Therapists in San Francisco, CA
Michelle Sullivan
Psychologist
Verified Verified
San Francisco, CA 94116
“Tell me what you fear and I will tell you what has happened to you.” - D.W. Winnicott. A guiding principle of my therapy is linking the suffering of today to the root of why it is so painful. My interest and expertise has focused on: 1) Perinatal Mental Health (pregnancy, loss, infertility, and postpartum), 2) Couples Work (particularly grappling with issues of monogamy), and 3) Long-term Individual Psychotherapy (struggles with relationships, creativity, and being in touch with your true self). I believe in being Good Enough rather than striving to be the perfect (partner, parent, person).
“Tell me what you fear and I will tell you what has happened to you.” - D.W. Winnicott. A guiding principle of my therapy is linking the suffering of today to the root of why it is so painful. My interest and expertise has focused on: 1) Perinatal Mental Health (pregnancy, loss, infertility, and postpartum), 2) Couples Work (particularly grappling with issues of monogamy), and 3) Long-term Individual Psychotherapy (struggles with relationships, creativity, and being in touch with your true self). I believe in being Good Enough rather than striving to be the perfect (partner, parent, person).
Brenda Renee Cordova
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, LCSW
Verified Verified
San Francisco, CA 94110 (Online Only)
When distressing circumstances occur, they scramble the experiences and relationships we’ve worked hard for. I offer support to people in difficult and challenging life circumstances. Organizing those experiences, making sense of them, and the relationships surrounding them, whether it be relationships with others, or the relationship we have with ourselves. This work helps us better prepare for, and make healthier and more meaningful choices in life. Traumatic experiences further impact our relationship with others, ourselves and our life goals. I offer EMDR in order to reprocess traumatic events that may be impacting your life.
When distressing circumstances occur, they scramble the experiences and relationships we’ve worked hard for. I offer support to people in difficult and challenging life circumstances. Organizing those experiences, making sense of them, and the relationships surrounding them, whether it be relationships with others, or the relationship we have with ourselves. This work helps us better prepare for, and make healthier and more meaningful choices in life. Traumatic experiences further impact our relationship with others, ourselves and our life goals. I offer EMDR in order to reprocess traumatic events that may be impacting your life.
Reina Lynn Peterson
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
San Francisco, CA 94108
Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here. My name is Reina, and I am an integrative, holistic psychotherapist based in downtown San Francisco, California. I offer in-person services in San Francisco, as well as virtually throughout California. I work individually with adults of all ages, adolescents, and couples, and I run groups throughout the year. I tailor your sessions to your unique needs, drawing from various techniques and theories to support your innate wisdom and capacity for growth. I offer a free 20 minute phone or video consultation to see if we're a good fit. I look forward to hearing from you!
Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here. My name is Reina, and I am an integrative, holistic psychotherapist based in downtown San Francisco, California. I offer in-person services in San Francisco, as well as virtually throughout California. I work individually with adults of all ages, adolescents, and couples, and I run groups throughout the year. I tailor your sessions to your unique needs, drawing from various techniques and theories to support your innate wisdom and capacity for growth. I offer a free 20 minute phone or video consultation to see if we're a good fit. I look forward to hearing from you!
Laurel Salmon
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT
Verified Verified
San Francisco, CA 94114
Experiencing anxiety, depression, and trauma can be hard to navigate on one’s own. Through the use of integrative modalities, my goal is to help you find your way so that you can manage symptoms, feel your best, discover who you truly are, and move forward in the direction of your dreams whereby your past no longer holds you back. Using warmth and compassion, I also aim to provide trauma-informed care to discuss your struggles without judgment and safely process unresolved trauma and feelings.
Experiencing anxiety, depression, and trauma can be hard to navigate on one’s own. Through the use of integrative modalities, my goal is to help you find your way so that you can manage symptoms, feel your best, discover who you truly are, and move forward in the direction of your dreams whereby your past no longer holds you back. Using warmth and compassion, I also aim to provide trauma-informed care to discuss your struggles without judgment and safely process unresolved trauma and feelings.
