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Online Therapy in California with Dr. Lara Kennerly, PsyD

Private, thoughtful online therapy for adults across California who are carrying a lot and feeling more disconnected than they want to admit.

Starting therapy should not feel like another thing you have to manage. Online sessions make it easier to access consistent, thoughtful support from a space where you already feel more at ease.

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Online therapy in California

Is Online Therapy a Good Fit for You?

If distance, a packed schedule, or simply needing privacy has kept you from starting therapy, this changes that.

A lot of people put off getting help because life gets in the way. The commute feels like one more thing. Or life is already full, and adding one more fixed obligation feels overwhelming. Online therapy makes it easier to get support without having to rearrange everything else in your life.

You might be a good fit for online therapy if:

  • You live anywhere in California but prefer not to travel for sessions

  • You have a demanding schedule and need appointment times that work around it

  • You work in a high-stress profession, like first response, corrections, or healthcare, and value the added privacy of connecting from home

  • You've been thinking about therapy for a while but logistical barriers kept getting in the way

  • You want to work with a psychologist who focuses on trauma, PTSD, grief, anxiety, or burnout

Some people are unsure at first, but often find that being in their own space makes it easier to settle in and stay present.

How Online Therapy Works at Navigating Rough Waters Therapy

Simple, private, and straightforward from the first step to the last.

Getting started doesn't require anything technical. All sessions take place over a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. You'll get a private link before each appointment. All you need is a quiet space, a device with a camera, and a reliable internet connection.

The process, in three steps:

Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation.

Book your first session.

Continue meeting regularly.

We'll talk about what's going on, what you're hoping to get from therapy, and whether working together feels like a good fit.

Once we decide to move forward, your intake appointment is scheduled. We take time to get to know each other and start mapping what's beneath the surface.

Most clients start with weekly sessions. As the work deepens, we adjust the frequency based on what's most helpful for you.

The therapeutic relationship translates well online. Many clients find it easier to open up when they are in their own space.

What We Can Work On in Online Therapy

Dr. Kennerly's approach is psychodynamic and trauma-informed, meaning sessions go beyond managing symptoms. It focuses on understanding the patterns underneath what you are experiencing.

Together, you begin to look at emotional patterns, early attachments, and past experiences that continue to shape how you feel, respond, and relate today. This kind of work allows for deeper, more lasting change over time.

Online therapy includes the full range of services she offers in-person, with the same level of depth and care.

Common areas of focus include:

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Anxiety Therapy

When your mind does not slow down or everything feels urgent, the focus is on understanding what is driving that and how it shows up day to day. Over time, this helps you respond differently so it does not keep taking over.

Therapy for First Responders

These roles come with experiences most people do not see. You do not have to explain everything for it to be understood. The focus stays on how those experiences continue to affect you, not just what happened.

Depression Therapy

When things feel heavy or flat, or it is hard to stay engaged with life, the work begins by understanding where that feeling is coming from. This includes looking at what has shifted over time, not just how things feel right now.

Therapy for High-Achieving Professionals

On paper, things may look stable or successful, but the pressure and expectations can build over time. This work looks at what is driving that pressure and how it is affecting you day to day.

Grief and Loss Therapy

Grief does not move in a straight line. The pace stays realistic, without pressure to move on before you are ready. There is room for both what was lost and how it continues to affect you.

Therapy for Adults Impacted by Wildfires

The impact of wildfires often continues long after things settle. The focus includes both what happened and what still lingers. This can include ongoing stress, loss of place, or a sense that things have not fully settled.

Individual Relationship Therapy

If the same patterns keep showing up in relationships, the focus is on understanding how those patterns formed and why they repeat. From there, the work shifts toward responding differently within those dynamics.

Therapy for Women

This can include burnout, relationship strain, identity shifts, or feeling stretched too thin. The focus stays on what you are carrying and what has been pushed aside for too long.

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Virtual Counseling That Fits Into Your Life

If you’ve been putting off getting support because your schedule is full or options feel limited, online counseling makes it easier to begin.

You do not have to commute, sit in a waiting room, or adjust your entire day around an appointment. Sessions happen in a space that is already familiar to you, which can make it easier to settle in and talk openly.

For many people, removing those barriers is what finally makes starting therapy feel possible.

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Who You're Working With

A licensed psychologist with nearly two decades of clinical experience, including work in disaster response and maximum-security corrections.

Dr. Lara Kennerly’s work is shaped by years of sitting with people in high-pressure, high-impact environments. This includes supporting individuals through trauma, loss, and situations where there is no quick or easy resolution.

Her approach is thoughtful and direct. Sessions are not rushed, and there is no pressure to perform or present yourself a certain way. The focus stays on understanding what is actually going on beneath the surface, not just managing what shows up on the outside.

She works with adults who are often used to holding a lot together on their own. That can include professionals, first responders, or anyone who feels like they should be able to handle things but knows something is not sitting right.

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Online Therapy for Adults Across California

Consistent support, whether you're at home, at work, or somewhere in between. 

Online therapy makes it easier to stay consistent without being tied to one location. Sessions happen where you already are, which removes the need to plan around traffic or long drives.

Clients connect from across California, including Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Sacramento. The structure stays the same no matter where you are, which helps keep the work steady over time.

This also works well for those who move between cities or have changing schedules. Sessions remain consistent, even when everything else shifts.

All sessions take place through a secure video platform, with the same level of privacy and attention as in-person work.

Common Questions About Online Therapy

Online therapy in California

Get Started with Virtual Therapy in California

You've been carrying this long enough. Let's find a way forward together.

The first step is a free 15-minute phone call. We'll talk about what's been going on, I'll answer any questions you have about the process, and we'll figure out if working together is the right fit. No pressure, no commitment.

Online therapy is available now for adults anywhere in California. New clients are currently being accepted.

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