Columbia · 340 scored on real reviews

Find a top-rated counselor in Columbia

340 Columbia counselors scored on real reviews, averaging 4.59 stars, so you can pick someone you'll actually stick with.

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Ranked by a published rubric from recent Google reviews. Browse the map →

Browse counseling by specialty

From anxiety and grief to teens and addiction recovery, find the counselor type that fits what you're dealing with right now.

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Career & Life Coaching

48 companies

Child & Adolescent Counseling

21 companies

Grief & Trauma Counseling

79 companies

Mental Health & Anxiety Counseling

143 companies

Substance Abuse & Addiction Counseling

14 companies

Find a counselor near you in Columbia

Search by neighborhood so drive time and scheduling actually work with your life.

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Harbison114 businesses Midtown Downtown67 businesses The Vista50 businesses Forest Acres36 businesses Northeast Columbia23 businesses Shandon22 businesses Arsenal Hill11 businesses Elmwood Park7 businesses Melrose Heights7 businesses

Columbia's highest-scoring counselors

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Sunset Primary Care

4.9(294)✓ Google-verifiedPublishes prices

Patients consistently report feeling heard and unhurried. Staff and practitioners Scottie Shelley and Dr. Jannette Shelley create a judgment-free setting where mental health gets equal weight alongside physical care. The office is clean, fees are transparent ($70 per same-day visit), and many skip insurance to pay out of pocket. One serious complaint alleges discrimination and dishonesty, though it stands isolated among 29 five-star reviews. For those without insurance seeking accessible mental health support alongside primary care, this practice stands apart. Emotional crises get handled with extra time, not rushed appointments.

Mental Health & Anxiety Counseling

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Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Columbia

4.7(288)✓ Google-verifiedPublishes prices

Reviewers consistently report feeling heard and matched effectively with capable therapists who address their specific concerns, from anxiety and OCD to autism-related challenges. Named clinicians like Lauren, Celeste, Lee, and Yvonne Pittman earn praise for professionalism and insight; the intake process is smooth, and teletherapy is available.

Grief & Trauma CounselingMental Health & Anxiety CounselingChild & Adolescent Counseling

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LifeStance Therapists & Psychiatrists Cayce

4.6(227)✓ Google-verified

Staff here know how to listen. Reviewers repeatedly name therapists by name (Kya Davis, Dr. Lynn Gilderhus, Karen Smith, Heather) and describe feeling truly heard and supported through difficult conversations. Booking is straightforward, and medication management is praised for correcting long-standing issues.

Mental Health & Anxiety CounselingChild & Adolescent CounselingSubstance Abuse & Addiction Counseling

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LifeStance Therapists & Psychiatrists Columbia

4.7(175)✓ Google-verifiedPublishes prices

Patients consistently praise LifeStance's therapists and psychiatrists for genuine listening and thoughtful care. Sessions feel collaborative rather than rushed, and staff handle scheduling and insurance seamlessly. The office is calm and welcoming, though one visitor noted the silence makes sudden noise from arriving clients distracting.

Mental Health & Anxiety CounselingChild & Adolescent Counseling

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Oceanic Counseling Group LLC

4.9(63)✓ Google-verified

Parents and adult clients report genuine transformations under named therapists like Rayniece, Merlyn, Candice, Kym, and Megan. Children regain self-esteem and improve academically; adults process grief and hopelessness with renewed outlook. Staff communicate clearly, adjust appointments to fit life, and create a calm space where people feel heard and valued.

Grief & Trauma CounselingMental Health & Anxiety CounselingChild & Adolescent Counseling

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LifeStance Therapists & Psychiatrists Columbia

4.9(97)✓ Google-verified

Most reviewers praise LifeStance for responsive clinicians, helpful staff, and meaningful therapy breakthroughs. Named providers like Dr. Walkup, Ms. Goldin, and Mr. Freeman receive consistent recognition for compassion and skill. One patient reported no benefit from Spravato treatment and unresponded email follow-up, a notable caveat for that specific service.

Mental Health & Anxiety CounselingChild & Adolescent CounselingCareer & Life Coaching

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Why this list is worth your time

An independent, data-driven directory, not a pay-to-list ad board.

340 providers, one consistent scoring method

Every counselor on this list, from Mental Health & Anxiety Counseling (336 listed) to smaller categories like Substance Abuse & Addiction Counseling (50), is scored the same way, so comparisons actually mean something.

A 4.59 average that still separates the standouts

With ratings this tightly clustered, small differences matter. We surface the counselors whose reviews repeat specific praise like being easy to talk to (12 mentions) or creating a safe space (7 mentions), not just a star count.

We flag the complaints, not just the compliments

Themes like being hard to reach by phone (4 mentions) or poor follow-up communication (2 mentions) show up in our data too. David Reyes, our Reviews Editor, factors these into rankings instead of hiding them.

How we score Columbia counselors

One published rubric scores each business 0–100 from recent public Google reviews: rating, review volume, recency, sentiment, and profile completeness. No pay-to-rank, no edited reviews.

✓ Sentiment synthesised from real reviews, not republished
✓ Google-verified businesses clearly marked
✓ Refreshed regularly so scores stay current

Read the methodology →

Guides

All guides →

Starting therapy after a move to Columbia: how to find the right fit
How to transfer or restart counseling after moving to the Columbia area, from getting records transferred to bridging the gap with telehealth.
Counseling support for veterans and first responders in Columbia
The paths to counseling built specifically for veterans and first responders, from VA mental health benefits to peer support and confidential options.
Supporting a partner through therapy without taking over their process
How to be genuinely supportive while your partner is in counseling, without overstepping, asking for too many details, or making their progress about you.
How to verify a counselor's license and credentials in South Carolina
How to confirm a counselor is actually licensed in South Carolina, what the common credential abbreviations mean, and what to do if something doesn't check out.

3,950 businesses reviewed

340 listed after vetting

5 service categories

Scored on real Google reviews

Updated 2026-08-17 How we score