Individual Therapy: One-on-One Mental Health Counseling Tailored to Your Unique Needs
When Individual Counseling Can Help: Recognizing Your Needs
People may seek therapy for help with issues ranging from everyday stress to more complex mental health concerns. If any of these experiences resonate with you, individual therapy may provide the support you’re looking for.
Common Reasons People Seek Individual Therapy
When worry becomes constant or sadness feels inescapable, it can affect every part of your life. You might feel like you’re just going through the motions, or perhaps anxiety keeps you from doing things you once enjoyed. Individual therapy provides a safe space to understand these feelings and develop coping skills that actually work for you. Unlike group therapy where you’re sharing time and attention with others, therapy is one-on-one, meaning every session focuses entirely on your experience and your path forward. A therapist can help you identify patterns, challenge unhelpful thoughts, and build strategies tailored to your unique needs.
Major life changes, whether expected or sudden, can shake your sense of stability. Career shifts, relationship changes, moves to new cities, loss of loved ones, or even positive transitions like becoming a parent can bring unexpected challenges. Going to therapy during these times isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a proactive choice to process change in a healthy way. In individual sessions, you have the freedom to explore how these transitions affect you specifically, without having to consider others’ perspectives or needs the way you might in family therapy. Your therapist becomes a steady presence as everything else shifts around you.
Relationship difficulties don’t always require couples or family therapy. Sometimes the patterns you’re experiencing in relationships stem from your own experiences, attachment style, or unresolved issues. Individual therapy helps you understand your role in relationship dynamics and develop healthier ways of connecting with others. You’ll explore your communication patterns, boundaries, and what you truly need from relationships. This self-awareness becomes the foundation for creating more fulfilling connections in all areas of your life.
The impact of trauma doesn’t have a timeline, and there’s no “right” way to heal. Whether you experienced something recently or years ago, if it’s still affecting you, individual therapy can help. One-on-one sessions provide the privacy and safety needed to process difficult experiences at your own pace. Your therapist will work with you to develop a treatment plan that respects your comfort level while gently helping you move toward healing. You’ll never be pushed to share more than you’re ready for, and the therapeutic approach adapts to what you need in each moment.
Grief affects everyone differently, and there’s no standard timeline for “getting over” a loss. Whether you’ve lost a person, a relationship, a job, your health, or even a version of yourself you once knew, individual therapy provides space to honor your grief without judgment. In one-on-one mental health treatment, you don’t have to worry about whether you’re grieving “correctly” or taking up too much space with your sadness. Your therapist helps you navigate the complex emotions of loss while supporting you in finding meaning and eventually moving forward when you’re ready.
You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit from individual therapy. Many people pursue counseling simply to understand themselves better, work toward personal goals, or create positive changes in their lives. Perhaps you want to build confidence, improve your decision-making, understand your patterns, or align your life more closely with your values. Therapy provides a dedicated space for this kind of personal growth, free from the distractions and demands of daily life. With evidence-based approaches tailored to your goals, individual therapy becomes an investment in becoming the person you want to be.
Less Common But Equally Valid Reasons for Therapy
When stress becomes your baseline and exhaustion feels permanent, it’s easy to convince yourself this is just how life is. But chronic stress and burnout are serious mental health issues that deserve attention. Individual therapy helps you examine the sources of stress, evaluate what’s within your control, and develop sustainable coping strategies. You’ll work on setting boundaries, managing perfectionism, and finding balance, all while someone witnesses the weight you’ve been carrying and helps you set it down.
Questions about who you are, what you believe, and what gives your life meaning aren’t always easy to explore alone. Individual therapy provides a space to examine these deeper questions without judgment. Whether you’re questioning your career path, exploring your identity, or trying to understand what truly matters to you, a therapist can guide this exploration. This is particularly valuable for LGBTQIA+ individuals navigating identity or people from marginalized communities working to define themselves outside of societal expectations.
Maybe you keep finding yourself in similar situations, making choices you later regret, or engaging in behaviors that don’t serve you. These patterns often have roots in past experiences or unmet needs. Individual counseling helps you understand why these patterns exist and develop new, healthier ways of responding. Whether you’re working on substance abuse issues, relationship patterns, self-sabotage, or other repetitive behaviors, therapy can help people overcome obstacles that have felt insurmountable on their own.
