LMFT

Alia Smith, LMFT

Experience15 years
LocationCalifornia
Focus areasADHD, Addictions, and Trauma and abuse
Therapy approachesAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Client-Centered Therapy

Check the available next steps for working with Alia online.

About Alia

Alia Smith is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) in California with 15 years of clinical experience. She draws on evidence-informed methods to support people coping with a wide range of concerns, including ADHD, addictions, trauma, anxiety, mood disorders, and life transitions.

Background and approach

Her practice emphasizes collaboration and the client’s own strengths, viewing each person as an expert on their experience while offering practical tools to manage symptoms and move toward valued goals.

Smith’s background includes work with issues such as self-esteem, relationship challenges, bipolar disorder, depression, and stress, along with additional focus areas like eating-related concerns, dissociation, codependency, and post-traumatic stress. She blends approaches like cognitive behavioral techniques, acceptance and commitment principles, dialectical strategies, and motivational interviewing to tailor care to each individual’s needs.

Taking the first step toward change can feel daunting, and her style centers on steady support, skill-building, and helping clients identify the next manageable actions that align with a more fulfilling life.

Therapeutic approaches and how they translate online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps clients clarify personal values and take committed action toward a meaningful life while learning to relate differently to painful thoughts and feelings; this approach can be useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and coping with life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing practical behavioral changes to reduce symptoms like panic, low mood, or compulsive behaviors; it often includes homework and skills practice between sessions. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness skills, making it helpful for intense emotions, self-destructive patterns, and relationship difficulties.

Finding the right approach is an ongoing, collaborative process. The therapist will work with each client to choose or combine methods that best fit their goals, preferences, and the problems they're addressing, adapting techniques over time as progress and needs evolve.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which can make scheduling easier and allow continuity of care when in-person visits are difficult. These formats support consistent skill-building and check-ins while accommodating different communication styles and daily routines, helping clients maintain momentum toward their therapeutic goals.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does she address?

She works with a broad set of issues including addictions, trauma and abuse, ADHD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, relationship difficulties, and stress among other areas.

What therapeutic style can I expect in sessions?

Her approach is collaborative and skills-focused, integrating ACT, CBT, DBT, client-centered techniques, and motivational interviewing to match interventions to each person’s situation.

How much clinical experience does the therapist have?

She has 15 years of professional experience providing mental health support across a range of concerns and clinical settings.

Where is she licensed and what are her credentials?

She is a licensed marriage and family therapist with the credential CA LMFT 101247 and practices in California.

Does she work with clients in other languages or internationally?

Sessions are offered in English only, and she is not currently accepting international clients.

What formats are available for sessions?

Clients can meet through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on preference and scheduling.

How are fees and payment handled?

Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Addictions Trauma and abuse Self esteem Coping with life changes ADHD

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesBipolar disorderDepression

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAutism and Asperger Syndrome Body imageCodependencyDissociationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily problemsGuilt and shame Panic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPost-traumatic stressSelf-harmSelf-loveSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Motivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

15+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English

What Alia can help with

Alia Smith works with clients on addictions, trauma and abuse, self esteem, coping with life changes, and ADHD.

Alia works with clients of all ages and walk of life.

Alia works with clients coping with addictions, trauma and abuse, and motivation.

How Alia approaches therapy

Alia's clinical approaches include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Therapy.

Experience and training

Alia is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in California, with 15 years of clinical experience.