East Bay Counseling Choices (EBCC) is a free, confidential psychotherapy referral service for the general public of the San Francisco East Bay. Our purpose is simple and has not changed in decades: to help you find quality care from a therapist who is genuinely right for you. We have made many thousands of confidential referrals to qualified member therapists and to outside agencies, and East Bay residents have found quality referrals with us since 1986.
Our Mission
We believe that good mental-health care should be accessible and that finding it should not be overwhelming. So we provide two things that are hard to get on your own: access to a vetted network of experienced clinicians, and a thoughtful, personal matching process. We also ensure privacy for everyone who contacts us. Choosing to enter therapy is an important decision — it can have a profound effect on your life and your happiness, and it shows a willingness to extend yourself, to heal, and to grow. Our job is to make that first step easier.
A Diverse, Careful Group of Therapists
The therapists in our network share a deep concern for the quality and confidentiality of the care available to their clients. Some are oriented toward brief, problem-solving therapy; others do longer-term depth work aimed at major life change; many do both. Some work with managed-care companies and some do not. While their approaches differ, they are all careful, responsible and experienced. You can read more about the kinds of clinicians involved on our network of therapists page.
How We Match You
We try to match your needs carefully with the best therapist for you. We take into account the reason you are seeking therapy, the therapist's training and specialties, and your own preferences for temperament and style. We also consider the geographic location of the therapist within the East Bay, along with payment considerations and appointment availability. Throughout, we encourage you to make an informed decision — and our choosing a therapist guide is there to help you do exactly that.
Professional Standards
EBCC grew out of, and is organized by, a local chapter of a professional association of marriage and family therapists. The clinicians in the network are licensed mental-health professionals who have met the association's professional standards. Marriage and family therapy is a licensed profession in California; you can learn more about the field and its standards from the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.
Serving the East Bay
We are proud to serve communities across the San Francisco East Bay, including Berkeley, Oakland, Alameda, Walnut Creek, Danville, Lafayette, Pleasant Hill, Castro Valley and the surrounding areas of Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Wherever you are in the East Bay, we can help you find support close to home. When you are ready, get in touch through our contact form.