The constant pressure to be perfect or the persistent feeling that you’re not good enough can be exhausting and isolating. These struggles often show up as overworking, people-pleasing, or harsh self-criticism. In individual therapy, you can explore where these beliefs came from and work toward individual therapy and gain self-acceptance. You’ll challenge the inner critic, develop self-compassion, and learn to define success on your own terms rather than by impossible standards.
Whatever brings you to consider therapy, know this: your reasons are valid.
You don’t need to wait until things are unbearable. Therapy can help people at any point in their journey, whether you’re in crisis or simply ready to invest in your mental health and well-being.
75% of people
who attend therapy report positive benefits and improvement
Evidence-based
We use scientifically-supported approaches including CBT, DBT, and trauma-focused therapy
1 in 5 adults
experience mental health challenges each year.
Therapy helps
Therapy helps
Understanding Individual Psychotherapy:
What It Is and How It Works
Individual therapy, also known as counseling or psychotherapy, is one-on-one mental health treatment where you work one-on-one with a trained therapist to address mental health conditions, emotional challenges, and life difficulties. Unlike group therapy where you share space with others, individual therapy is one form that provides completely private, personalized support. Each therapy session is dedicated entirely to you, your experiences, and your therapeutic goals. This type of therapy creates a confidential space where you can speak freely without worrying about how others might react or judge.
The therapeutic relationship between you and your therapist is the foundation of effective therapy. This isn’t like talking to a friend or family member, your therapist brings professional training, objectivity, and specialized skills to help you understand yourself more deeply and make meaningful changes. Therapists are trained to listen without judgment, ask questions that illuminate patterns you might not see on your own, and provide tools grounded in psychological research. The counseling and psychological support you receive adapts to your individual’s unique needs, whether you’re dealing with a specific mental health condition or working on broader personal goals.
The Benefits of Individual Therapy
Research consistently shows that therapy provides significant benefits. The benefits of individual therapy extend beyond symptom reduction to include improved relationships, better coping skills, increased self-awareness, and enhanced quality of life.
The positive effects of good therapy extend to improved conditions long after therapy has ended, as you continue applying the skills and insights gained during treatment.
The positive effects of good therapy extend to improved conditions long after therapy has ended, as you continue applying the skills and insights gained during treatment.
How Therapy Differs from Other Support
While friends and family offer valuable support, therapy is different. Your therapist maintains professional boundaries, provides objective feedback, and offers specialized interventions based on psychological science.
You can expect confidentiality during therapy sessions, which means what you share stays private. This safety allows for deeper honesty and exploration than might be possible in other relationships.
You can expect confidentiality during therapy sessions, which means what you share stays private. This safety allows for deeper honesty and exploration than might be possible in other relationships.
Therapy Is More Accessible Than Ever
Despite the stigma surrounding mental health that once kept people from seeking help, attitudes are shifting. More people recognize that therapy to help with life challenges is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Mental health treatment is increasingly understood as essential healthcare, just like treating physical health concerns. Many insurance plans now provide coverage for psychotherapy, making professional support more accessible than ever before.
Mental health treatment is increasingly understood as essential healthcare, just like treating physical health concerns. Many insurance plans now provide coverage for psychotherapy, making professional support more accessible than ever before.
There are different types of individual therapy approaches, each with its own focus and techniques. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps you identify and change thought patterns that contribute to distress. Dialectical behavior therapy teaches emotional regulation and distress tolerance skills. Psychodynamic therapy explores how past experiences influence current patterns.
Humanistic approaches focus on personal growth and self-actualization. Your therapist will discuss these different types of individual therapeutic approaches with you to determine what might work best for your situation. Many therapists integrate multiple approaches, creating a personalized therapeutic approach that draws from various evidence-based methods.
Understanding Yourself Better
Gain clarity on patterns, triggers, and behaviors that have been holding you back in your life.
Break Unhelpful Patterns
Identify and change thought patterns and behaviors that no longer serve you or support your goals.
How Individual Therapy Helps You Thrive
Individual therapy provides a confidential, judgment-free space where you can explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with a trained professional. Unlike advice from friends or family, therapy offers evidence-based techniques tailored to your unique needs, helping you develop insight, build coping skills, and create lasting change in your life.
Develop Coping Tools
Learn practical strategies for managing stress, emotions, and life challenges effectively and with confidence.
Build Resilience
Strengthen your ability to handle future challenges with confidence, skill, and lasting emotional strength.
The Benefits of Individual Therapy:
How It Can Transform Your Life
Individual therapy provides structured support that helps you develop skills, gain insights, and create lasting change. Here’s how therapy help manifests in practical, meaningful ways.
