Steven Smith
LMFT
California
Relationship-focused therapist and motivational guide
Continue with StevenAt a glance
- Credentials
- LMFT
- License
- LMFT, California / 124809
- NPI
- 1528439957
- Experience
- 10 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- California
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
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- Client-centered approach
- Values-focused work
- Motivational support
About Steven
Steven Smith is a licensed marriage and family therapist practicing in California. He works with individuals and couples who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar symptoms, trauma, addiction, relationship strain, and related concerns. He listens first and helps people set goals that matter to them.
He brings ten years of clinical experience and uses client-centered and existential approaches to guide therapy. That means sessions focus on the person's values, choices, and lived experience rather than labels. Motivational Interviewing is part of his toolkit to help people find motivation for change when they feel stuck.
In sessions he prioritizes practical conversation and clear goal-setting. He aims to reduce overwhelm by breaking problems into manageable steps and checking in on progress. Mindfulness techniques and elements of the Gottman Method may appear when they help with focus or relationship communication.
Steven's background includes a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in clinical psychology, and he holds a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist credential (LMFT). He has worked with clients across a range of ages, sexual orientations, and backgrounds.
He supports people facing grief, parenting strain, identity questions, intimacy concerns, ADHD, and compassion fatigue. People who want a conversational, values-focused approach tend to find his style approachable and practical.
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How specific approaches shape online therapy
Steven often draws on Motivational Interviewing to help people clarify their reasons for change and build internal motivation. This approach is conversational and collaborative, and it can be helpful for addiction, ambivalence about treatment, or making behavior changes.
He also uses client-centered therapy, which centers the session on the person's perspective and goals. This approach focuses on listening, reflecting, and supporting the client's own problem-solving. Existential therapy appears when the work turns toward meaning, values, and life choices, helping people weigh options and live in ways that match their priorities.
Finding the right approach is a joint process. The therapist will work with each person to match methods to their needs, goals, and preferences rather than applying a single technique. Sessions often blend methods so the work fits what the person hopes to achieve.
If you are considering online sessions, confirm the current session options before booking since formats were not specified in the biography. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Talk with the therapist about what will best fit your routine and goals, and together you can plan how therapy will work in everyday life. -
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
AddictionsLGBTFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHDAdditional focus areas
Avoidant personalityBDSM, kink, and alternative sex cultureBlended family issuesCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationDrug and alcohol addictionFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMood disordersMulticultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Self-harmSelf-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaTrichotillomaniaTherapeutic approaches
Client-Centered TherapyExistential TherapyGottman MethodMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family SystemsExperience
10+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
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Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does Steven help with?
He supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar symptoms, trauma and abuse, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, parenting strain, ADHD, and related concerns.
What is his therapeutic style like?
His style is conversational and goal-oriented. He uses client-centered and existential approaches to focus on values, choices, and practical next steps.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He has ten years of experience working with a range of clients and presenting concerns.
What are his credentials and where does he practice?
He is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT, and practices in California.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can I work with him from outside the United States?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions scheduled and what is the cost structure?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.
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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