Telehealth Options for Anxiety and Depression in California

Anxiety and depression are often talked about as if they’re single, uniform experiences — but in reality, they show up in many different ways. In California, telehealth has made it easier than ever to find a mental health provider that actually fits your specific experience, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Understanding Different Types of Anxiety

Not all anxiety feels the same, and different subtypes often respond best to different therapeutic approaches.

Some common anxiety presentations include:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): persistent worry, mental overactivity, muscle tension, difficulty relaxing

• Social Anxiety: fear of judgment, embarrassment, or rejection in social or performance situations

• Panic Disorder: sudden panic attacks with physical symptoms like shortness of breath, racing heart, or dizziness

• Health Anxiety: excessive worry about illness or bodily sensations

• Trauma-related anxiety: hypervigilance, fear responses, or emotional reactivity linked to past trauma

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: obsessive thoughts and repetitive behaviors, often geared to avoid a certain feared outcome.

Telehealth therapy can be especially helpful for anxiety, as many interventions (cognitive, behavioral, relational, and somatic) translate well to online settings.

Understanding Different Types of Depression

Depression also exists on a spectrum and can look very different from person to person.

Common forms include:

• Major Depressive Disorder: persistent low mood, loss of interest, fatigue, changes in sleep or appetite

• Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia): long-term, lower-grade depression that feels chronic or “just how I am”

• Situational or Adjustment-related Depression: mood symptoms connected to life stressors such as school, relationships, or transitions

• Depression with Anxiety: overlapping symptoms like restlessness, rumination, and emotional exhaustion

Telehealth can provide continuity of care during periods when motivation or energy is low, reducing barriers to getting support.

Different Types of Therapists You Might Work With

California telehealth providers include a wide range of licensed professionals. Credentials don’t determine “who’s best,” but they do help you understand training backgrounds.

• Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW): often focus on coping skills, emotional regulation, systems, and life stressors

• Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT): emphasize relational patterns, communication, attachment, and family dynamics

• Psychologists (PhD or PsyD): doctoral-level providers who may also do relational and attachment work, but also offer deeper specialization, assessment expertise, specialized therapies, or evidence-based treatment for complex conditions

• Counselors or therapists in training: supervised clinicians who may offer lower-cost care and specialized focus areas

The most important factor is not the title, but whether the therapist understands your specific anxiety or depression and makes you feel supported.

Therapeutic Approaches Commonly Offered via Telehealth

Many evidence-based therapies work well online, including:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anxiety, panic, depression, and OCD

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for worry, rumination, and emotional avoidance

• Trauma-informed therapy for anxiety and depression deriving from past complex trauma and family issues

• Relational or attachment-based therapy for depression tied to relationships or identity

• Mindfulness-based approaches for stress and emotional regulation

Some therapists also integrate somatic or body-based techniques adapted for telehealth.

Accessing Telehealth in California

To receive telehealth therapy in California, the provider asks if you are located in California during sessions. The therapist must be licensed in California.

Many providers accept insurance, sliding scale fees, or student plans, and it makes sense to ask about the flexibility of the fees. Insurance typically presets the rate (and your share of the copay or coinsurance) but sliding scales can be very flexible.

Telehealth sessions typically happen via secure video platforms and offer flexibility around scheduling, location, and accessibility. You don’t need to have the “right” diagnosis or fully understand your symptoms before reaching out. A good therapist will help you make sense of what you’re experiencing — one step at a time.

© 2025 Oceanside Clinics | For educational use only | www.oceansideclinics.com