Online Mental Health Therapist in California: Elisa Martínez, LMFT

So glad you asked! According to the National Center for Health Research, several meta-analysis studies have found that virtual therapy can be effective for anxiety, depression and PTSD* (“umbrella” diagnoses which cover the spectrum of most mental and emotional health challenges).

This research also finds that there is no difference in client satisfaction depending on whether therapy is online or in-person, and for either method of receiving therapy, the outcomes are better the more sessions someone attends.

Want to find out more? Let’s talk.

*see “Telepsychotherapy: a leaflet for psychotherapists in the age of COVID-19. A review of the evidence.” Counselling Psychology Quarterly. 2020:1-6.)

Obviously, whether or not to do therapy online or in-person is a matter of personal preference, and I’ve found that my clients experience the same benefits as they would in in-person sessions.

That said, it is generally recommended that those struggling with suicidality or homicidality (persistent thoughts of killing themselves or other(s), with a plan/the means to do so) are best served by a therapist who can meet with them in person to better ensure safety.

I invite you to schedule a free consultation to see how it feels to meet online. These consultations can be up to 30 minutes in length and will give you a sense of the virtual format.

Most people access their online session from a standard computer, laptop, tablet or even smartphone - basically from any device that has internet or cellular data connection.

And don’t worry, you don’t need to be a tech whiz! If you can click on a link, you can do an online session.

Absolutely! That is the beauty of tele-therapy - it's very flexible. Some people find that having their session on the phone just feels more comfortable, helps them focus or go more in depth in their session. Some people do a mix of video and phone sessions. The choice is yours!

Online counseling is great for anxiety disorders, grief and loss, relationship issues, trauma, burnout, depression, work or school issues and much more. Video sessions are effective!

I offer online therapy through a HIPAA-compliant platform, so the confidentiality and privacy of your online sessions are legally protected. Take necessary precautions to ensure privacy in your home and with your specific electronic device.

We'll plan for any tech issues that may arise in video sessions. In my online therapy experience, these are infrequent and usually easily resolved.

At the onset of online counseling we'll make a plan for emergencies, including local support services. I'll always have your location and emergency contact(s) on hand for your online sessions.

Here are the mental health therapy providers who offer in-person and online therapy sessions:

Psychotherapist (Therapist; Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist; LMFT)

A licensed therapist provides counseling for mental health issues and offers healthy coping skills through 1-on-1 therapy sessions, family therapy and couples therapy using approaches like EMDR, psychodynamic therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, etc.).

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Provides couples counseling, individual and family therapy. The primary difference is the focus of their education.

Psychiatrist

An MD; specializes in treating mental health conditions/illness with medication. Typically doesn't offer in-depth mental health therapy, as a licensed therapist or licensed clinical social worker does (you can see a licensed therapist for therapy sessions and a psychiatrist for medication).

Psychologist (PhD or PsyD)

Can also provide counseling; has testing/evaluation and research experience.

Counselor

Offers short-term support in a specific area (substance abuse, career, etc.). A licensed therapist is often called a "counselor," but unlicensed counselors can't do psychotherapy or treat mental health conditions.

If seeking online therapy in California, ask your prospective therapist about their qualifications before making a therapy appointment. Set up a free consultation here!

You should get in-person mental health support if you're:

• suicidal

• having a psychiatric or medical emergency

• engaging in serious self-harm behaviors

• struggling with an eating disorder or severe substance use

• experiencing a safety threat or are a threat to others

Face-to-face counseling may be a better if you have:

• Highly unreliable internet connectivity

• No privacy

• Prefer your therapist to be in the same room

• Want a therapeutic approach using interventions such as sandtray, movement, etc..

Some therapists feel they're better able to read body language cues in face-to-face counseling; I've personally not found this to be the case when I provide online therapy.

I want you to feel comfortable with online therapy, so as you begin online counseling we can explore any concerns or fears that you may have about the therapeutic process. We'll identify the issues for which you are seeking support and see how these are showing up for you. I'll gather relevant history and ask about your current ways of coping and managing these issues. We'll get some clarity around how you want to think, feel and be after having had successful therapy. I'll share with you my recommended approach for working with your specific challenges, based on your unique symptoms and goals. Together we will create a treatment plan that is customized to your unique needs and preferences!

I value a collaborative online therapy approach and will check in with you throughout the online counseling process to ensure that you're feeling good about the direction of your therapy sessions. You'll understand the rationale behind the interventions I'm using and I always welcome any questions or feedback! We'll assess your progress in your online therapy and make any changes or adjustments to better ensure that we're on the right track to help meet your therapy goals.

As you begin to experience significant change, healing and relief in your online therapy work, we'll explore options for expanding upon your goals and continuing online counseling, changing the frequency of your online sessions and/or eventually discontinuing online therapy. I understand the role that scheduling, life changes and unforeseen circumstances play, so online counseling can evolve to meet your unique situation.