Gretchen is a fantastic listener and supporter. I don’t know where I’d be without her!
Gretchen Forrey, LMFT
Experienced mental health professional
Provides online counseling through BetterHelp
At a glance
Gretchen is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.
- 5.0 stars
- Clients are very satisfied with Gretchen. View 18 reviews
- Speaks English
- Offers Telehealth visits
- Licensed in California
Recent reviews
She’s the best.
More about Gretchen
- 8 years' experience
- Female
- LMFT
Hello and welcome! Thank you for viewing my profile more closely. I am a strong advocate and very passionate about helping clients further their understandings of themselves and their relationships, as well as finding a deeper meaning and joy in their lives. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California and have a substantial amount of experience in working with teens and transitional aged youth, trauma, depression and anxiety, life transitions, career and relational issues, self esteem issues, and other general mental health concerns.
I have worked in the past at a private practice, sexual assault center, schools, as well as on a crisis team and this varied experience has helped me to have a broad range of skills and outlooks to utilize with my clients. I love animals and have used animal assisted therapies in some of my work in the past.
I love to utilize humor and a warm, strengths based compassionate approach with my clients. Clients can expect support, warmth and safety from me in our work together. I love seeing clients identify their strengths and work through their challenges, and am honored when I get to be part of this with them. I like to work collaboratively with my clients. We will work together to find solutions to the challenges and goals you identify, and I can help you develop new insights into your life and create new tools to manage them. It is my belief that you (the client) are the expert on yourself and your life, and I try to have this theory be the backbone of our work together. I often use cognitive behavioral techniques and worksheets, empathetic listening, and solution focused methods in order to help you achieve your goals in therapy. I enjoy finding a variety of coping skills that each individual client can utilize even after therapy has terminated.
Looking at these profiles can be overwhelming, and asking for help can be hard. It can be tough to know where to start. Starting therapy in itself is an act of bravery, and I would love to become part of your support team. If you have any questions or are interested in working with me, please feel free to reach out.
Specialties
Relationship issues
Trauma and abuse
Grief
Intimacy-related issues
Coping with life changes
Stress
Anxiety
Addictions
Family conflicts
Sleeping disorders
Anger management
Self esteem
Career difficulties
Bipolar disorder
Depression
Coaching
Compassion fatigue
ADHD
Aging and geriatric issues
BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
Blended family issues
Body image
Caregiver issues and stress
Chronic pain, illness, and disability
Codependency
Commitment issues
Communication problems
Control issues
Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
Dissociation
Divorce and separation
Domestic violence
Drug and alcohol addiction
Family of origin issues
Family problems
First responder issues
Forgiveness
Guilt and shame
Infidelity
Isolation / loneliness
Jealousy
Life purpose
Midlife crisis
Money and financial issues
Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
Post-traumatic stress
Prejudice and discrimination
Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
Self-love
Sex addiction
Sexual assault and abuse
Sexual dysfunction
Women's issues
Workplace issues
Young adult issues
Treatment Approaches
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Licenses
Gretchen Forrey's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1609322833.
- LMFT · California · 112938 · Expires April 2025
About online counseling
- Affordable.
- Pay a low flat fee.
- Convenient.
- Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
- Available now.
- There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.
Online counseling, also known as teletherapy, is a method of delivering mental health services through digital means such as video conferencing, phone calls, or messaging platforms. It can be an ideal option for individuals who have difficulty accessing traditional therapy due to geographical distance, time constraints, or personal preferences like privacy and comfort. Many people find it easier to open up from the familiarity of their own space.
Teletherapy has been found to be highly effective, with studies showing that it can produce similar outcomes to in-person therapy, particularly for issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The flexibility and accessibility it offers make it a valuable alternative to conventional therapy settings.
Reviews for Gretchen Forrey
All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.
Overall rating:
Gretchen is a fantastic listener and supporter. I don’t know where I’d be without her!
She’s the best.
Gretchen as a thoughtful, kind, and compassionate listener who has been helpful to me during a challenging time.
In two sessions Gretchen has already helped me significantly. I cannot recommend her enough, I am so grateful for her!
She makes you feel mattered and not alone. She listens without judgment.
She is wonderful
I was hesitant to begin counseling and assumed I would just be given a list of ways I was a bad husband/father and would feel worse about myself. Instead I feel empowered and hopeful so far. Really looking forward to continuing my growth and potential freedom from my own mind.
Gretchen is serious but also lighthearted and friendly. She is insightful but not overbearing.
Gretchen has been great! She checks in on me often to see if I need to chat or just give her life updates.
Gretchen is fantastic! She’s an excellent listener and has recommended wonderful resources like worksheets and books that have helped me tremendously. Our sessions have led to me feeling more self-assured and at peace with myself and my decisions.
I always look forward to my sessions with Gretchen. She always makes me feel safe and heard. It has been such a blessing to have her as part of my support system!
Gretchen is an AMAZING therapist! Anxiety has been a major struggle in my life, so I turned to BetterHelp due to the affordability and convenience. Gretchen understands my needs, concerns, and obstacles. I feel safe sharing everything with her, and I know that there's also someone available to help me through my challenges. Since working with Gretchen, I have seen life from a fresh perspective and I am more confident in facing work anxieties.
All good no complaints.
Gretchen has really helped me navigate and accept all of the repressed feelings I've been battling for so long. Not only does she hold space for me and help me implement healthy habits of coping, she shows me how I can heal and take care of my mental health even when our time together ends. She is a GREAT listener and I'm so grateful that we're on this journey together.
I love having Gretchen as a counselor! She responds every day and is very helpful. She listens and actually cares. It's rare finding a counselor like her these days.
She has been great so far. Very easy to talk to but really gives me the confirmation that I have worked hard on myself and the things I have done are great and the things I am working on are hard. Helps with my psyche and ability to grow. Love it!
She is very friendly and a great counselor. She is completely understanding and knows which areas to work upon by making it easy and building confidence to solve the problem.
Gretchen has been so helpful. This is the first time I reach out for help and she’s taken baby steps to ensure that I’m always comfortable. She makes me feel heard and seen, not minimizing the way I feel or think all the while making suggestions in order to help myself.
Frequently asked questions
Does Gretchen Forrey offer telehealth visits?
Yes. Gretchen Forrey works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.
What language(s) does Gretchen Forrey speak?
Gretchen Forrey speaks English.
How many years of experience does Gretchen Forrey have?
Gretchen Forrey has 8 years of experience.
Where is Gretchen Forrey licensed to practice?
Gretchen Forrey is licensed to practice in California.
Does Gretchen Forrey accept clients outside of the United States?
Yes, Gretchen Forrey accepts clients outside of the United States.
Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."
What treatment approaches does Gretchen Forrey offer?
Gretchen Forrey offers clients Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Therapy.
How can I communicate with Gretchen Forrey?
Gretchen Forrey can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.
How do I get started with Gretchen Forrey?
Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.
Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.
And recovery is possible.
When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.