About Steven
Steven Smith is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in California with ten years of clinical experience. He focuses on helping people deal with stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar mood concerns, addiction, relationship struggles, and ADHD. He works with individuals and couples and aims to help them find practical, manageable ways to feel better day to day.
His style is straightforward and respectful. He listens first, then helps clients set clear goals.
Background and approach
Sessions tend to focus on what matters most to the person in front of him rather than fitting them into a rigid model. Steven draws on client-centered methods that prioritize the client's perspective and choice. He also uses existential ideas to help people clarify values and find meaning when life feels uncertain.
Mindfulness techniques and motivational interviewing are woven into sessions to support practical behavior change and relief from overwhelming emotions. When relationships are central, he employs tools from the Gottman Method to improve communication and reduce conflict. For people with trauma, he uses trauma-focused strategies to address symptoms and improve daily functioning.
His approach is flexible and tailored to each person’s needs. Sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text messaging to make therapy easier to fit into busy lives. Steven aims to help people build coping skills, strengthen communication, and make steady progress toward their goals.
How his approaches translate to online work
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and following the client's lead, so online sessions are built around what matters most to the person. This approach helps with anxiety, depression, relationship strain, and ADHD-related daily challenges by keeping goals practical and oriented to real life.Existential therapy helps people name their values and make choices that match those values. In remote sessions this can mean short exercises and guided conversations that help a person clarify what they want from work, relationships, or day-to-day routines.
Mindfulness therapy teaches simple practices to reduce reactivity and improve focus. Online formats allow for live guided mindfulness exercises and brief homework that fits into a busy schedule, which can be especially useful for stress, anxiety, and attention concerns.
Finding the right blend of approaches is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about their needs and preferences, try techniques, and adjust the plan based on what helps most. Sessions are paced to the client's comfort and goals rather than a preset agenda.
Online therapy offers flexibility through video, phone, live chat, or text messaging. Video is helpful for richer interaction and relationship-focused work. Phone calls can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for shorter check-ins, coping tools between sessions, or when fitting therapy into a hectic day. These options make it simpler to maintain continuity of care and practice new skills in everyday life.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
Also listed
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Avoidant personality
- BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
- Bipolar disorder
- Blended family issues
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Gender dysphoria
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- LGBT
- Life purpose
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Parenting issues
- Phobias
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trichotillomania
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 10 years
- Licensed
- California
- Languages
- English
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