LMFT

Brett Smith, LMFT

Experience22 years
LocationCalifornia
Focus areasADHD, Stress and Anxiety, and Family
Therapy approachesCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Check the available next steps for working with Brett online.

About Brett

Brett Smith is an LMFT with 22 years of clinical experience who supports people coping with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, depression, addictions, ADHD, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, and a wide array of related concerns.

Background and approach

He brings a direct, pragmatic style to therapy and draws on a range of methods to help clients identify patterns that interfere with daily life and work toward practical change.

Brett’s background includes focused work with trauma symptoms and personality-related difficulties, and he often addresses issues such as codependency, communication problems, body image, and sexual diversity concerns within the therapeutic process. He practices from a skills-oriented perspective, often using cognitive behavioral tools and dialectical behavior techniques while remaining ready to shift approaches when a client’s needs point elsewhere.

Brett also incorporates hypnotherapy and Jungian-informed exploration alongside mindfulness practices when appropriate, blending structured interventions with reflective work to support insight and coping. Based in California, he combines extensive clinical training with years of crisis assessment experience to inform treatment planning and case conceptualization.

Approaches that inform online care

Many of Brett’s clinical tools are well suited to remote work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors; it teaches practical strategies for managing anxiety, depression, ADHD-related difficulties, and coping with life changes. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness skills that can reduce reactivity and improve communication in stressful situations. Hypnotherapy in his practice uses Ericksonian and transformational concepts to access focused attention and support shifts in habits or self-perception when appropriate.

Finding the right approach is collaborative rather than predetermined. Brett works with clients to review their goals, preferences, and symptom patterns and will tailor or combine methods to fit each person’s needs. This collaborative process helps identify which techniques to prioritize and whether to introduce different modalities over time.

Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility and access. These formats make it possible to continue consistent work around schedules, maintain momentum between meetings, and practice skills in everyday contexts while receiving clinician guidance from a licensed professional.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Brett commonly address?

He works with a broad range of difficulties including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, depression, addictions, ADHD, relationship and intimacy-related problems, grief, and related mood or behavioral concerns.

How would you describe his therapeutic approach?

Brett uses a direct, pragmatic style that emphasizes practical skills and insight. He commonly employs CBT and DBT techniques and adapts methods to suit each person's needs.

What background and experience does he bring?

He has 22 years of experience in the counseling field with focused work on trauma, personality-related issues, and crisis assessments that have strengthened his diagnostic and clinical skills.

What are his credentials and where is he based?

He is licensed as an LMFT with license number CA LMFT 46410 and practices from California.

Can people who live outside the US work with him?

He accepts international clients and conducts sessions in English for those living outside the United States.

Which session formats are available for therapy?

Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different needs and preferences.

How are costs and payment handled?

Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided via a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What steps are involved to begin working together?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsTrauma and abuse Self esteem Depression

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentBDSM, kink, and alternative sex cultureBody imageCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDependent personalityDissociationFamily of origin issuesFirst responder issuesInfidelityJealousyVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersPersonality disordersPost-traumatic stressProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Self-harmSelf-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexuality

Therapeutic approaches

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)HypnotherapyJungian TherapyMindfulness Therapy

Experience

22+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English

What Brett can help with

Brett Smith works with clients on stress and anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, self esteem, and depression.

Brett works with clients with personality disorders and trauma symptoms.

How Brett approaches therapy

Brett's clinical approaches include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Hypnotherapy, Jungian Therapy, and Mindfulness Therapy.

Experience and training

Brett is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in California, with 22 years of clinical experience.