Tessa Addison
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, FIPA
Verified Verified
San Francisco, CA 94102 (Online Only)
Not accepting new clients
Perhaps your relationships, career, or creative pursuits are not going as you would like. Challenges around identity and sense of self may be plaguing you. You may feel bogged down by feeling frustrated, unmotivated, anxious, overwhelmed, guilty, ashamed, or sad. Whatever your struggles, together we can help you better understand what’s going on and what may be getting in the way of change. I take as a basic premise that you are more than a collection of symptoms or a problem to be fixed and believe that you and what troubles you deserve our full attention and thorough exploration with the goal of long-term sustainable growth.
Perhaps your relationships, career, or creative pursuits are not going as you would like. Challenges around identity and sense of self may be plaguing you. You may feel bogged down by feeling frustrated, unmotivated, anxious, overwhelmed, guilty, ashamed, or sad. Whatever your struggles, together we can help you better understand what’s going on and what may be getting in the way of change. I take as a basic premise that you are more than a collection of symptoms or a problem to be fixed and believe that you and what troubles you deserve our full attention and thorough exploration with the goal of long-term sustainable growth.
Jeff Taylor
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified Verified
San Francisco, CA 94114
Many of my patients are adults and older adolescents struggling with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, grief/loss, life transitions, and relationship challenges. My therapeutic approach is warm, genuine, and engaging and often combines interpersonal, cognitive-behavioral, and attachment perspectives within a safe and collaborative therapeutic relationship. I am passionate about helping my patients to identify their inherent strengths and motivations for change while also bringing awareness to obstacles that may be blocking them from experiencing lives that feel fulfilling and meaningful.
Many of my patients are adults and older adolescents struggling with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, grief/loss, life transitions, and relationship challenges. My therapeutic approach is warm, genuine, and engaging and often combines interpersonal, cognitive-behavioral, and attachment perspectives within a safe and collaborative therapeutic relationship. I am passionate about helping my patients to identify their inherent strengths and motivations for change while also bringing awareness to obstacles that may be blocking them from experiencing lives that feel fulfilling and meaningful.
Jana Gottfried
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
San Francisco, CA 94110
Hello, my name is, Jana Gottfried, and I am a licensed clinical social worker. I am passionate about helping people work through issues around anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma, and life challenges. I work with people struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, issues of grief, life transitions, and issues around chronic illnesses. My therapeutic approach is with cognitive behavioral therapy because CBT gives you concrete tools to gain more control over your emotions and work through issues. I also use mindfulness, creative visualization exercises, to learn how to trust your own intuition and emotions.
Hello, my name is, Jana Gottfried, and I am a licensed clinical social worker. I am passionate about helping people work through issues around anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma, and life challenges. I work with people struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, issues of grief, life transitions, and issues around chronic illnesses. My therapeutic approach is with cognitive behavioral therapy because CBT gives you concrete tools to gain more control over your emotions and work through issues. I also use mindfulness, creative visualization exercises, to learn how to trust your own intuition and emotions.
Molly Paris
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified Verified
San Francisco, CA 94110
Sharing our inner experiences with someone can often feel frightening, which is exactly why I place such an importance on connection and acceptance in the therapeutic process. I aim to create a safe environment that will invite my clients to delve deeper into their personal narrative, as I truly believe we are not built to process emotions alone. As humans, we all have a propensity to grow and become our true selves, unfortunately we aren’t always gifted with the circumstances to allow it. I am passionate about creating a space for not only self-discovery and self-acceptance, but to allow clients to feel seen, heard, and valued.
Sharing our inner experiences with someone can often feel frightening, which is exactly why I place such an importance on connection and acceptance in the therapeutic process. I aim to create a safe environment that will invite my clients to delve deeper into their personal narrative, as I truly believe we are not built to process emotions alone. As humans, we all have a propensity to grow and become our true selves, unfortunately we aren’t always gifted with the circumstances to allow it. I am passionate about creating a space for not only self-discovery and self-acceptance, but to allow clients to feel seen, heard, and valued.
Ka Ming Lam
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified Verified
San Francisco, CA 94105 (Online Only)
I believe that there is always hope in any situation. With hope, we all may achieve our maximum potential if we can take away the roadblocks in our lives. Therapy is a controlled environment to gradually break down our obstacles into manageable chunks so that we can process and conquer them.
