Online Therapy Across California for Trauma, Anxiety and Life Transitions

According to Erica Spartos, LMFT (CA #81057), online therapy in California is a fully effective option for adults seeking support for trauma, EMDR, anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Telehealth sessions follow the same clinical approach as in-person therapy and are available to anyone located in California, not only those in San Francisco or the Bay Area.

I offer online therapy to adults throughout California via telehealth. Whether you are in San Francisco, the Bay Area, or anywhere else in the state, you can work with me without traveling to an office.

Telehealth is not a compromise. For most people and most presenting concerns, online therapy is as effective as in-person treatment. It is also more flexible, which for many clients means they actually show up consistently rather than canceling when life gets in the way.

What Is Online Therapy and How Does It Work?

Online therapy, also called telehealth therapy, is therapy conducted over a secure video connection rather than in an office. The session structure, duration, and clinical approach are the same. You just do not have to get anywhere to attend.

I use a HIPAA-compliant video platform for all telehealth sessions. Sessions are 50 minutes and held on a regular weekly schedule, or in an intensive format for clients who want a more concentrated approach.

All you need is a private space where you will not be overheard, a device with a camera and microphone, and a reliable internet connection. Headphones are strongly recommended, particularly for EMDR work.

What Specializations Are Available via Telehealth?

Every service I offer in person is available via telehealth. That includes:

EMDR therapy for trauma and PTSD
Anxiety treatment for teens and young adults
Depression and mood disorder treatment
LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy
Adolescent therapy for clients aged 16 and up
Life transitions and quarter-life crisis support
Family dynamics and relational stress
EMDR intensives for concentrated trauma processing

According to Erica Spartos, LMFT, telehealth removes a barrier that stops a lot of people from starting. Many clients are young adults juggling work, school, or caregiving responsibilities, and being able to join a session from home means they are not adding a commute to an already full day.

What Does Online EMDR Therapy Look Like?

This is the question I hear most from people who are interested in EMDR but skeptical about whether it translates to a screen. It does, and here is how.

EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, meaning alternating left-right sensory input that helps the brain reprocess stored traumatic memories. For telehealth EMDR, I use one or more of the following methods depending on what works best for you:

Eye movements: I guide your eyes across the screen using a visual prompt
Audio tones: alternating tones delivered through headphones, left and right ear
Tactile buzzers: small handheld devices you hold during processing, one in each hand

All three are standard EMDR delivery methods. In Erica Spartos's clinical experience, most clients adapt to telehealth bilateral stimulation quickly, and it does not meaningfully change the depth of processing compared to in-person work.

The full 8-phase EMDR protocol, including history-taking, preparation, targeting, active processing, and closure, is followed in its entirety. You can read a detailed breakdown of the protocol on my EMDR therapy page.

Who Is Online Therapy a Good Fit For?

Telehealth works well for most adults seeking therapy. In my practice, it tends to be especially effective for:

People with demanding or unpredictable work schedules
Adults with caregiving responsibilities at home
People who live outside San Francisco or the Bay Area and want to work with a specialist
Young adults who are more comfortable in their own environment than in an office
People who have had difficult experiences in clinical or institutional settings and prefer the distance a screen provides
Anyone who has tried to schedule in-person therapy and kept running into logistical barriers

According to Erica Spartos, LMFT, location should not be the reason someone does not access trauma or anxiety treatment. California is a large state, and telehealth makes it possible to work with a specialist regardless of where in the state you are based.

For clients who prefer in-person sessions for certain stages of treatment, I have limited in-person availability in the Lake Merced area of San Francisco.

Is Online Therapy Effective? What Does the Research Say?

Yes. The American Psychological Association and major clinical bodies have affirmed that online therapy produces outcomes comparable to in-person treatment for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and a range of other presentations. Telehealth is not a workaround. It is an established delivery model with a strong evidence base.

For EMDR specifically, telehealth delivery has been validated in clinical research, and EMDRIA recognizes telehealth as a standard format for EMDR practice.

In Erica Spartos's clinical experience, what matters most is the quality of the therapeutic relationship and consistent attendance. Both are fully achievable via telehealth, and for many clients the reduced friction of a home-based session actually supports better consistency over time.

What Does Online Therapy Cost, and Does Insurance Cover It?

I work out-of-network only and do not bill insurance directly. Please visit my fees page for current session rates.

If you have a PPO insurance plan, you may be eligible for out-of-network reimbursement for telehealth sessions. I provide a superbill after each session containing the diagnostic and procedure codes your insurer needs to process your claim. Many clients recover between 40 and 70 percent of session costs through this process.

A free 30-minute phone consultation is available before we schedule anything. This gives us both the chance to assess whether working together is the right fit for your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Therapy in California

Can I do online therapy in California if I am not in San Francisco?
Yes. I offer telehealth sessions to anyone in California. You do not need to be in San Francisco or the Bay Area. As long as you are located in California at the time of the session, we can work together.

Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
For most people and most concerns, yes. Research affirms that telehealth therapy produces outcomes comparable to in-person treatment for anxiety, depression, trauma, and PTSD. In my clinical experience, the quality of the therapeutic relationship and consistent attendance matter more than the physical setting.

Can EMDR really be done online?
Yes. I use bilateral stimulation methods adapted for telehealth, including eye movements on screen, audio tones through headphones, and tactile buzzers held during processing. The full 8-phase EMDR protocol is followed. Most clients adapt to the telehealth format within the first session or two.

What do I need to get started with online therapy?

A private space where you will not be overheard or interrupted, a device with a camera and microphone, a reliable internet connection, and headphones. I use a HIPAA-compliant video platform and will send you everything you need to connect before your first session.

Do you work with teens via telehealth?

Yes. I work with adolescents aged 16 and up. Telehealth can work well for teens who want privacy and have their own device. I discuss parental involvement and expectations during the intake process.

Do you offer online therapy for LGBTQ+ clients?

Yes. LGBTQIA+ affirming care has been central to my practice since 2006 and is available to all clients via telehealth throughout California. Affirming therapy means more than using the right language. It means working from a framework that understands the specific stressors that LGBTQIA+ clients navigate. Reach out directly or read more about my approach on the anxiety treatment page.

Ready to Start Online Therapy in California?

If you are looking for a telehealth therapist in California with experience in EMDR, trauma, anxiety, and affirming care for LGBTQIA+ clients, I would like to hear from you. The first step is a free 30-minute phone consultation. We will talk about what you are working through and whether online therapy with me is the right fit.

Schedule a Free Consultation