LMFT

Brett Smith , LMFT

Therapist in California

Online therapy - get matched and start messaging.

About Brett

Brett Smith is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 22 years of clinical experience who brings both professional training and personal insight to his work. He entered the counseling field after confronting his own PTSD as a combat veteran, and he later served in law enforcement. That blend of lived experience and clinical practice informs his long focus on trauma, personality disorders, and the behavioral patterns that follow serious stress.

He is known for a direct therapeutic style and uses dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) as his primary approach while remaining flexible to shift modalities when a situation requires it. He also has post-graduate training in hypnotherapy and is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist who utilizes Ericksonian and transformational concepts to support change. Years working in emergency departments conducting psychiatric assessments have strengthened his diagnostic skills and his ability to help people in crisis.

His specialties include trauma and abuse, family and relationship concerns, anxiety and depression, addictions, self-esteem, grief, and a wide range of intimacy and identity issues. Outside of his professional life he and his wife enjoy sailing, backpacking, kayaking, and raising and training dogs, and he maintains a YouTube channel with videos related to his work. He shares resources there for those who want to learn more about his perspectives and approaches.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Brett Smith draws on several evidence-informed approaches to support clients in an online setting. Dialectical Behavior Therapy - DBT focuses on building skills for regulating intense emotions, improving relationships, and reducing self-destructive behaviors; it is often used for people coping with trauma, mood instability, and chronic stress. Clinical hypnotherapy uses guided relaxation and focused attention informed by Ericksonian and transformational techniques to help people access habitual patterns and promote change in areas like anxiety, sleep, and ingrained responses to stress. Mindfulness therapy cultivates present-moment awareness and nonreactive observation of thoughts and feelings, which can reduce reactivity and improve coping with anxiety, depression, and everyday stress.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. He works with clients and other licensed professionals to assess needs, goals, and preferences and to adapt techniques over time so the therapy fits the person rather than forcing a single method.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call or phone, and some work can continue through live chat or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care across schedules and locations, and they allow therapists and clients to focus on the therapeutic work in ways that suit each person’s life.

Frequently asked questions

How much experience does Brett Smith have?

Brett Smith has 22 years of experience in the counseling and mental health field.

Is Brett Smith a licensed therapist?

Yes. He is an LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist). License details: CA LMFT 46410.

In which languages does Brett Smith provide therapy?

He provides therapy in English.

Where is Brett Smith located?

He is located in California.

How can I work with Brett Smith as my therapist?

You can work with Brett Smith through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.

Does Brett Smith work with international clients?

Yes, Brett Smith works with international clients.

How much does therapy with Brett Smith cost?

The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist's availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, click the "Start Therapy" button on this page.

How can I get started with therapy?

Getting started is quick and straightforward. Click the "Start Therapy" button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseSelf esteemDepression

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

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