William McMahon, LPCC, LPC

William McMahon is a licensed counselor with 18 years of experience who helps people facing addiction, relationship strain, and grief. He speaks plainly and focuses on practical steps people can use right away. He sees clients in California and works in English. William believes each person knows their own story and has strengths to build on. Sessions start by listening to what matters most and identifying clear, workable goals. He emphasizes collaboration so people feel involved in the plan rather than told what to do. His approach blends practical skills with empathetic listening. He uses techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy to address thought patterns and behaviors. He also draws on client-centered principles to make sure sessions match each person's pace and priorities. William has spent nearly two decades helping people manage addiction and loss while also addressing money and financial stress that often complicate recovery. He offers straightforward tools for coping and decision making, and he helps people set small steps that add up over time. For anyone nervous about starting therapy, he aims to make the first sessions clear and manageable. Expect concrete strategies, regular check-ins on progress, and adjustments when something isn’t working. The focus is on steady, practical change that fits each person’s life.

How William’s approaches work online

William uses cognitive behavioral techniques to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and change the behaviors that follow. CBT is practical and goal-focused, and it often includes exercises and small experiments to try between sessions.

He also practices client-centered therapy, which emphasizes listening and following each person’s lead. That approach helps people set their own goals and shape the pace and content of sessions.

He may draw on dialectical behavior therapy skills for emotional regulation and distress tolerance when emotions feel overwhelming. DBT skills give concrete tools for handling strong feelings and improving communication.

Finding the right mix of methods is a joint process. He will talk with each person about goals and preferences, then suggest approaches to try together. If something isn’t helping, he adjusts the plan so sessions remain useful and manageable.

Online formats - video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life. Video is useful for conversations that benefit from seeing facial cues, while phone sessions can be simpler when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and texting work well for brief check-ins, homework support, and people who prefer not to be on camera. These options provide flexibility so people can maintain steady progress without major schedule disruptions.