Penny Gifford
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
California therapists accepting new clients
Adriene FaustLCSW · 20 years experienceCareer difficulties · Trauma and abuse · GriefWork with Adriene
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About Penny
Your healing begins here. I seek to help adults in individual sessions to integrate new and healthy skills to gain self-empowerment and improve your life. Whether you struggle with mental health issues or change of life issues the goal is to provide a supportive therapeutic environment to empower you to grow and make effective changes in your life. Creating a collaborative, non-judgmental and positive atmosphere is a crucial piece to your healing process and change.
I have extensive experience with the following conditions: anger management, anxiety & stress, co-dependency, family discord, grief & loss, life purpose & transition, mood disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders.
I employ treatment through integrative counseling by drawing on behavioral therapies, psychodynamic therapy & humanistic therapies to help you learn, grow and heal by guiding you through a directive and solution focused process.
What Penny helps with
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Sleeping disorders
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
Show 37 more areas
- Abandonment
- Antisocial personality
- Attachment issues
- Avoidant personality
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Personality disorders
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trichotillomania
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
How Penny works
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution-Focused Therapy
What clients say
- “Penny is the best!”
- “Penny Gifford is smart, thoughtful, and respectful. I've only met with her twice so far, but talking with her has been so helpful.”
- “Penny offers me the space not only to be heard but to decide direction on my healing path. She's there with me every step of the way and I've never made more progress with a therapist.”
Show all 15 reviews
- “Penny is caring and organized in the therapy sessions, prioritizing what the client wishes to discuss, and ensuring there is an action plan with viable new healthy skills and behaviors to practice. It is nice to be heard in a caring, safe space.”
- “Penny is fantastic. Tremendously helpful would be an understatement. During all the years as her patient, Penny has demonstrated care and consistency that I never found in an in-person provider. She is on time for video calls, and does not cancel at the last minute. Her messages are very timely, and not written by AI, an increasingly rare find. Her experience, memory, and knowledge are all top-notch. Thank you for your work, Penny!”
- “Penny is great!”
- “I really appreciated my first session with Penny and am looking forward to the next. She's smart and thoughtful.”
- “I have worked with several therapists in better help. They were all helpful in their own ways. But Penny is by far the best therapist I have ever had. I feel truly listened to and heard. I hope she continues to be a therapist here for a very long time! I can see myself finally getting somewhere in therapy because of her! I am very grateful to have found her.”
- “Penny is great. immediately had a good rapport with her and i feel like our conversation styles mesh seamlessly. She also provides me good insights and actionable feedback which i appreciate”
- “She is great at following up !”
- “I've never been heard and understood more throughly. I have made more progress with Penny Gifford than anyone. Penny comes from a place of true empathy and clinical expertise.”
- “Penny is exceptional. She is the first therapist I’ve ever talked to, and made me feel comfortable from the start. From the first session, she’s helped me manage my anxiety better and has consistently provided tips and insights to improve my mental health. Highly recommend”
- “I've only had a handful of sessions so far, but the methods I'm learning with her help have already been instrumental in my daily life and building better habits.”
- “I have had an amazing time working with Penny. She has a very calming energy during sessions, and I like how she approaches topics through questions to dive deeper into the topic at hand and then work through a solution that works for my needs/abilities. She takes time to send progress reviews and encourages me to use the text feature frequently if trouble arises between sessions, allowing me to get input without having to wait for my next session. Scheduling wise, she is very accommodating and takes the times to ensure you can get an appointment time that works for you. She is very knowledgeable and has a broad range of experience in ways to approach things and a deep understanding of the profession.”
- “I was pleasantly surprised my first visit with Penny Gifford. It did not feel like an awkward first time meeting, I greatly appreciated receiving a text message from her following up and another letting me know the dates she would be out of the office. I am looking forward to our next appointment.”
These reviews represent a few of the most recent positive reviews from the therapist's clients on BetterHelp. Some people's experience may be different.