About Whitney Richards, LMFT
San Francisco Therapist for Anxiety Relief, Self-Esteem, and Secure Relationships
It’s hard being human. The world is noisy and uncertain, and there's no shortage of things to worry about. Working with a therapist gives you space to tune into your inner world, access what brings you joy, and build stronger relationships - with yourself and with the people you care about. It's an intentional act of care in a world that often pulls us away from ourselves and each other.
I’d love to help.
I’m Whitney (she/her), a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who works with individual adults in San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area. I work with individuals - not couples - who want more ease and clarity in their relationships, including romantic, platonic, and family dynamics. I help people shift their relationship with anxiety, release self-limiting beliefs, access their inner knowing, and build more satisfying connections in their lives.
Goal-oriented and holistic therapy that supports you through change
I became a therapist because I’m drawn to the kind of healing that happens when we bring what’s internal into the open - moving the implicit to the explicit through conversations, creativity, and reflection. I believe in the power of accessing your emotions and your body’s wisdom, especially when you feel trapped in your own mind or bogged down by external pressures.
When I’m not helping clients navigate their inner lives, you’ll find me backpacking, gardening, dancing, and gushing over my cat and dog.
What it’s like to work with me
Clients often describe me as warm, relatable, and nonjudgmental.
I think deeply about what my clients are navigating - not just in the room, but in the spaces between. I’ll often bring in articles, ideas, or reflections that feel meaningful to where you are. I’m engaged, collaborative, and genuinely invested in supporting real, lasting change.
Your lived experience matters. That’s something I carry into every session. Our race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexuality, body size, and abilities are central to our experiences and how we move through the world. I strive to create a space where you feel all parts of you are welcome and respected.
We all have ways we've learned to be successful or get through hard things - over-functioning, numbing out, scanning for what might go wrong. But these patterns may be wearing you out. Therapy gives us room to understand where they came from and decide what you want to shift - without shame or pressure.
I use an integrative approach rooted in Internal Family Systems
My work is grounded in Internal Family Systems (IFS) - a model that helps you understand the different “parts” of you, especially the ones that get loud when anxiety hits. With curiosity and compassion, we’ll explore how those parts formed, what they’re trying to protect, and how to shift out of old patterns so you can respond with more choice and clarity.
Depending on your needs, I also draw from:
Mindfulness
Expressive Arts Therapy
The Flash Technique
Sandtray Therapy
Nonviolent Communication (NVC)
Let’s get started
If you're ready to explore how therapy might help, I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation. We can talk about what’s going on and see if we’re a good fit. You can book an initial consultation by clicking below.