For you, on your own terms
Individual therapy that's actually personalized.
Anxiety, depression, identity, life transitions, relationship patterns, self-work. One-on-one therapy at the pace you need, with practical tools and deeper insight. Telehealth across California, plus in-person in Walnut Creek with Tina.
Good fit if
- Anxiety is running your calendar and your sleep
- Depression has flattened motivation, interest, or energy
- You're working through identity — gender, sexuality, religious deconstruction, career pivot
- Relationship patterns repeat no matter who the partner is
- You're in a life transition — grief, divorce, parenthood, retirement — and want support
- You're high-functioning and quietly exhausted and don't know how to tell anyone
Not a fit if
- Active psychosis or severe dissociation without stable supports — we'll refer to a higher level of care
- Looking for medication management only — we don't prescribe; we can refer to a psychiatrist or psychiatric NP
Not sure which column you're in? Book a free consult. If we're not the right fit, we'll help you find someone who is.
What the work looks like
How we actually work together.
Individual therapy here means genuinely tailored. We don't run the same protocol with every client. In the first session, we'll ask what you're working on, what's tried, what you're hoping for, and what you want to avoid. From there, we choose modalities together — CBT for thought patterns, ACT for values-based behavior change, EMDR if trauma surfaces, somatic practices for the body, insight-oriented work for deeper patterns.
Cadence is usually weekly to start. Some clients shift to biweekly once the acute phase settles. We'll talk about duration at regular check-ins — some work resolves in 8–12 sessions, some goes deeper and longer, and either is valid.
Sessions are 50 minutes with the same therapist consistently — usually secure video, or in-person in Walnut Creek if you're working with Tina. You're not rotating through a clinic. (Not sure how to evaluate fit? Our piece on finding the right therapist — and warning signs to watch for is a useful starting point.)
Modalities we draw from
Wondering if this is the work you need?
Free 15-minute call. We'll figure out together if we're the right starting point.
Book a Free ConsultWho on our team does this work
4 therapists who specialize here.
Christina Mathieson
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) #115093
Human sexuality, couples work, ADHD and neurodiversity-affirming therapy, and affirming care for individuals navigating relationships, identity, and life transitions.
Michelle Cortez
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) #146795
Supervised by Christina Mathieson, LMFT #115093
Couples work grounded in attachment theory and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT); anxiety and OCD using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP); cultural identity, relationship challenges, and the weight of carrying trauma quietly. Relational and culturally responsive at heart.
Jalyse Stewart
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) #153712
Supervised by Christina Mathieson, LMFT #115093
Trauma-informed therapy for women healing from childhood sexual abuse, complex trauma, and what a lifetime of carrying other people's weight does to the nervous system. I also work with neurodivergent clients and trauma that intersects with grief, anxiety, or chronic overcompensation.
Tina Masoudi
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) #155851
Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) #19568
Supervised by Christina Mathieson, LMFT #115093
Trauma-informed therapy for young adults navigating anxiety, grief, identity, and life-stage transitions, with previous clinical experience at a college counseling center. Also works with couples, families, first responders, and clients impacted by the justice system. Optional Christian counseling for clients who want faith to be part of the room.
FAQ
Common questions about individual therapy.
How do I know which therapist on your team is right for me?
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Book a free consult with anyone and we'll help you match. We refer internally often — the person you first talk to may not be the person you work with long-term, and that's by design.
Do you prescribe medication?
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No. We're therapists, not prescribers. If medication is something you'd like to explore, we'll refer you to a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner and coordinate alongside.
How long will I be in therapy?
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Depends on what you're working on. Focused issues can resolve in 8–12 sessions; deeper or complex work takes longer. We'll check in regularly and are explicit about whether to continue, adjust, or plan to wrap up.
What if I'm not sure what to say?
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You don't need to know. Showing up is the hard part. Your therapist will ask questions, and most clients find that starting to talk generates the next thread. Awkward silences are allowed.
References & further reading
- APA — Understanding psychotherapy and how it works — American Psychological Association
- NIMH — Psychotherapies — National Institute of Mental Health
- The Four Agreements — Don Miguel Ruiz — Don Miguel Ruiz
- Rising Strong — Brené Brown — Brené Brown
- Self-Compassion — Kristin Neff, PhD — Kristin Neff, PhD
- The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook — Kristin Neff, PhD & Christopher Germer, PhD — Kristin Neff, PhD & Christopher Germer, PhD
- Learned Optimism — Martin Seligman, PhD — Martin Seligman, PhD
- how are you, really? — Jenna Kutcher — Jenna Kutcher
- Untamed — Glennon Doyle — Glennon Doyle
- The Whole-Brain Child — Daniel J. Siegel, MD & Tina Payne Bryson, PhD — Daniel J. Siegel, MD & Tina Payne Bryson, PhD
- We Can Do Hard Things (podcast) — Glennon Doyle — Glennon Doyle
- On Purpose with Jay Shetty (podcast) — Jay Shetty
- Hidden Brain (podcast) — Shankar Vedantam — Hidden Brain Media
- I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn't) — Brené Brown — Brené Brown
- Man's Search for Meaning — Viktor Frankl — Viktor Frankl
Last clinically reviewed: April 24, 2026 by Christina Mathieson, LMFT #115093.
Free monthly workshop
It's Not Just the Fight: How Trauma Shows Up in Your Relationship
Thursday, April 30, 2026 · 6:00 PM PT · Zoom · Free
From the blog
What Ted Lasso and Shrinking Got Right About Therapy
Two prestige TV shows have done more for the cultural normalization of therapy than a decade of public-health campaigns. A clinician's read on what Ted Lasso and Shrinking actually got right, where they take artistic license, and why the visibility matters.
ChatGPT Isn't Your Therapist — But Here's How to Actually Use It Alongside One
AI chatbots can help you prep questions, reflect between sessions, and learn about a diagnosis. They can't challenge you, hold relationship, or regulate your nervous system. A clinician's honest framework for using both.
Breaking the Stigma: How Therapy Empowers Your Mental Climb
Cultural and family narratives often discourage people from seeking therapy. Why therapy is an act of courage, how to debunk the most common myths, and how we can normalize mental health together.
Ready to talk it through?
Free 15-minute call. We'll figure out if individual therapy is the right work for where you are, and match you with the right person on our team.
Book a Free Consult