Steven Smith, LMFT

California · 10 years in practice

Steven Smith is a licensed marriage and family therapist practicing in California.

License and registration

LMFT, California: 124809 · expires March 2027
NPI: 1528439957 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 10
Languages: English

Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the license with the issuing state board, and the NPI with the national registry.

About Steven

Steven Smith is a licensed marriage and family therapist practicing in California. He helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, relationship struggles, grief, addiction, ADHD, and trauma-related concerns. Steven meets individuals and couples and aims to help them feel more like themselves again.

He listens first and clarifies what matters most to each person. Sessions focus on your goals, not on imposing change. Steven emphasizes practical steps so clients can manage symptoms and move toward life satisfaction.

Background and approach

Steven draws on existential ideas to help clients find meaning and personal freedom in difficult situations. He uses a client-centered stance to keep the work grounded in each person’s experience. He also brings mindfulness practices to reduce reactivity and improve emotional balance.

For couples he uses elements of the Gottman Method to improve communication and solve recurring conflicts. Motivational interviewing helps when people are stuck making changes around substance use or other behaviors that cause strain. Steven earned a master’s degree in clinical psychology and holds a CA Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist credential.

He has ten years of experience supporting adults with a wide range of concerns. Sessions are offered in English and are provided via video, phone, live chat, or text messaging.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Steven lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Stress, Anxiety
Relationship issues
Trauma and abuse
Bipolar disorder
Depression
Addictions
LGBT
Family conflicts
Grief
Intimacy-related issues
Parenting issues
Anger management
Self esteem
Coping with life changes
Compassion fatigue
ADHD
Avoidant personality
BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
Blended family issues
Co-morbidity
Codependency
Commitment issues
Communication problems
Control issues
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
Dissociation
Divorce and separation
Drug and alcohol addiction
Family of origin issues
Family problems
Gender dysphoria
Guilt and shame
Impulsivity
Isolation / loneliness
Life purpose
Mood disorders
Multicultural concerns
Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Paranoia
Phobias
Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
Post-traumatic stress
Prejudice and discrimination
Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
Self-harm
Self-love
Sex addiction
Sexual assault and abuse
Social anxiety and phobia
Trichotillomania

Approaches Steven names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.

Online support

Approaches that translate to online work

Steven blends Existential Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and elements of the Gottman Method in online sessions. Existential Therapy helps people look at meaning, choices, and the values that guide them, which can be useful for life changes and questions about identity. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening closely and shaping the work around what matters to the client, making sessions feel collaborative and personal. The Gottman Method provides clear tools for couples to improve communication and resolve recurring conflicts in practical ways.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Steven will talk with each person or couple about goals and preferences and then try methods that fit those needs. He expects the process to be collaborative, with adjustments as you learn what helps most.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video calls let you work face to face when bandwidth and surroundings allow. Phone sessions can be a good option when camera time is difficult or bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messaging offer shorter check-ins or ongoing support between longer sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and different life situations.

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Questions people ask

What issues does Steven help people with?

He works with stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, addiction, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, ADHD, parenting strain, and related concerns.

What is his therapeutic style like?

He combines an existential outlook with a client-centered stance, focusing on meaning, personal choices, and the goals you set together.

How much clinical experience does he have?

He has ten years of experience working with adults and couples across a variety of concerns and life situations.

What credentials and location are on record?

He is a CA LMFT - a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in California.

Which languages are supported for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available?

He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.

How are fees and payment handled?

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?

Choose the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions based on therapist availability.

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