I believe that there is always hope in any situation. With hope, we all may achieve our maximum potential if we can take away the roadblocks in our lives. Therapy is a controlled environment to gradually break down our obstacles into manageable chunks so that we can process and conquer them.
Robert A Liss
Psychologist, PhD
Verified Verified
San Francisco, CA 94117
I believe that the most important trait that leads to a successful outcome is motivation to learn about oneself. This is the essence of desire- or willingness- to change. I am trained as a psycho-analyst, and try to apply the essential understanding of people that psycho-analytic theory and practice, even when- as is usually the case- the psycho-analtyic method is not indicated, for reasons of time, money, and/or practicality. I work with all kinds of people, but feel that the common denominator is a strong motivation to examine oneself honestly and forthrightly, and to interact emotionally.
I believe that the most important trait that leads to a successful outcome is motivation to learn about oneself. This is the essence of desire- or willingness- to change. I am trained as a psycho-analyst, and try to apply the essential understanding of people that psycho-analytic theory and practice, even when- as is usually the case- the psycho-analtyic method is not indicated, for reasons of time, money, and/or practicality. I work with all kinds of people, but feel that the common denominator is a strong motivation to examine oneself honestly and forthrightly, and to interact emotionally.
Dr. Jaime Bercuson
Psychologist, PsyD, MS, BA
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
San Francisco, CA 94115 (Online Only)
Dr. Jaime Bercuson is a licensed clinical psychologist in California, Florida, and Utah. With more than 15 years of experience, Dr. Bercuson's compassionate and non-judgmental approach to addressing anxiety, depression, coping with life changes and stressors at work and at home will help you get to where you want to be. Using Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, along with supportive listening and reflection, Dr. Bercuson is ready to work with you to meet your goals. She is happy to connect with you for a free consult to learn more about you and what you are hoping to achieve in you work together.
Dr. Jaime Bercuson is a licensed clinical psychologist in California, Florida, and Utah. With more than 15 years of experience, Dr. Bercuson's compassionate and non-judgmental approach to addressing anxiety, depression, coping with life changes and stressors at work and at home will help you get to where you want to be. Using Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, along with supportive listening and reflection, Dr. Bercuson is ready to work with you to meet your goals. She is happy to connect with you for a free consult to learn more about you and what you are hoping to achieve in you work together.
15 Second Videos
Reina Lynn Peterson
Jaime Bercuson
Rick Pomfret
Tanisha Thelemaque
Charlene A. Dunkley
Barbara C Maresca
Cecilia (Ceci) Walken
Victoria Storr
Nico Vogelsang
Larisa Southerland
Justin D'Avella
Sara Fischer Sanford
Giulia P. Davis
Sebastian Earl
Gay Therapy Center
Sean Robertson
Nicole Lako
Caroline Wessling
Chay Tanchanco
Kayla Haberern
Kim Jones
Amy Backos
Lea Reyes | Relationships
Fiona Walsh Dinan
Ilya Parizhsky
Dustin Kerrone
Stephen Jacob Coffey
Michael Griffith
Pacific Marriage & Family Therapy Network
Nathalie Servin
Joseph Choy
Amilia Rodriguez
California Center for Change
Tara Pratt
Brooke Bendix
Ken Stamper
Debbie Cherry Lmft - Couples Therapy
David McCarthy
Whitney Richards
Couture Counseling
Maureen “Eula Lys” Backman
Faye Mariefel Ocomen
Leanne Jones
Saarah D Nicolas
Madi Marcus
Lucy Klein
Lisa Abdilova Andresen
Anthony Morice
Tracy Vadakumchery
Elizabeth Owens
Barri Pitkoff Aji
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified Verified
San Francisco, CA 94115 (Online Only)
Is anxiety or depression preventing you from living the life you want? Are you longing for fulfilling relationships with others, but unable to attain them? I have helped adults and adolescents figure out what's blocking them and create happier and more fulfilling lives for over twenty years.
