NPI-verified providers · Search by name or provider type
This page lists child & adolescent psychiatrists, clinical child psychologists, and marriage & family therapists in San Diego. Ask which ages they see when you call.
Children need age-appropriate therapy from specialists trained in play therapy, TF-CBT, and family systems approaches. In San Diego, California, licensed therapists and mental health providers are required to hold active state licensure through the California Board of Behavioral Health Examiners or equivalent licensing body. All providers listed on BehavioralHealthGuide.org are cross-referenced against the NPI registry and state licensing databases.
When searching for a child therapist in San Diego, consider: their specific training and certifications relevant to child and adolescent mental health, whether they accept your insurance or offer sliding scale fees, their availability for new patients, and whether they offer telehealth. The therapeutic relationship is one of the strongest predictors of treatment outcomes — it's reasonable to have an initial phone consultation before booking your first session.
Keywords to search: child therapy, teen therapy, adolescent counseling. All searches on BehavioralHealthGuide.org are free with no paid placements affecting results.
Frequently asked questions about child therapists in San Diego
BehavioralHealthGuide.org lists thousands of licensed mental health providers in San Diego, California, cross-referenced against the NPI registry and state licensing boards. Use the search above to filter by insurance, availability, and specific specialty.
Insurance networks aren't part of the NPI record, so confirm coverage directly: call the provider's office and check your insurer's own directory. If you can't find an in-network provider among the child therapists in San Diego, ask your insurer for a network adequacy exception.
The average out-of-pocket cost for a therapy session in San Diego, California is $100–$200 per session without insurance. With insurance, your copay is typically $20–$60. Many child therapists in San Diego offer sliding scale fees — ask when you call.
Wait times for mental health care in San Diego vary significantly. Telehealth providers typically have faster availability — often within days. In-person child therapists in San Diego, California may have wait times of 2–6 weeks for new patients. Ask whether they're accepting new patients when you call — availability isn't part of the NPI record.