Brett Smith, LMFT

California · 22 years in practice

Brett Smith is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 22 years of experience who helps people address stress, anxiety, trauma, depression, addictions, and relationship concerns.

License and registration

LMFT, California: 46410 · expires February 2026
NPI: 1952610529 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 22
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 Brett

Brett Smith is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 22 years of experience who helps people address stress, anxiety, trauma, depression, addictions, and relationship concerns. He speaks plainly and focuses on getting to the root of what is keeping someone from living the life they want.

Brett draws on Jungian ideas about meaning and symbols while also using practical skills from cognitive behavioral approaches. Sessions tend to be direct and goal-oriented, with a focus on learning concrete coping tools.

Background and approach

He also works with issues like self-esteem, grief, intimacy-related problems, sleep and eating concerns, and compassion fatigue. His background includes work in emergency rooms conducting psychiatric assessments for people in crisis. That clinical experience sharpened his diagnostic skills and his ability to untangle complex presentations.

Brett is a combat veteran and a former law enforcement officer, and those lived experiences inform his understanding of trauma and post-traumatic stress. He has post-graduate training in hypnotherapy and uses Ericksonian and transformational hypnotherapy techniques when appropriate. Brett also incorporates mindfulness and dialectical behavior therapy skills to help clients manage intense emotions and improve day-to-day functioning.

Outside of practice he sails, backpacks, and trains dogs with his wife. He posts videos related to therapy topics on his YouTube channel for those who want to learn more between sessions.

Focus areas and approaches

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

Stress, Anxiety
Family conflicts
Trauma and abuse
Self esteem
Depression
Addictions
LGBT
Relationship issues
Grief
Intimacy-related issues
Eating disorders
Sleeping disorders
Parenting issues
Anger management
Career difficulties
Coping with life changes
Compassion fatigue
ADHD
Abandonment
BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
Body image
Codependency
Commitment issues
Communication problems
Control issues
Dependent personality
Dissociation
Family of origin issues
First responder issues
Infidelity
Jealousy
Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
Mood disorders
Personality disorders
Post-traumatic stress
Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
Self-harm
Self-love
Sex addiction
Sexual assault and abuse
Sexuality

Approaches Brett 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

Approach and online therapy options

Jungian Therapy looks at personal meaning, dreams, and symbolic patterns to help people understand recurring life themes and deeper psychological conflicts. It can be useful when someone wants to explore identity, meaning, and long-standing emotional patterns.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on practical skills to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It often helps with anxiety, depression, sleep and eating problems, and managing daily stress with clear exercises and experiments.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, teaches emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness skills. These are helpful when emotions feel overwhelming or relationship interactions repeatedly cause pain.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose or blend methods based on goals, preferences, and the problems at hand. That process can include trying skill-based work, exploring deeper themes, or using hypnotherapy techniques when appropriate.

Online therapy with video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging offers flexibility for different needs. Video calls let people see nonverbal cues and work closely in real time. Phone sessions can be simpler when bandwidth is limited or a camera feels unnecessary. Live chat and text messaging are helpful for shorter check-ins, skill practice, or when someone prefers writing between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and keep momentum between meetings.

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Questions people ask

What concerns does Brett commonly address

He helps people with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, depression, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, self-esteem, and related concerns such as body image and codependency.

What is his therapeutic style like

Sessions are generally direct and practical, focusing on clear goals and skills. He combines depth-oriented work with hands-on strategies to manage emotions and behavior.

How much clinical experience does he have

He has 22 years of experience in the counseling field and has worked in emergency departments performing psychiatric assessments for people in crisis.

What credentials and location apply

He is a California licensed marriage and family therapist, listed as LMFT, and practices from California.

What languages and international options are available

Sessions are offered in English and he accepts international clients.

Which session formats are offered

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

How is cost handled for sessions

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

To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

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