Blackburn Clinical Services sees Santa Cruz County adults and college students by secure video for clients located in California, offering therapy and the Concierge Outpatient Program, our one-on-one alternative to IOP. Our only office is in Los Angeles; Santa Cruz, Capitola and Scotts Valley clients meet us online. Call (888) 870 7405.
Call (888) 870 7405
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Video sessions for Santa Cruz County clients.
What can Santa Cruz clients do with Blackburn online?
- No office here: we do not have an office in Santa Cruz County; care is by secure video. Our only office, in Mar Vista, is about 288 miles from downtown Santa Cruz in a straight line.
- Therapy: individual sessions, weekly or more.
- Concierge Outpatient Program: mostly 3 to 5 hours a week, one-on-one. Video covers therapy, psychoeducation, coaching and case management.
- Career coaching by video for students and adults who feel stuck.
- Psychiatric care: can be arranged.
How does Highway 17 shape a Santa Cruz week?
Santa Cruz County had about 261,069 residents on January 1, 2026, down 0.6 percent from the year before, and the city of Santa Cruz about 63,065, per the California Department of Finance. Housing costs push some families out, and others commute “over the hill” on Highway 17 to jobs in Silicon Valley. That road is winding, closes for crashes and storms, and can eat two hours a day. Commuters tell us therapy keeps falling off their week because there is no time left to drive anywhere else.
Video solves the drive. A session can happen from home in Aptos before the commute, or from a parked car in Scotts Valley at lunch. If you work in the South Bay, our San Jose page covers that side of the hill.
What about UC Santa Cruz students and their parents?
The UC campus in Santa Cruz runs on a quarter calendar: ten weeks, then finals in December, March and June. The pace is fast, housing is scarce, and a lot of students live off campus with roommates or commute from Watsonville or over the hill. The calls we get are about anxiety that stops sleep, depression that makes classes pile up, and drinking or cannabis use that has moved from weekend to daily. Students can work with us by video while located in California, and we handle leave of absence and return evaluations when clinically appropriate. Parents elsewhere in California can read help for parents of a struggling college student.
How have fires and storms affected the county?
The CZU Lightning Complex in August 2020 burned through Boulder Creek, Bonny Doon and Big Basin, and many mountain families are still rebuilding or have left. Winter storms in early 2023 flooded the San Lorenzo Valley and damaged the Capitola Wharf, and the Pajaro River levee break that March flooded the town of Pajaro across the county line. Each new evacuation warning can bring the old fear back. That kind of stress is a reasonable thing to bring to trauma therapy.
Where do public services fit?
Santa Cruz County’s Behavioral Health Access Team is the first step for county mental health and substance use services. Its Access line, 800-952-2335, is available 24/7, 365 days a year, and connects people to non-emergency care (Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health). Private-pay clients who want one-on-one care on their own schedule often call us as well.
Which level of care fits a Santa Cruz client?
| You are… | Likely starting point |
|---|---|
| A commuter with anxiety and no spare hours | Weekly therapy by video |
| A student whose use has gone daily | Concierge Outpatient Program |
| Back from residential treatment | Concierge Outpatient Program as a step down |
| Thinking about suicide right now | 988 now, then a higher level of care |
The program is not an IOP and has no groups; compare options on our virtual outpatient program page or start broader at telehealth therapy in California.
When are sessions and how do you pay?
Weekdays, 9 AM to 5 PM, plus some Saturday therapy appointments. You need to be physically in California during sessions. We are private pay with no insurance billing; superbills for reimbursable services support out-of-network claims. See fees and insurance and the private pay FAQ.
Questions from Santa Cruz County clients
Do you have an office in Santa Cruz?
No. We do not have an office in Santa Cruz County; care is by secure video. Our only office is in Los Angeles.
Can I take sessions if I commute over Highway 17?
Yes. Most commuters take sessions from home before or after the drive, or from a parked car at lunch. Never join while driving.
Can a UCSC student do therapy with you during the quarter?
Yes, by secure video while located in California. If a quarter is going badly, we can also assess for a leave of absence or a return.
Is the Concierge Outpatient Program a group program?
No. It is one-on-one only, typically 3 to 5 hours a week, and an alternative to IOP rather than an IOP.
Can psychiatric care be arranged from Santa Cruz?
Yes. Psychiatric care can be arranged, with your therapist kept in the loop.
What is the Santa Cruz County Access line?
800-952-2335. It is available 24/7 and connects people to non-emergency mental health and substance use services.
How do I get started?
Call (888) 870 7405 or email info@blackburnclinical.com. Nearby: Monterey and Carmel, San Jose and the South Bay, and the Northern California overview.
If it is urgent, call or text 988, or call 911.
Call (888) 870 7405
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Secure video from the mountains to the Pajaro Valley.
Sources
- California Department of Finance, E-1 estimates, January 2026
- Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health: Access Services
- CAL FIRE incident record: CZU Lightning Complex (2020)
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (988lifeline.org)