Andrea McLellan, LMFT

Andrea McLellan is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 14 years of clinical experience in California. She uses approaches that help people set clear goals and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Her work is practical and focused on tangible steps clients can use between sessions.

She helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and issues around intimacy and relationships. She also supports people facing addiction, sleep and eating problems, low self-esteem, and career stress. Additional areas of focus include adoption and foster care, attachment and abandonment concerns, caregiver stress, chronic illness or pain, and body image struggles.

Andrea brings experience examining how family patterns and past harm shape current life. She has provided forensic consultation in cases involving sexual assault and child abuse, and she teaches psychology at a university. Those roles inform her attention to trauma, family dynamics, and how early experiences affect adults today.

Her usual approach combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and solution-focused techniques to create clear, realistic goals and reduce distressing symptoms. She also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, and psychodynamic ideas when they match a client's needs.

Outside of work she enjoys nature, hiking, bird-watching, and camping. She also notes particular interest in helping public servants and first responders process stressful events and the emotional toll of their work.

Applying CBT and DBT Online for Practical Change

Andrea often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and test new ways of thinking and behaving. CBT focuses on clear goals, step-by-step plans, and skills practice that reduce symptoms like anxiety, low mood, and sleep difficulties.

She also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy ideas to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer communication for people who struggle with intense emotions or relationship conflicts. Motivational Interviewing is used when someone is weighing change, helping them clarify values and strengthen motivation.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, try methods that fit those goals, and adjust the plan as needed. Clients are invited to give feedback so work stays focused and practical.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for full-session conversations and skills coaching. Phone sessions can be a good option when bandwidth or camera use is limited. Live chat or messaging works well for brief check-ins, behavioral planning, and homework support between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, caregiving, or travel while keeping progress steady.