Is anxiety or depression preventing you from living the life you want? Are you longing for fulfilling relationships with others, but unable to attain them? I have helped adults and adolescents figure out what's blocking them and create happier and more fulfilling lives for over twenty years.
Matthew Chappell
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, ACM-SW
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
San Francisco, CA 94131
I provide compassionate, calm, warm, collaborative, direct psychotherapy influenced by a variety of psychological modalities. I believe much may be accomplished through the trusted relationship between the therapist and a person in a safe, comfortable environment. And growth accomplished by an in-depth look at serious life experiences. I provider both brief and long term psychotherapy.
I provide compassionate, calm, warm, collaborative, direct psychotherapy influenced by a variety of psychological modalities. I believe much may be accomplished through the trusted relationship between the therapist and a person in a safe, comfortable environment. And growth accomplished by an in-depth look at serious life experiences. I provider both brief and long term psychotherapy.
Theresa Carpinito Kira
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
San Francisco, CA 94102 (Online Only)
I work with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, disordered eating, body image concerns, relationship issues, life/role transitions, attachment issues, and trauma. I focus on trying to help my clients identify what is important to them and to find ways to live a more rich and meaningful life. I help to uncover what negative beliefs or patterns might be keeping them stuck while helping to shift perspective on their distress and find ways to move forward. I see adults only in my practice.
I work with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, disordered eating, body image concerns, relationship issues, life/role transitions, attachment issues, and trauma. I focus on trying to help my clients identify what is important to them and to find ways to live a more rich and meaningful life. I help to uncover what negative beliefs or patterns might be keeping them stuck while helping to shift perspective on their distress and find ways to move forward. I see adults only in my practice.
Naomi Muzac
Associate Clinical Social Worker, ACSW
Verified Verified
San Francisco, CA 94102
Hello and welcome! My name is Naomi and I am an Associate Clinical Social Worker. I identify as a queer woman of color and my pronouns are she/her. My focus in this practice is to provide trauma informed, identity-affirming psychotherapy to individuals with mood disorders. I work with each person to understand their unique needs and to build a genuine connection based on mutual respect and transparency. I have worked with folks from diverse backgrounds and I strive to be inclusive of individual and community needs. I believe that through building a strong therapeutic alliance, considerable growth and healing are possible.
Hello and welcome! My name is Naomi and I am an Associate Clinical Social Worker. I identify as a queer woman of color and my pronouns are she/her. My focus in this practice is to provide trauma informed, identity-affirming psychotherapy to individuals with mood disorders. I work with each person to understand their unique needs and to build a genuine connection based on mutual respect and transparency. I have worked with folks from diverse backgrounds and I strive to be inclusive of individual and community needs. I believe that through building a strong therapeutic alliance, considerable growth and healing are possible.
Amanda Grumet
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT, APCC, DMA
Verified Verified
San Francisco, CA 94114
I love working with individual clients from teens to elders. It is a privilege to have a person's trust. I love to help clients in their 20's adjust to new independence after college and discover their passions and triumph over anxiety. I also enjoy helping adults over 65 manage life adjustments and build resilience. I very much value working with families and couples to resolve conflict and make decisions. I like to help clients improve romantic relationships, conflict with colleagues at work, and family dynamics. I speak multiple languages and am drawn to helping clients navigate cultural differences in couples and families.
I love working with individual clients from teens to elders. It is a privilege to have a person's trust. I love to help clients in their 20's adjust to new independence after college and discover their passions and triumph over anxiety. I also enjoy helping adults over 65 manage life adjustments and build resilience. I very much value working with families and couples to resolve conflict and make decisions. I like to help clients improve romantic relationships, conflict with colleagues at work, and family dynamics. I speak multiple languages and am drawn to helping clients navigate cultural differences in couples and families.
Jennifer Chance
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT
Verified Verified
7 Endorsed
San Francisco, CA 94122 (Online Only)
Starting therapy is a tremendous gesture of hope and self-love. It can also be scary or daunting to know where to begin. Whatever is bringing you to therapy right now- a break up, a loss, the overwhelm of being highly sensitive, the gut wrenching challenges of fertility struggles, the anticipation and transitions of pregnancy- will be explored with openness, curiosity and acceptance. We all struggle in life and are not meant to do it alone. Things really do get easier when we share what is hard with others.
