Online Therapy and Virtual Outpatient Care for Oakland and Berkeley

Blackburn Clinical Services provides Oakland and Berkeley adults with one-on-one therapy and the Concierge Outpatient Program, a private alternative to IOP, by secure video for clients located in California. Our only office is in Los Angeles, so East Bay clients work with us online. Call (888) 870 7405.

What does Blackburn offer East Bay clients by video?

• Honest geography: we do not have an office in Oakland or Berkeley; care is by secure video. Our Mar Vista office is about 339 miles from downtown Oakland in a straight line.
• Individual therapy: CBT, DBT, ACT and other approaches chosen with you.
• Concierge Outpatient Program: about 3 to 5 hours a week of individual work, never groups, including therapy, psychoeducation, coaching and case management online.
• Psychiatric care: can be arranged with your therapist in the loop.
• In Los Angeles only: Brainspotting.

Who calls us from Oakland and Berkeley?

Oakland had about 429,591 residents on January 1, 2026 and Berkeley about 127,654, inside an Alameda County of roughly 1,666,136, according to the California Department of Finance. The two cities share a border and a BART line but feel different, and so do the calls we get.

From Oakland: teachers, nurses, public sector and nonprofit workers carrying other people’s crises all day; artists and musicians juggling gig income; parents in the hills and the flatlands managing rent, school choice and safety worries; people in recovery who want more than a weekly hour. From Berkeley: graduate students, postdocs and researchers, faculty and staff, and undergraduates whose parents are calling from elsewhere in California.

The UC campus in Berkeley runs on a semester calendar, so the hard stretches are October midterms, December finals and the spring push into May. Graduate students describe a different pressure: years-long projects, uncertain funding and advisors who hold their future. Our pages on therapy for college students and help for parents of a struggling college student apply here, and we can complete leave of absence and return evaluations when clinically appropriate.

Which public mental health system serves you: Alameda County or Berkeley?

Berkeley is unusual. The city runs its own mental health division instead of relying only on the county, so the first call depends on where you live.

If you live in	Public starting point	Phone
Oakland and most of Alameda County	Alameda County Behavioral Health referral line	1-800-491-9099
Berkeley, adults	City of Berkeley Mental Health, Adult Services	(510) 981-5244, Mon to Fri, 10 AM to 5 PM
Berkeley, youth and children	City of Berkeley intake supervisor	(510) 981-7642

Sources: Alameda County Behavioral Health and the City of Berkeley page on accessing mental health services. Check those pages for current hours. Private care with us is an option for people who want individual attention and pay privately.

Weekly therapy or the Concierge Outpatient Program?

Weekly therapy suits most people. The program fits when substance use and mood are feeding each other, after a residential stay, or when a group IOP schedule collides with teaching, clinical rotations or lab hours. It is an alternative to IOP, not an IOP, and the hours rise or fall with need. See our virtual outpatient program for California and dual diagnosis pages.

Can you keep a session private in a shared flat or co-op?

Many East Bay clients live with roommates, housemates or partners who work from home. Use a closed room with a fan or music outside the door, book a study room, or take the session in your car. You need to be located in California during each session; if you head to a conference out of state, we move the time. Hours are Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, with some Saturday therapy appointments.

How does payment work?

We do not participate with insurance plans or bill them. For reimbursable services you get a superbill to submit for out-of-network benefits. More on our fees and insurance page and in the private pay FAQ. For a statewide view, read telehealth therapy across California.

Questions from Oakland and Berkeley clients

Do you have an office in Oakland or Berkeley?

No. We do not have an office in Oakland or Berkeley; care is by secure video. Our only office is in Mar Vista, Los Angeles.

Can a Berkeley graduate student work with you by video?

Yes, as long as you are located in California during sessions. When it is clinically appropriate, we also write leave and return evaluations.

Does Berkeley really have its own city mental health services?

Yes. The City of Berkeley runs a Mental Health division with adult and youth services. Oakland residents use Alameda County Behavioral Health instead.

Is the Concierge Outpatient Program a group program?

No. Every hour is one-on-one. It typically runs 3 to 5 hours a week and is an alternative to IOP.

Can psychiatric care be added?

Yes, psychiatric care can be arranged and coordinated with your therapist. We explain how when you call.

What if I work in a school or clinic all day?

Sessions run Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, and some Saturday therapy appointments exist. Many teachers and clinicians use a prep period or lunch break.

How do I get started?

Call (888) 870 7405 or email info@blackburnclinical.com. Nearby: Walnut Creek and Lamorinda, San Francisco, and the full Northern California list.

For a crisis, call or text 988. If someone is in danger, call 911.

Sources

• California Department of Finance, E-1 estimates, January 2026
• Alameda County Behavioral Health
• City of Berkeley: Accessing mental health services
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (988lifeline.org)