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Steven Smith

Steven Smith, LMFT

Therapist in California

Partnering to build self esteem and balance

Continue with Steven

Review online therapy options on BetterHelp.

10 years of experience listed

LMFT professional credentials

English languages

  • Client-centered care
  • Mindfulness practice
  • Relationship focus

About Steven

Steven Smith is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in California. He focuses on helping people who are struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, addictions, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy issues, and low self esteem. He meets with individuals and couples and works in plain, direct ways to help clients set realistic goals and move toward them.

He listens first and then helps people name the changes they want. Steven uses a client-centered stance that keeps the client's goals front and center. He also draws on existential ideas that ask what matters most to each person and how their choices shape daily life.

In sessions he blends mindfulness practices with practical conversation. That can mean noticing how thoughts and feelings show up in the body, trying brief grounding exercises, or slowing down difficult topics so they feel manageable. He also uses motivational interviewing techniques to help people sort through ambivalence and find reasons to change.

Steven has a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and ten years of clinical experience supporting people from different backgrounds. His LMFT credential is California LMFT. He aims to create a steady, nonjudgmental space to talk through problems and to practice new ways of coping.

Clients often work with him on relationship communication, managing mood swings, recovering from addiction or trauma, and building stronger self esteem. He encourages clear goal-setting and regular check-ins so progress can be seen and adjusted over time.

How therapeutic approaches shape online work

Client-Centered Therapy places the person's goals and experience first and focuses on clear listening and collaborative planning; this helps with stress, low self esteem, and relationship concerns. Existential Therapy asks practical questions about values and choice, which can help when people feel stuck or face big life changes. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and grounding skills to reduce reactivity and manage strong emotions.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with each person about their needs, goals, and preferences, then steer conversations toward methods that feel useful. That way sessions evolve based on feedback and what actually helps in day-to-day life.

Confirm the current session options before booking so you know how sessions will be scheduled. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. It can also allow people to practice skills between meetings and bring real-life situations into conversation more quickly.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseBipolar disorderDepression

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

Avoidant personalityBDSM, kink, and alternative sex cultureBlended family issuesCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationDrug and alcohol addictionFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMood disordersMulticultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Self-harmSelf-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaTrichotillomania

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyExistential TherapyGottman MethodMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

10+ years

Credentials

California

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Steven help with?

He supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar symptoms, trauma and abuse, addiction, relationship and intimacy struggles, parenting strain, grief, and self esteem difficulties.

How would he describe his therapeutic style?

He uses a client-centered approach that focuses on each person’s goals and an existential outlook that considers values and life choices.

What kinds of clinical tools does he use in sessions?

He blends mindfulness exercises, motivational interviewing, trauma-focused techniques, and elements of the Gottman Method to address relationships and communication.

What are his credentials and where does he practice?

He holds a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (CA LMFT) practicing in California.

What languages are supported?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can international clients work with him?

International clients are not currently accepted.

How are costs structured?

Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with him?

Use the continue button on this profile, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Steven SmithContinue with Steven