working with individuals, couples, and families. My expertise includes anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship challenges. I hold a master's degree in clinical psychology and have advanced training in cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based approaches, also tailored to the unique experiences of ethnic minority communities.
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Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) Therapists
How does acceptance and commitment therapy work?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy encourages a person to listen to their self-talk. A person’s inner dialog can be indicative of how they treat themselves. ACT also encourages self-compassion; this can lead to a better understanding of negative thought patterns and emotional states. This understanding can then lead the individual to needed behavior change.
What are the goals of acceptance and commitment therapy?
The goal of acceptance and commitment is to expand a person’s psychological flexibility, a trait that encourages an individual to live in the present moment and to accept all their thoughts, feelings, and emotions, even ones that are difficult such as sadness and anxiety. In ACT, this acceptance is congruent with the individual’s values and beliefs.
Does acceptance and commitment therapy work for depression?
Acceptance and commitment therapy is effective for depression because it allows the individual to view their discomfort and suffering differently. Depressive feelings about relationship heartaches, for example, are a part of life. A despondent person learns to let go of their struggles and instead view their painful thoughts and feelings with compassion. This will lead the individual toward positive change.
How long are people typically in acceptance and commitment therapy?
A typical acceptance and commitment therapy session is 50 minutes long with one session per week. Treatment for common problems such as anxiety, depression, or relationship difficulties can last between eight weeks to four months. However, more severe cases may require more than one session a week and/or a longer time frame for treatment.