Start Therapy in California

You don’t need to be in crisis or have a diagnosis to benefit from therapy. People come to therapy because they feel anxious, overwhelmed, disconnected, stuck in relationship patterns, burned out, affected by past experiences or simply ready to understand themselves differently. If something is interfering with your relationships, well-being or ability to enjoy your life, therapy can be a place to explore it.

Start by considering what you want support with and what helps you feel comfortable opening up. The right therapist isn’t only someone with experience in your area of concern- the relationship itself matters. At Alison Hunter Therapy, we can help you determine which therapist on our team may be the best fit based on what you’re experiencing, your preferences and the type of therapy you’re looking for.

Yes. We offer online therapy for clients located throughout California. Depending on the therapist and service, in-person and experiential options are also available in select areas, including Salinas, Auburn and Truckee.

For many people and concerns, online therapy can be an effective and convenient way to receive support. It also gives clients throughout California access to therapists who may not practice near their home. Whether online or in-person therapy feels like the better fit can depend on your needs, preferences and the type of work you’d like to do.

You don’t have to figure that out before reaching out. You may know that you’re anxious, your relationship is struggling, your child needs support or work has become overwhelming without knowing which therapeutic approach makes sense. We can help you understand your options and connect you with the therapist and service that may best fit your needs.

Couples therapy can help partners better understand recurring patterns, communicate more effectively, work through conflict and rebuild connection. You don’t need to wait until your relationship is on the verge of ending to begin. Couples also seek therapy when they want to strengthen an already meaningful relationship or navigate a significant transition together.

The terms are often used interchangeably. Both can address communication, conflict, intimacy, trust and recurring relationship patterns. Couples therapy can support partners at many stages and in many types of relationships, while marriage counseling specifically refers to therapy involving married partners.

Absolutely. Premarital counseling isn’t only for couples experiencing problems. It can create intentional space to talk about communication, expectations, finances, intimacy, family dynamics, values, conflict and what each partner hopes to build together before entering marriage.

Relationship anxiety can show up as overthinking interactions, needing frequent reassurance, fearing abandonment, questioning your feelings or your partner’s feelings, or constantly looking for evidence that something is wrong. Therapy can help you understand where those fears come from and develop a more secure relationship with yourself and others.

Yes. Anxiety may feel like part of your personality when you’ve experienced it for a long time, but therapy can help you understand the patterns, beliefs, experiences and nervous-system responses that contribute to it. The goal isn’t necessarily to never feel anxious again- it’s to help anxiety have less control over how you live.

No. Trauma therapy isn’t limited to people with a PTSD diagnosis. Difficult childhood experiences, unhealthy relationships, loss, frightening events, chronic stress and other experiences can continue affecting how you feel, relate to others and respond to the world even when you wouldn’t necessarily describe yourself as having PTSD.

Yes. Burnout can affect far more than your experience at work. You may feel exhausted, irritable, emotionally detached, unable to switch off, resentful or like you’ve lost parts of yourself outside of your career. Therapy can help you understand what is contributing to burnout and develop more sustainable ways of relating to work, responsibility and your own needs.

Yes. We work with professionals navigating demanding careers, chronic stress, high expectations, responsibility, burnout and the challenge of separating personal identity from professional performance. Members of our team also have particular experience supporting pilots and veterinary and animal-care professionals.

Changes in mood, behavior, sleep, school performance, friendships, confidence or family relationships can sometimes indicate that a child or teenager could benefit from additional support. You may also simply notice that your child seems overwhelmed or isn’t quite themselves. Therapy can provide a supportive place to understand what they’re experiencing and help your family determine what they need.

Family therapy typically involves working with multiple members of a family to understand relationships, communication and patterns within the family system. Parenting support focuses more directly on helping parents understand their child, navigate challenging situations and strengthen the parent-child relationship. Your therapist can help determine which approach makes the most sense for your family.

Equine-assisted psychotherapy incorporates horses into the therapeutic process to create opportunities for experiential learning, emotional awareness, relationship work and reflection. You do not need previous riding or horse experience to participate. Your therapist can explain what sessions involve and whether equine-assisted work may be appropriate for your goals.

Nature-based therapy intentionally incorporates the outdoors and natural environment into therapeutic work. Depending on the therapist, setting and your goals, sessions may include movement, observation, reflection or other experiences outside of a traditional therapy office. For some clients, being outdoors creates a different kind of space for slowing down, connecting and engaging in therapy.

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, or KAP, combines ketamine treatment with therapeutic support intended to help clients prepare for, process and integrate their experiences. Because ketamine involves medical considerations, whether KAP is appropriate depends on the individual and requires appr

Your first session is an opportunity for you and your therapist to begin getting to know one another. You’ll typically talk about what brought you to therapy, what has been happening in your life, relevant history and what you hope may be different as a result of therapy. You don’t need to tell your entire life story in one appointment- the relationship and the work develop over time.

You can keep it simple. You don’t need a diagnosis, a perfectly articulated problem or a specific type of therapy in mind. Tell us a little about what has been going on and what you’re hoping to find support with. We can help you figure out the rest.