Sean Gardner , LPC, LMHC

Sean Gardner is a licensed mental health counselor who helps people navigate stress, anxiety, relationship conflict, trauma, addiction, and a wide range of life challenges. With 10 years of experience, he blends practical strategies and a compassionate, person-centered stance to support clients in becoming more present, authentic, and connected to themselves and others.

He served active duty in the US Navy and later worked as a city firefighter-paramedic in Virginia before returning to Arizona to complete a BA in Psychology at Arizona State University. In 2011 he relocated to Oahu and began his career in mental health, earning a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Chaminade University of Honolulu in 2016. His clinical experience includes inpatient work with adolescents and social work with the Department of Veterans Affairs helping homeless veterans find housing. He has provided psychotherapy online for the last six years.

Sean holds LPC and LMHC licenses - LPC stands for Licensed Professional Counselor and LMHC means Licensed Mental Health Counselor - and is licensed in Arizona and Hawaii. He works with issues including depression, anger, grief, intimacy concerns, eating and sleeping problems, parenting challenges, ADHD, bipolar disorder, autism and Asperger syndrome, chronic illness and pain, first responder stress, and many relationship and family difficulties. His approach combines evidence-based therapies with a focus on helping clients reconnect with their inner strengths and move toward meaningful change.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Sean integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and the Gottman Method into online work. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people accept difficult feelings while committing to actions that reflect their values - it is often useful for anxiety, stress, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps clients identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors through practical exercises and skills training - it is commonly used for depression, anxiety, and coping challenges. The Gottman Method offers structured tools for couples to improve communication, reduce conflict, and rebuild connection - it is well suited to relationship distress and intimacy issues.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Sean works collaboratively with each person to explore which methods align with their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting strategies as progress unfolds.

Online therapy with Sean is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexible options to fit different schedules and lifestyles. These formats can make it easier to attend sessions from home, manage ongoing support between meetings, and access licensed professionals regardless of geographic distance.