Starting therapy is a tremendous gesture of hope and self-love. It can also be scary or daunting to know where to begin. Whatever is bringing you to therapy right now- a break up, a loss, the overwhelm of being highly sensitive, the gut wrenching challenges of fertility struggles, the anticipation and transitions of pregnancy- will be explored with openness, curiosity and acceptance. We all struggle in life and are not meant to do it alone. Things really do get easier when we share what is hard with others.
Trudy McMahon
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, AMFT
Verified Verified
San Francisco, CA 94123
I Work with individuals/ couples. My background is in substance misuse counseling. I work with trauma, anxiety, depression, body image/ disordered eating. I work in a relational way, that invites the client into the therapeutic process, setting goals, assigning homework if appropriate, coming up with ways to better resource in times of stress/ emotional overwhelm. I enjoy working with people who view themselves as sensitive beings, intuitive /empaths. I am somatically trained, which means I invite the body into the therapy, offering interventions such as mindfulness. I offer EMDR and somatic touch work: Relational Somatic Healing.
I Work with individuals/ couples. My background is in substance misuse counseling. I work with trauma, anxiety, depression, body image/ disordered eating. I work in a relational way, that invites the client into the therapeutic process, setting goals, assigning homework if appropriate, coming up with ways to better resource in times of stress/ emotional overwhelm. I enjoy working with people who view themselves as sensitive beings, intuitive /empaths. I am somatically trained, which means I invite the body into the therapy, offering interventions such as mindfulness. I offer EMDR and somatic touch work: Relational Somatic Healing.
Katie Ortiz
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
San Francisco, CA 94102 (Online Only)
I am here as a guiding tool, a means to an end. My purpose is to assist you on your journey, helping you navigate through your experiences and empowering you to apply the insights gained in therapy to your life.
I am here as a guiding tool, a means to an end. My purpose is to assist you on your journey, helping you navigate through your experiences and empowering you to apply the insights gained in therapy to your life.
Brianda DeCastro
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
San Francisco, CA 94102 (Online Only)
No matter who we are or what our background in life, much of our behavior is influenced by our unconscious mind, and I have learned that facing these unconscious motives in a relational therapy setting can lead to psychological healing, especially when combined with the physical body and somatic experiences. I enjoy engaging with clients in exploration, analysis, and reflective interpretation, and through this, developing a path of healing and growth.
No matter who we are or what our background in life, much of our behavior is influenced by our unconscious mind, and I have learned that facing these unconscious motives in a relational therapy setting can lead to psychological healing, especially when combined with the physical body and somatic experiences. I enjoy engaging with clients in exploration, analysis, and reflective interpretation, and through this, developing a path of healing and growth.
See more therapy options for San Francisco
Nearby Searches for San Francisco
- Alameda
- Albany
- Belvedere
- Belvedere Tiburon
- Brisbane
- Daly City
- Emeryville
- Oakland
- San Bruno
- Sausalito
- South San Francisco
- Tiburon
How does your Therapist compare?
Number of Therapists in San Francisco, CA
3,000+
Average cost per session
$189
Therapists in San Francisco, CA who prioritize treating:
93% | Anxiety |
87% | Depression |
81% | Relationship Issues |
75% | Self Esteem |
70% | Trauma and PTSD |
68% | Stress |
66% | Life Transitions |
Average years in practice
12 Years
Top 3 insurances accepted
69% | Aetna |
55% | UnitedHealthcare UHC | UBH |
54% | Cigna and Evernorth |
How Therapists in San Francisco, CA see their clients
55% | In Person and Online | |
45% | Online Only |
Gender breakdown
75% | Female | |
23% | Male | |
2% | Non-Binary |
FAQs - About Therapy and Counseling
How can I find a therapist in San Francisco?
Search for nearby therapists or counselors by inputting your city, town, or suburb; or zip code; or a provider’s name into the search bar. From there, you can filter providers by the issues they treat, cost, insurance, gender, and other factors to find providers who are well-suited to your needs. To navigate between locations within the same country, enter a new city or zip code into the search bar.
