Licensed Clinical Social Workers in Los Angeles, CA
Compare 6736 licensed clinical social workers in Los Angeles, CA. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
6,736
Licensed Clinical Social Workers
100%
Accepting patients
78%
Most common: LCSW
Top-Rated Licensed Clinical Social Workers in Los Angeles, CA
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Specialty: social-workerState: CACity: Los Angeles
About licensed clinical social workers in Los Angeles, CA
LA doesn't have one healthcare system. It has dozens, layered across a metro that stretches 60 miles in every direction. The result is extraordinary depth of specialty care, especially around Cedars-Sinai, UCLA, and Keck, but finding the right provider often means navigating competing hospital networks and long drive times.
Los Angeles has 6,736 licensed clinical social workers. The most common credential is LCSW (78%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
Most healthcare trips in LA are car trips. The Medical Center corridor along Beverly Boulevard and the Westwood cluster around UCLA are the two densest provider hubs. Patients on the Eastside rely on Keck and LA County+USC, while the Valley routes through Providence hospitals in Burbank and Mission Hills. Budget an extra 20 minutes for parking at any major campus.
Providers practice throughout Los Angeles. Beverly Hills is known for cosmetic and specialty practices, with easy access to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Santa Monica is providence Saint John's Health Center anchors healthcare in this beachside community. Hollywood is providers along Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset serve a large, diverse community with several urgent care options. Westwood is home to UCLA Medical Center, one of the top-ranked hospitals in the country.
Nearby hospitals include Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, and Keck Hospital of USC. Local training programs run through University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and University of Southern California (USC). Los Angeles County has over 30,000 licensed physicians, one of the highest concentrations in the country.
What to expect at your first licensed clinical social worker visit in Los Angeles, CA
A first session typically lasts 50 to 60 minutes. The social worker will ask about your current concerns, mental health history, family background, living situation, and support network. They may also ask about practical issues like insurance coverage, housing stability, and safety at home. Together, you will set goals for treatment. Social workers use evidence-based therapies including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and trauma-focused approaches. Sessions are usually weekly or biweekly. Social workers cannot prescribe medication but can refer you to a psychiatrist if medication might help.
When to see a licensed clinical social worker
You might see a clinical social worker for depression, anxiety, grief, relationship conflict, trauma recovery, or adjustment to major life changes like divorce, job loss, or chronic illness diagnosis. Social workers are also the right fit if you need help navigating the healthcare or social services system alongside therapy. If you are in crisis, experiencing domestic violence, or need case management for a complex situation involving mental health and practical barriers, a social worker can address both the emotional and logistical challenges.
Typical costs
Individual session copay: $20-50 with insurance · Self-pay: $80-150/session · Community mental health center: $20-80/session sliding scale
Common reasons to see a licensed clinical social worker in Los Angeles, CA
Family conflict and dysfunction
Clinical social workers provide family therapy that addresses communication patterns, boundary issues, and generational dynamics. They also connect families with community resources for additional support.
Grief and life transitions
Social workers offer grief counseling and help with the practical side of major life changes: navigating benefits, connecting with support groups, and building a plan for moving forward.
Anxiety and depression
Licensed clinical social workers provide therapy for anxiety and depression using evidence-based methods. They take a holistic view that considers your relationships, environment, and resources.
Trauma and abuse recovery
Social workers are trained in trauma-informed care and help survivors of abuse process their experiences, develop safety plans, and access community resources for ongoing support.
Adjustment to chronic illness
A chronic health diagnosis changes everything. Clinical social workers help you cope with the emotional impact, navigate the healthcare system, and maintain quality of life.
Frequently asked questions about licensed clinical social workers in Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, CA has 6,736 licensed licensed clinical social workers. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of licensed clinical social workers in Los Angeles, CA are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
Covered California enrollment is strong in LA County, with LA Care and Health Net as the dominant Medi-Cal managed care plans. Many private employers offer Blue Shield, Anthem, or Kaiser. If you're on Medi-Cal, check whether your provider accepts LA Care or Health Net specifically, as not all do.
A session copay is $20 to $50 with insurance. Self-pay rates are $80 to $150 per session. Community mental health centers charge $20 to $80 on a sliding scale. Actual costs in Los Angeles, CA depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Social workers are generally the most affordable type of licensed therapist. Community mental health centers employ social workers and offer income-based sliding-scale fees. Many LCSWs in private practice also reserve sliding-scale slots.
In LA, the biggest factor in finding the right provider is hospital network. UCLA Health, Cedars-Sinai, and Keck/USC each operate extensive outpatient systems across the metro. Choosing a primary care doctor within your preferred network makes specialist referrals much smoother.
LCSW stands for Licensed Clinical Social Worker and MSW stands for Master of Social Work. Both are equivalent qualifications. In Los Angeles, CA, 78% hold the LCSW credential and 8% hold MSW. The difference is in training pathway, not quality of care.
Some licensed clinical social workers in Los Angeles, CA accept Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid covers LCSW therapy in all states. Coverage includes individual and group therapy. Co-pays are minimal or zero for most Medicaid recipients. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm Medi-Cal participation before scheduling.
It's not required, but it helps. LA's major systems (UCLA, Cedars-Sinai, Keck/USC, Providence) each have their own referral networks, patient portals, and imaging centers. Staying within one system reduces duplicate tests and simplifies specialist referrals.
LA County has providers who speak over 90 languages. Korean-speaking providers cluster in Koreatown, Armenian-speaking in Glendale, Spanish-speaking across much of East and South LA, and Mandarin/Cantonese-speaking in the San Gabriel Valley. Use FindClarity's language filters to narrow your search.
Nearby Cities
Other specialties in Los Angeles
Insurance & Licensed Clinical Social Worker coverage
Top accepted carriers in Los Angeles, CA include qhp-56707, medicare, unitedhealthcare, qhp-33602, and qhp-17091.
Most insurance plans cover therapy with licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs). Social workers are one of the most widely covered mental health provider types. Verify your plan covers outpatient mental health services and check whether the social worker is in-network. Mental health parity laws require most plans to cover mental health at the same level as physical health. Community mental health centers often accept Medicaid and offer sliding-scale fees.