Professionals
Imposter syndrome & work anxiety
- You rehearse before meetings and replay them afterward
- Praise feels like a mistake someone will notice
- Every success raises the bar instead of easing the fear
Online therapy across California
Capable on the outside. Exhausted on the inside.
Therapy for anxious high achievers, people running on empty, and teens who are struggling. Video sessions from wherever you are in California, in-network with most major plans, and a free 15-minute call to see if we are a fit.
Melissa Baker Jones, PsyD, LMFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist · California License MFC 51801
- 20 years in practice, licensed in California since 2007
- In-network with Aetna, Cigna, Optum, United, Anthem, Blue Shield of California, Lyra and Modern Health
- $140 private pay per 50-minute session, HSA and FSA accepted
- Secure video from anywhere in California, on any device
Does any of this sound like you?
Most of the people I work with are good at holding it together. That is often exactly the problem. Pick the one that fits, or just reach out and we will figure it out on the call.
Running on empty
Burnout & work stress
- Sunday-night dread, Monday autopilot
- Short with the people you love most
- Rest does not restore you anymore
Adults
Anxiety & depression
- Racing thoughts, tight chest, broken sleep
- Flat, tired, pulling away from people
- You have been managing alone for too long
For parents
Teens & young adults
- Grades slipping, door closed, one-word answers
- Panic before school, tests or social plans
- You are not sure if this is normal or something more
How it works
Three steps. The first one is free and takes a quarter of an hour.
Step 01
A free 15-minute call
Tell me what is going on. I will tell you honestly whether I am the right fit, answer your questions, and check your insurance. No commitment.
Step 02
Your first session
50 minutes by secure video from wherever you are in California. We map out what you want to change and how we will work on it together.
Step 03
Steady progress
Usually weekly to start. Practical tools you can use between sessions, honest feedback, and regular check-ins on how far you have come.
How I work
At the heart of most struggles is a person who wants to be heard and understood. That is where we start. Then we get practical. I am collaborative and direct: I will ask real questions, tell you what I notice, and make sure you leave each session with something you can use that week.
My approach is integrative, which means I do not force everyone through the same program. For racing thoughts and performance anxiety we lean on cognitive and mindfulness skills. For burnout we start with recovery and boundaries. For low mood we rebuild momentum one small action at a time. With teens we go at their pace and keep parents in the loop.
Sessions are warm, sometimes funny, and never a lecture. You do not have to perform here. That is rather the point.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Catching the thought patterns that drive anxiety and self-doubt, and testing them against reality.
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
Settling the body and the mind so you can respond to pressure instead of react to it.
Solution-focused therapy
Building on what already works and setting goals you can actually feel progress toward.
Humanistic, person-centered care
You are the expert on your own life. My job is to help you trust that again.
Rates & insurance
Most clients use insurance and pay only their copay. I verify your benefits before the first session.
Private pay session fee
$140
per 50-minute session
HSA and FSA accepted. Superbills provided for out-of-network reimbursement.
In-network insurance
- Aetna
- Anthem Blue Cross
- Blue Shield of California
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
- Carelon Behavioral Health
- Cigna
- Lyra Health
- Magellan
- Modern Health
- Optum
- Oxford
- Quest Behavioral Health
- United Healthcare
- Out-of-network (OON) benefits
About Melissa
I am a licensed marriage and family therapist with 20 years of experience providing therapy to individuals, teens, couples and families in California. My practice is fully online, which lets me see clients from San Diego to Sacramento without anyone fighting traffic.
Many of my clients are professionals who are good at their jobs and quietly worn down by them: imposter syndrome, performance anxiety, perfectionism and burnout. I also work with anxiety, depression, stress, grief and loss, trauma, life transitions, confidence and codependency. And I especially enjoy working with teens, who tend to be far more honest than adults once they decide you are safe.
Sessions with me are collaborative and practical. We work together to understand what is happening, then build real tools for changing it. I will meet you where you are, not where you think you should be.
It takes courage to want a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first step toward it. If you are ready to take that step, I will walk with you, support you, and help you trust yourself again.
Imposter Syndrome
Work Performance Anxiety
Burnout
Anxiety
Depression
Teens & Young Adults
Stress
Perfectionism
Confidence
Career
Life Transitions
Grief & Loss
Trauma
Codependency
Relationships
Book your free 15-minute call
The easiest first step. Tell me a little about what is going on, and I will reach out to set up a time to talk.
Melissa Baker Jones, PsyD, LMFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, California License MFC 51801
Telehealth only — serving all of California
Call, text or email if you would rather skip the form.
If you are in crisis, call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency room. This practice cannot provide emergency services.
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the questions people ask before they reach out. Anything else, ask on the call.
How do I get started?
Request a free 15-minute call with the form below, call or text (949) 203-5655, or email . On the call you tell me what is going on, I tell you honestly whether I am the right fit, and if so we schedule your first session and check your insurance. No pressure either way.
Is the first call really free, and what happens on it?
Yes. It is a 15-minute phone call. You share what is bringing you to therapy, ask anything you want about how I work, and we confirm your insurance or the private-pay fee. If I am not the right person, I will say so and point you toward someone who is.
Is everything online?
Yes. Sessions are held by secure, HIPAA-compliant video through SimplePractice. You can join from a computer, phone or tablet. You need to be physically located in California during our sessions, which is a requirement of my license, but you can be anywhere in the state.
What happens in the first session?
We spend 50 minutes on your story: what is happening now, what you have already tried, and what you want to be different. I ask questions, you ask questions, and by the end we have a shared picture of what we are working on and how. You do not need to know where to start. That is my job.
How long are sessions and how often do we meet?
Sessions are 50 minutes. Most people start weekly, because that is when change happens fastest, and then move to every other week as things settle. We decide together and adjust as we go.
Who do you work with?
Adults, teens 13 and up, and young adults, anywhere in California. Many of my clients are professionals dealing with imposter syndrome and work anxiety, burnout, or anxiety and depression, and I especially enjoy working with teens. I also see couples and families.
What is your approach?
Integrative and practical. I draw on cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, solution-focused and humanistic approaches, and tailor the mix to you. You will be heard and understood, and you will leave sessions with something you can use that week.
I am functioning fine. Do I still qualify for therapy?
Yes. You do not need to be in crisis to deserve support. A lot of the people I see look fine from the outside and are quietly exhausted, anxious, or stuck. Getting help before things fall apart is the smart move, not the dramatic one.
Is therapy confidential?
Yes. What you share stays between us, with the exceptions California law requires, such as a serious risk to your safety or someone else's. We go over the specifics in writing before we start. For teens, see the teen therapy page for how privacy works with parents.
Do you prescribe medication?
No. If medication might help, I will say so and coordinate with your physician or psychiatrist, with your permission. Many people do well with therapy alone, and many do well with both.
Can my teen do therapy online?
Yes, and most teens prefer it. They join from their own room, there is no drive, and they are used to video. Parents are involved from the first call. The teen therapy page explains how it works and what stays private.
What if we are not a good fit?
Then I will tell you, kindly and early, and help you find someone who is. Fit matters more than anything else in therapy, and the free call exists so that neither of us has to guess.
What if I am in crisis right now?
If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room. This practice cannot provide emergency services.