Why Choose Relationship Counseling Center of California for Individual Therapy?
Finding the right therapist makes all the difference in your therapy experience. At Relationship Counseling Center of California, we combine expertise with genuine compassion to create a space where healing and growth can happen.
Who Can Benefit from Individual Therapy:
A Wide Range of Concerns
Individual therapy is versatile and can address countless issues. Here are some of the most common reasons people seek individual counseling:
Not sure if this is right for you?
Schedule a
free consultation
to talk through your specific situation with one of our therapists.
It’s natural to wonder whether you “need” therapy or whether your concerns are “serious enough.”
Here’s the truth:
If something in your life is causing you distress, affecting your functioning, or keeping you from being who you want to be, that’s reason enough to seek support. You don’t need a diagnosis or a crisis to benefit from individual therapy.
The best way to find out if therapy can help you is to schedule a consultation. We’ll discuss what brings you to counseling, explore whether our approach feels like a good fit, and help you understand what therapy might look like for your specific situation. There’s no obligation, just an open conversation about your needs and how we might support you.
What to Expect from Individual Therapy:
Your Journey from First Session to Ongoing Growth
Understanding the therapy process can reduce anxiety about starting. Here’s what your journey with individual therapy typically looks like at Relationship Counseling Center of California.
Step 1: Free Consultation (10 minutes)
Before you commit to therapy, we offer a free phone consultation to discuss what brings you to counseling and whether we might be a good fit for each other. This brief conversation gives you a chance to ask questions, share a bit about what you’re dealing with, and get a sense of our approach. We’ll explain how individual therapy works, what you can expect from the process, and answer any practical questions about scheduling, fees, or insurance. This is a no-pressure conversation designed to help you make an informed decision about whether to move forward.
Step 2: Your First Session : Your Intake Appointment
In your first full session, we’ll spend time understanding your history and what you’re hoping to address through therapy. This includes identifying the traumatic memories or distressing experiences that are most affecting your life right now. We’ll also talk about your current symptoms, your support system, and any concerns you have about the therapy process.
Step 3: Developing Your Personalized Treatment Plan
After getting to know you and your situation, we collaboratively create a treatment plan tailored to your needs. This plan outlines your specific goals, the therapeutic approaches we’ll use, and how we’ll measure progress. The plan includes both short-term objectives and longer-term aims, giving structure to our work while remaining flexible enough to adjust as needed. You’ll have input into every aspect of this plan, ensuring the therapy reflects what matters most to you. This collaborative planning process typically happens across the first few sessions as we develop a clearer picture of your needs and goals.
Step 4: Active Individual Sessions: The Core Work
Once your treatment plan is in place, the ongoing individual sessions become the heart of your therapy. These one-on-one sessions typically occur weekly, though frequency can be adjusted based on your needs and circumstances. Each therapy session builds on the previous ones, with time spent processing experiences, learning new skills, exploring patterns, and working toward your goals. Between sessions, you might have exercises or practices to try, helping you apply insights and skills to your daily life. The therapeutic relationship deepens over time, creating increasingly safe space for honest exploration and meaningful change.
Step 5: Progress Review and Adjustment
Throughout your therapy, we regularly check in about what’s working and what might need adjustment. Therapy is often a dynamic process, not a rigid protocol. As you grow and change, your needs may shift. Perhaps you’ve made significant progress on initial goals and are ready to focus on new areas. Or maybe a particular approach isn’t resonating and we need to try something different. This ongoing evaluation ensures therapy remains relevant and effective. When you’ve achieved your therapeutic goals and feel ready, we’ll work together on ending therapy in a way that honors the work you’ve done and prepares you to maintain your gains independently.
Timeline and Duration:
How Long Does Therapy Take?
The length of therapy varies tremendously based on what you’re working on and your personal goals. Short-term therapy focused on a specific issue might last 8-12 sessions, while deeper work on longstanding patterns or complex trauma might continue for many months or even years. Psychosocial therapy addressing multiple life areas typically requires more time than targeted symptom management.
Therapy may move faster or slower than you initially expect, that’s normal. Some people experience rapid shifts in perspective and symptoms, while others need more time to build trust and feel safe enough for deeper work. There’s no “right” timeline. What matters is that you’re making progress toward your treatment goals at a pace that feels right for you.
