Michael Booth

LMFT

California

Compassionate, practical therapy for life changes

Continue with Michael

At a glance

Credentials

LMFT

License

LMFT, California / 43416

NPI

1871662007

Experience

25 years

Languages

English

Location

California

Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.

1. • Motivational interviewing
   • Goal focused
   • 25 years experience

   About Michael

   Michael Booth is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in California. He brings 25 years of clinical experience helping adults whose daily life has been affected by depression, anxiety, addictions, paranoia, anger, or a sense of emptiness. He listens carefully and focuses on the issues people say matter most to them.

   Booth works in a collaborative way. He tries to understand each person's story before suggesting steps forward. He uses straightforward methods to set small goals and track progress over time.

   His approach draws on Motivational Interviewing to support change when addictions or ambivalence interfere with goals. He also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to address mood, stress, relationships, and coping skills. These methods guide conversations and practical exercises rather than strict labels.

   He helps with a wide range of concerns including stress, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting strains, career transitions, ADHD, bipolar mood challenges, and a variety of process and substance addictions. Additional focus areas include attachment issues, family of origin concerns, guilt and shame, infidelity, and isolation.

   Sessions emphasize clear aims and doable steps. He aims to make therapy feel like problem-solving that fits into everyday life. To begin, people use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule based on the therapist's availability.

2. How therapeutic approaches guide online work

   Motivational Interviewing focuses on helping people resolve mixed feelings about change. It uses open conversation to strengthen motivation and commitment when substance use or other behaviors feel stuck.
   
   Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, teaches skills for noticing thoughts and feelings without getting overwhelmed by them. It helps people choose actions that align with their values, which can aid with anxiety, depression, and life transitions.
   
   Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at patterns of thought and behavior that keep problems going and uses practical exercises to shift them. It tends to be useful for mood, panic, and stress-related issues.
   
   Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. That decision can change over time as progress is tracked and priorities shift.
   
   If you want online sessions, please confirm available formats before booking because specific session types are not listed in the biography. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Therapists help tailor the pacing and tools to match everyday life and what the person hopes to change.

4. Areas of expertise

   Primary focus

   Stress, AnxietyAddictionsAnger managementSelf esteemDepression

   Also works with

   LGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesADHD

   Additional focus areas

   Attachment issuesAvoidant personalityCo-morbidityCommitment issuesDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily of origin issuesGuilt and shameInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Sex addictionSocial anxiety and phobiaYoung adult issues

   Therapeutic approaches

   Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Existential TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused Therapy

   Experience

   25+ years

   Listed in

   California

   Languages

   English

5. Frequently asked questions

   What kinds of problems does he help with?

   He works with a broad range of concerns such as stress, anxiety, addictions, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, parenting challenges, ADHD, bipolar mood concerns, and process addictions like gambling or porn.

   How would he describe his therapy style?

   His style is collaborative and straightforward. He listens first, helps set clear goals, and tracks small steps toward those goals.

   What is his clinical background?

   He has 25 years of experience working with adults and young people on mood, addiction, and meaning in life.

   What credentials and region are listed?

   He is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, licensed in California.

   In which languages can someone meet with him?

   Sessions are offered in English only and international clients are not currently accepted.

   What session formats are used?

   Please confirm current session options before booking since the biography does not specify which formats are offered.

   How does pricing work?

   Cost varies with location and the therapist's availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

   How do I begin working together?

   Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a session according to the therapist's availability.

6. Online talk therapy is not emergency or medical care. Stopping or cutting down alcohol or other drugs can be unsafe without medical advice. In immediate danger? Crisis numbers

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