About Erin Costello
Clientele seen
Children (<13)
Adults (25-64)
Teenagers (13-17)
Individuals
Young adults (18-24)
Families
Treatment approaches
Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)
Compassion Focused
Attachment-based
Culturally Sensitive
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Eclectic
Identity
Gender
FemaleSexuality
LesbianFaith
NonreligiousEthnicity
White
Languages spoken
English
Getting to know Erin Costello
Hi, I’m Erin, a California-based therapist who believes therapy should be a place where you can show up as your whole self, not somewhere you have to edit, minimize, or explain away the parts of you that make you different. As a neurodivergent, queer, and disabled clinician, I bring a deeply affirming and personal perspective to my work.
I provide warm, collaborative, strengths-based therapy for children, adolescents, teens, young adults, and adults. I especially enjoy working with LGBTQIA+ and queer clients, transgender and gender-diverse individuals, and neurodivergent clients, including those with Autism, ADHD, or AuDHD. My clinical interests include PTSD and trauma, anxiety, emotional regulation, self-esteem, relationships, identity exploration, sexuality, and major life transitions. My approach is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, LGBTQIA+-affirming, and neurodiversity-affirming.
I have experience supporting transgender and gender-diverse clients through gender exploration and different stages of transition, including social and medical transition, family and relationship dynamics, and the emotional aspects of gender-affirming care. When clinically appropriate, I can also provide letters of support for gender-affirming care, including procedures such as top surgery.
I believe therapy should help you better understand yourself rather than teach you to become someone you are not. Whether you are exploring your identity, trying to understand your neurodivergence, processing PTSD or trauma, navigating relationships, or simply feeling stuck, we can start wherever you are. You do not need to have everything figured out before beginning therapy.
My goal is to create a therapeutic environment where you feel respected, understood, and comfortable being yourself. I value genuine connection, curiosity, and humor, and I enjoy getting to know the interests, passions, and hyperfixations that make each client unique.
What is your typical process for working with clients?
I start therapy by getting to know you- not just what brings you to therapy, but your history, family history, identity, interests, current circumstances, strengths, goals, and what you hope to get out of our work together. During the initial sessions, we’ll work collaboratively to understand what’s going on and identify areas you’d like to focus on. We’ll develop a treatment plan together, and I’ll continue to check in about whether our work feels useful and aligned with your goals.
Sessions are conversational and collaborative rather than following a rigid script. Depending on what you need that day, we might process something that happened during the week, explore patterns in your thoughts or relationships, work through emotions, build coping or communication skills, or focus on a specific goal or challenge. I may offer observations, questions, psychoeducation, or practical strategies, but I don’t believe in taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
I also try to meet clients where they are. Some sessions may involve deeper emotional processing, while others may be more focused on problem-solving, reflection, or simply having a space to breathe and regroup. Therapy doesn’t have to look the same every week to be meaningful. We can adjust the pace and focus as your needs change.
Above all, I want therapy to feel like something we are doing together. You are always welcome to tell me what is or isn’t working, ask questions, change direction, or bring something completely unexpected into session. My goal is for you to leave therapy feeling that our time was genuinely useful, and with a stronger understanding of yourself.
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In-network insurances
Aetna
BlueCross BlueShield
Cigna
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It’s common for mental health providers to be out-of-network. Many insurance plans offer out-of-network coverage, so you may get partially reimbursed. Learn more
More information on payments and coverage
I accept a wide range of insurance plans and am in-network with Aetna, Aetna EAP, Allegiance, Allied, Anthem, Arlo, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, BlueCross BlueShield, Carelon Behavioral Health, Centivo, Cigna and Evernorth, Cigna EAP, Create, Curative, EBMS, Evernorth EAP, First Health, Geisinger, Health Net, Luminare Health, MagnaCare, Nippon Life Benefits, Sidecar Health, Trustmark Benefits, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Health Plan, USC PPO/EPO Plan, and WebTPA.
Insurance coverage, deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket costs vary by individual plan. Being in-network does not necessarily mean that services are fully covered, so I encourage clients to confirm their behavioral health benefits and expected costs with their insurance provider before beginning treatment. I’m happy to provide information needed to help you verify your benefits.
For clients who prefer not to use insurance or whose plan I do not accept, my private-pay rate is $145 per session. I also offer sliding-scale rates on a case-by-case basis when financial circumstances or access barriers make the standard fee difficult to manage. My goal is to make therapy as accessible as possible while balancing affordability with sustainable care.
If cost is a concern, please feel comfortable discussing it with me. Financial circumstances can change, and I’m happy to talk through available options to determine whether we can find an arrangement that works for you.
Education and background
Practice names
Education and training
- California State University, Fullerton, Master's in Mental Health Counseling
- Fairleigh Dickinson University, Bachelor's
Professional memberships
- California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
NPI number
1508592544
How soon can I make an appointment with Erin Costello?
Generally, Erin Costello has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Erin Costello's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.
Is Erin Costello accepting new patients?
Erin Costello generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Erin Costello's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.
Does Erin Costello accept my insurance?
Choose your insurance plan to verify if Erin Costello is in-network.
Can I make an appointment with Erin Costello online?
Yes, you can make an appointment online with Erin Costello using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.
What practice does Erin Costello work with?
Erin Costello works with Erin Costello, LMFT.
What are common reasons for patients to see Erin Costello?
Erin Costello frequently sees patients for New Patient Visit, Pain Management Consultation, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit, and Sleep Problems. You can see other visit reasons for Erin Costello on their profile.
What languages does Erin Costello speak?
Erin Costello speaks English.