We’ll discuss expectations about duration during your early sessions, but these are always estimates, not commitments. Some people benefit from periodic “check-in” sessions even after their primary therapy work is complete, providing ongoing support during new challenges. Others complete therapy and feel confident managing independently. Both approaches are perfectly valid, and the choice is always yours.
Therapists Who Specialize in Individual Therapy
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LCSW #76698
she/her
LCSW #76698
she/her
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
AMFT #138218
she/her
AMFT #138218
she/her
Associate Clinical Social Worker
ACSW #114824
she/her
ACSW #114824
she/her
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
AMFT #141376
she/her
AMFT #141376
she/her
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
LPCC #19185
she/her
LPCC #19185
she/her
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
AMFT #130104
she/her
AMFT #130104
she/her
Common Questions About Individual Therapy
Individual therapy is one type of treatment where you work exclusively with a therapist in private, one-on-one sessions. Unlike group therapy, where multiple participants share the therapist’s attention and time, all therapy include your therapist’s complete focus on you and your unique situation. While group therapy can be valuable for learning from others’ experiences and practicing social skills, individual therapy offers deeper personalization and privacy.
You don’t need to worry about others’ reactions or take turns sharing time. Everything in the session is about your needs, your goals, and your growth. Some people do both, using individual therapy for deeper personal work and group therapy for specific skills or peer support.
You don’t need to worry about others’ reactions or take turns sharing time. Everything in the session is about your needs, your goals, and your growth. Some people do both, using individual therapy for deeper personal work and group therapy for specific skills or peer support.
A typical therapy session lasts 50-60 minutes. You and your therapist will talk about what’s been happening in your life, how you’ve been feeling, and any challenges or insights that have come up since your last session. Depending on the type of therapy and what you’re working on, sessions might include exploring feelings and memories, learning and practicing new skills, identifying unhelpful thought patterns, or working through specific situations.
Your therapist can help you understand patterns, challenge assumptions, provide new perspectives, and suggest strategies for managing difficulties. The session of therapy often focuses on both immediate concerns and longer-term goals, balancing present support with working toward lasting change.
Your therapist can help you understand patterns, challenge assumptions, provide new perspectives, and suggest strategies for managing difficulties. The session of therapy often focuses on both immediate concerns and longer-term goals, balancing present support with working toward lasting change.
Yes, confidentiality is fundamental to therapy. With rare exceptions required by law (such as when there’s imminent danger to yourself or others, or suspected child or elder abuse), what you share in therapy stays private. Your therapist won’t discuss your sessions with anyone without your written permission.
You can expect confidentiality during therapy sessions as a core part of the therapeutic relationship. This privacy creates the safety needed for you to be completely honest about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. If you have specific questions about confidentiality, your therapist will explain the exact limits during your first session.
You can expect confidentiality during therapy sessions as a core part of the therapeutic relationship. This privacy creates the safety needed for you to be completely honest about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. If you have specific questions about confidentiality, your therapist will explain the exact limits during your first session.
The duration of therapy varies widely depending on your goals and what you’re working on. Therapy may last anywhere from a few weeks to many months or even years. Some people come for short-term therapy to address a specific crisis or learn particular skills, which might take 6-12 sessions.
Others engage in longer-term therapy to work through complex issues, change deep patterns, or support ongoing personal growth. There’s no single “right” length. The key is that therapy continues to feel helpful and aligned with your goals. You and your therapist will periodically discuss progress and whether ongoing sessions still make sense for you.
Others engage in longer-term therapy to work through complex issues, change deep patterns, or support ongoing personal growth. There’s no single “right” length. The key is that therapy continues to feel helpful and aligned with your goals. You and your therapist will periodically discuss progress and whether ongoing sessions still make sense for you.
Progress in therapy isn’t always linear or obvious, but there are signs that therapy can help people move toward their goals. You might notice you’re handling difficult situations more effectively, feeling less overwhelmed by emotions that used to feel unmanageable, or making choices more aligned with your values. Relationships might improve, or you might feel more comfortable being yourself.
Sometimes progress shows up as increased self-awareness or self-compassion, even before external circumstances change. We’ll regularly check in about whether you’re noticing changes and whether the therapy feels beneficial. If therapy isn’t helping after a reasonable period, we’ll discuss adjusting our approach or considering whether a different type of therapy or therapist might be a better fit.
