Individual Therapy in El Cerrito
Therapy for the person you've been carrying — and the one you're becoming.
Weekly 45-minute sessions · Secure video sessions · Serving El Cerrito residents and clients across California
Individual therapy for the rhythms of life in El Cerrito.
El Cerrito sits at the East Bay's family-friendly edge — affordable enough for young families, connected enough for working professionals, and quiet enough that the pressures of relationships can build invisibly. Many El Cerrito residents are stretched between commute, parenting, and the financial reality of staying in the Bay Area, and that stretch shows up in partnerships and inner lives in ways that are worth attending to.
Online therapy is ideal for El Cerrito families. Sessions after school drop-off, during your work-from-home day, or in the evening once kids are settled — no need to leave the neighborhood, no driving down to Berkeley or Oakland after an already long day.
About Individual Therapy
Individual therapy for adults navigating anxiety, relationship patterns, identity, intimacy, life transitions, and the quiet weight of carrying it all. My approach is relational, depth-oriented, and grounded — we work together to understand what's underneath, not just manage what's on the surface.
What to expect
- Weekly 45-minute sessions, consistent rhythm
- A relational, exploratory approach — we go where the material leads
- Equal attention to present-day life and the patterns underneath
- Real conversation, not a script or a worksheet
- Your goals guide the work — I follow your lead
Common reasons people come in
- —Anxiety, overthinking, and the sense of always being 'on'
- —Recurring patterns in relationships
- —Identity, sexuality, and self-understanding
- —Life transitions — career changes, breakups, loss, parenthood
- —Burnout and the feeling of running on empty
- —Family-of-origin material that keeps surfacing
Weekly 45-minute sessions
- All sessions held online via secure HIPAA-compliant video
- Cancellation policy: 24 hours
- Currently accepting new El Cerrito clients
Why online sessions are a good fit for El Cerrito
Online therapy is ideal for El Cerrito families. Sessions after school drop-off, during your work-from-home day, or in the evening once kids are settled — no need to leave the neighborhood, no driving down to Berkeley or Oakland after an already long day.
- No travel time across Hillside, Downtown El Cerrito, El Cerrito Plaza area
- Sessions fit into work-from-home schedules
- Privacy and discretion — sessions from your own home
- Available evenings and select weekend hours
A relational, depth-oriented therapist serving California.
I'm Fanshen Thompson, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in California. I work with couples, individuals, and partnerships navigating intimacy, identity, and the slower work of becoming.
I am a certified Gottman trained couples therapist and draw from Emotionally Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems, attachment theory, and somatic practices. But more than any single modality, I bring myself: a real human who has done — and continues to do — this work.
My practice is online and serves clients across California. The work is honest, grounded, and paced to what you can actually carry.
Frequently asked questions
How do online sessions work?
We meet over a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. You'll receive a link before each session and join from a private space at home — no app downloads or special equipment beyond a device with a camera and a stable internet connection.
Do I need a special app or platform?
No. The video platform runs in your browser. I'll send a link a few minutes before our session — you click, and we begin.
Is this covered by insurance?
I'm an out-of-network provider. I can provide a superbill you can submit to your insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement. I'd encourage you to call your insurance and ask about your out-of-network mental health benefits.
How long does it take to see results?
Most people begin to feel something shift within the first several weeks — a little more clarity, a little less alone in it. Real, lasting change is a longer arc, often months of consistent weekly work. I'll be honest with you about what I see along the way.
What is your cancellation policy?
My cancellation policy is 24 hours. Sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice are charged in full.
Can you see clients in El Cerrito?
Yes. I see clients in El Cerrito and across California via secure video sessions. There's no need to come to an office — sessions happen from wherever you're comfortable in El Cerrito.
Ready to start? Let's talk.
Book a free 20-minute consultation. We'll talk about what's going on and whether working together feels right. No pressure, no commitment.