Brett Smith, LMFT

Brett Smith is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in California. He focuses on helping people who struggle with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, relationship and intimacy concerns, grief, ADHD, and related issues. He brings 22 years of clinical experience to sessions and writes plainly about practical steps people can take to feel better.

Brett learned some of his earliest lessons from his own experiences with trauma and from time served in the military and law enforcement. Those experiences shaped his interest in how trauma affects behavior and long-term functioning. Over two decades he has worked extensively with trauma symptoms and personality disorder presentations.

His style is direct and goal-oriented. He draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) techniques to help people identify unhelpful thoughts, practice new skills, and manage strong emotions. He also uses hypnotherapy and Jungian ideas when those approaches fit the client's needs.

Brett gained additional clinical experience conducting emergency psychiatric assessments in hospital emergency departments. That work strengthened his ability to assess risk and to break complex problems into manageable pieces. Sessions tend to focus on clear problem-solving, skill practice, and realistic plans for change.

Outside therapy Brett enjoys sailing, backpacking, kayaking, and training dogs with his wife. He also maintains a YouTube channel with videos on topics related to mental health and coping strategies.

How Brett's Approaches Work Online

CBT is a practical, skills-based approach that looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact. Online CBT sessions typically involve identifying unhelpful thought patterns, testing new behaviors, and using structured homework to build change over time. DBT focuses on emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and improving communication through specific skill training and practice; it can help with intense emotions, relationship conflict, and impulse control.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Brett will discuss goals, preferences, and what feels manageable, then tailor methods such as CBT, DBT, or hypnotherapy to match those priorities. He treats the choice of technique as a collaborative decision and adjusts the plan as progress is made.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which provide flexibility for different schedules and needs. Video is useful for full sessions and skill coaching, phone can work when bandwidth is limited, and messaging lets people check in between sessions or use shorter, focused touchpoints. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives and to continue consistent work toward goals.