Sometimes progress shows up as increased self-awareness or self-compassion, even before external circumstances change. We’ll regularly check in about whether you’re noticing changes and whether the therapy feels beneficial. If therapy isn’t helping after a reasonable period, we’ll discuss adjusting our approach or considering whether a different type of therapy or therapist might be a better fit.
Absolutely not. While many people who come to therapy do have diagnosable mental health conditions, you don’t need a diagnosis to seek support. People come to therapy for countless reasons: life transitions, relationship issues, stress management, personal growth, difficult decisions, or simply wanting to understand themselves better.
Health treatment through therapy is valuable for anyone dealing with challenges or wanting to improve their life. That said, if you’re using insurance to pay for therapy, insurance companies typically do require a diagnosis for coverage. We can discuss this during your consultation if it’s relevant to your situation.
Health treatment through therapy is valuable for anyone dealing with challenges or wanting to improve their life. That said, if you’re using insurance to pay for therapy, insurance companies typically do require a diagnosis for coverage. We can discuss this during your consultation if it’s relevant to your situation.
A previous unhelpful therapy experience doesn’t mean therapy itself won’t work for you. Often, it means the fit wasn’t right, whether that was the therapist’s approach, their personality, the timing, or the specific type of therapy used. Therapists are trained in different approaches, and what works for one person might not work for another.
Additionally, sometimes we’re not ready for therapy to work at a particular point in our lives, and that changes over time. We encourage you to share your previous experience with us so we can understand what didn’t work and ensure we’re taking a different approach. Finding the right therapeutic fit is crucial, and it’s completely acceptable to try different therapists until you find someone who feels right.
Additionally, sometimes we’re not ready for therapy to work at a particular point in our lives, and that changes over time. We encourage you to share your previous experience with us so we can understand what didn’t work and ensure we’re taking a different approach. Finding the right therapeutic fit is crucial, and it’s completely acceptable to try different therapists until you find someone who feels right.
Choosing a therapist is a personal decision that depends on several factors. First, consider practical issues: location, schedule availability, whether they accept your insurance, and cost. Beyond logistics, think about what matters to you therapeutically. Do you want someone who shares your cultural background or understands specific aspects of your identity? Do you prefer a particular type of therapy or theoretical approach? Most importantly, pay attention to how you feel when talking with a potential therapist. Do they seem genuinely interested? Do you feel heard and understood? Do they answer your questions clearly?
The therapeutic relationship is one of the most important factors in therapy effectiveness, so trust your gut about whether someone feels like a good fit. Our free consultation is designed to help you make this assessment without any pressure to commit.
The therapeutic relationship is one of the most important factors in therapy effectiveness, so trust your gut about whether someone feels like a good fit. Our free consultation is designed to help you make this assessment without any pressure to commit.
Many people worry about not having enough to talk about or not knowing where to start. Your therapist will help guide the conversation, especially in early sessions. You can talk about whatever feels pressing, whether that’s something that happened recently, a pattern you’ve noticed, a relationship issue, or feelings you don’t fully understand. There’s no “right” thing to discuss.
Some sessions might feel heavy and emotional, while others are lighter and more conversational. It’s also completely okay to have sessions where you’re not sure what to say. Your therapist can provide prompts or questions to help, or you might use the session to sit with silence and see what emerges. The therapeutic process includes learning to be comfortable with uncertainty and discovering what wants to be explored.
Some sessions might feel heavy and emotional, while others are lighter and more conversational. It’s also completely okay to have sessions where you’re not sure what to say. Your therapist can provide prompts or questions to help, or you might use the session to sit with silence and see what emerges. The therapeutic process includes learning to be comfortable with uncertainty and discovering what wants to be explored.
We understand that the cost of therapy is an important consideration. We accept most major insurance companies. You can check to see if we accept your insurance here. Many insurance plans do cover therapy. We also accept cash payments for clients who do not have or do not want to use insurance.
Ready to Begin Your Journey with Individual Therapy?
You don’t have to navigate life’s challenges alone. Individual therapy provides a safe, supportive space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings, develop new skills, and work toward the life you want to live. Whether you’re facing a specific mental health concern or simply ready to invest in personal growth, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Your first step is simple: schedule a free consultation. We’ll talk about what brings you to therapy, answer any questions you have, and help you decide if working together feels right. There’s no pressure, just an open, honest conversation about how therapy can help you.
Complimentary 10-minute consultation. Just a conversation to see if we fit your needs.
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Crisis Support:
If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, please call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency room.
Our practice is not equipped for crisis intervention.