Where you are
Starting points written for the situation you are actually in.
Caring for someone who can't care for themselves
California pays family caregivers to take leave, funds free respite and counseling through Caregiver Resource Centers, and therapy has a specific job here.
STUDENTSCollege students — you already paid for some of this
Campus counseling is prepaid, off-campus therapy is coverable, and your parents don't have to know. The student routes, mapped.
LGBTQ+Finding a therapist who gets it — LGBTQ+ Californians
California bans conversion therapy for minors and protects affirming care. How to vet a therapist in one consult call, plus the free layer.
FIRST-GENFirst in your family to do this
When you're the first — to college, to a career, to America — therapy carries extra freight: family guilt, translation duty, "we don't do that.
MENFor men who were taught not to need this
Men die by suicide at 4x the rate of women and go to therapy half as often. A practical, no-performance route in.
DIVORCEGoing through a divorce
A top-five life stressor and a legal marathon at once. What therapy helps with at each stage, and what it costs when money is already tight.
LATE NIGHTIt's late and you can't sleep
For the 2am search. What you can do right now, what can wait until morning, and one form you can fill out tonight.
JOB LOSSJust lost your job
The 60-day insurance decision (COBRA vs Covered California vs Medi-Cal), keeping your therapist through it, and why the spiral after a layoff is worth treating.
FIRST TIMENever done this before
No experience needed. What the first session is like, what it costs, and a directory where every listing actually has openings.
POSTPARTUMNew baby, and you don't feel like yourself
Postpartum depression and anxiety are common and treatable. Screening is your right, therapy is covered, and leave laws protect you.
NEW TO CALIFORNIANew to California
Your out-of-state therapist usually cannot keep seeing you once you move. The license rule, the day-one Medi-Cal fact, and how to rebuild care here.
GRIEFSomeone died, and everyone else went back to normal
Grief isn't a disorder — and sometimes it still needs help. When therapy makes sense, what hospice programs offer free, and who to call.
VETERANS & MILITARYVeterans and military families — the routes nobody briefs you on
VA care, Vet Centers (free, no enrollment), TRICARE, and community therapists — four parallel routes. Which one fits, and how to start each.
ENTERTAINMENTWorking in entertainment, between jobs again
Gig income, union hours you re-earn yearly, rejection as a job description. The industry's own mental health machinery, most of it free, and who qualifies.
TECHWorking in tech and running on empty
Layoff dread, golden handcuffs, on-call that follows you to bed, a 60-day visa clock. The tech version of burnout, and the routes already in your benefits.