Learn more about how to find a therapist
Learn more about how to find a therapist
Is everyone in the Psychology Today Therapy Directory a licensed therapist?
The Psychology Today directory lists providers who offer legitimate mental health services to the public, including psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and counselors.
Many have been licensed by the country or state where they practice; providers whose license or primary credential has been verified by Psychology Today are signified by a “Verified” symbol. Some clinicians or organizations provide services for which their state or country does not offer licenses, such as pastoral counseling. They may be selectively included without the “Verified” seal.
Many have been licensed by the country or state where they practice; providers whose license or primary credential has been verified by Psychology Today are signified by a “Verified” symbol. Some clinicians or organizations provide services for which their state or country does not offer licenses, such as pastoral counseling. They may be selectively included without the “Verified” seal.
What’s the difference between a psychologist, a therapist, and a counselor?
Therapists, psychologists, and counselors are all licensed mental health professionals. In the US, psychologists have earned a doctoral degree. The terms “therapist” and “counselor” are used somewhat interchangeably, but generally therapists offer longer-term, mental health care, while counselors offer shorter-term care that may focus on one domain, such as marriage, career, or academic challenges.
Clients should consider factors such as insurance coverage and their primary reason(s) for seeking therapy to determine the type of professional best suited to their needs. Someone struggling with mental health challenges such as depression or anxiety, for example, may wish to seek out a clinical psychologist or therapist, while someone navigating career obstacles or marital upheaval may benefit from seeing a counselor who can offer short-term, targeted support.
Clients should consider factors such as insurance coverage and their primary reason(s) for seeking therapy to determine the type of professional best suited to their needs. Someone struggling with mental health challenges such as depression or anxiety, for example, may wish to seek out a clinical psychologist or therapist, while someone navigating career obstacles or marital upheaval may benefit from seeing a counselor who can offer short-term, targeted support.
What type of therapy is right for me?
The type of therapy best suited to a particular individual depends on several factors, including their primary reason for seeking therapy, their preferred timeline (some therapy types last for a set number of sessions, while others are open-ended), and their personality and preferences—some may prefer a more structured approach. For many individuals, multiple types of therapy could provide a good fit.
How much does therapy cost?
The cost of therapy depends on a number of variables, including location and the therapist’s experience and training. On average, a therapy session in the United States could cost between $100 and $200 or more. If you have insurance, the expense of mental health care is typically lower, but it varies based on your insurance plan details and whether you choose an in-network or out-of-network mental healthcare provider.
What are more affordable or low cost therapy solutions?
Many therapists offer sliding scale payments, usually on a limited number of slots, which consists in an agreement between the therapist and a client to pay a reduced rate. Therapists who provide such arrangements often consider the client's income or ability to pay, but the extent of the discount is ultimately at the therapist's discretion. Furthermore, while group therapy may have different goals and benefits compared to individual therapy, it can be a more affordable solution to address certain types of issues.
Is online therapy cheaper than in-person therapy?
Many therapists charge the same amount for online therapy as they do for in-person therapy—though clients may still find this cost-effective if it cuts down on their transportation costs. Health insurance plans often offer equivalent coverage for online and in-person therapy; indeed, in many places, they are legally required to do so. Text-based or on-demand therapy apps may be cheaper than traditional one-on-one psychotherapy; however, the practice may be less effective and is not likely to be covered by insurance.
Is online therapy a good option?
Therapy conducted online can be just as effective as in-person therapy, as long as there is a strong alliance between the client and the therapist. To find a therapist who provides telehealth services to clients in your area, click “Online Therapy” on the directory homepage and search by your city or town or your zip code.
Are therapy sessions confidential?
Confidentiality is a crucial part of the therapeutic relationship. Therapists in the United States are bound by the regulations set out by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), which aims to protect sensitive health information. With very few exceptions, a therapist will only discuss their client with others when the client has given their written permission. The instances in which a therapist would be required to disclose personal information are: if a client poses a danger to themselves or others, if the therapist suspects the abuse of a child or an elderly or otherwise dependent adult, or if they are legally forced to by court order. These exceptions to the confidentiality agreement are usually discussed with a client before their first session.