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Brett Smith, LMFT

Based in California Online sessions

Direct, practical therapy for parenting and trauma

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Years in practice
22
Credentials
LMFT
Licensed in
California
Languages
English
Focus
Stress, Anxiety
Focus
Family conflicts
Focus
Trauma and abuse
About

About Brett

Brett Smith is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 22 years in the field. He offers straightforward help for parents and individuals facing stress, anxiety, trauma, parenting challenges, mood struggles, and related concerns. Brett writes plainly and focuses on practical steps you can use right away.

Brett began this work after dealing with his own post-traumatic stress. He is a combat veteran and a former law enforcement officer, which shaped his interest in how trauma changes behavior.

Background and approach

That experience led him to spend much of his career helping people with trauma symptoms and personality-related challenges. His approach is direct and action-oriented. He often uses dialectical behavior therapy to teach coping skills and reduce intense reactions.

He also draws on cognitive behavioral ideas, mindfulness, Jungian perspectives, and hypnotherapy techniques when they fit a person's goals. Brett has experience conducting emergency psychiatric assessments in hospital settings, which strengthened his assessment and crisis-management skills. He blends that background with long-term therapy work to address complicated and layered problems.

Outside of therapy, Brett and his wife enjoy sailing, backpacking, kayaking, and training dogs. He shares some of his ideas on a public YouTube channel. He invites people who want clearer direction and practical tools to reach out and explore whether his style will help them move forward.

Focus areas and approaches

What Brett works with

Everything Brett lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Brett helps people with.

Approaches Brett lists

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

Online support

Therapeutic approaches and online access

Brett often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify and change thought patterns that feed anxiety or depression. CBT focuses on small, practical steps and skills that can shift daily behavior and mood.

He also frequently applies Dialectical Behavior Therapy for emotion regulation and distress tolerance. DBT teaches specific tools for managing intense feelings, improving communication, and reducing impulsive reactions, which can help with anger, self-harm urges, or relationship strain.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Brett discusses goals and preferences with each person and adapts methods as needs change. He aims to collaborate so the plan fits what the client wants to achieve and how they prefer to work.

Online therapy lets people use video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different days and demands. Video is useful for deeper conversation and visual cues, phone works when bandwidth is limited, live chat or texting can be a quick check-in, and messaging supports brief updates between sessions. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent while juggling parenting, work, or travel.
Questions

Questions people ask about Brett

What concerns does Brett commonly address?

Brett works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, depression, parenting issues, addictions, relationship and intimacy concerns, ADHD, grief, and several related topics listed in his specialties.

How would you describe his therapeutic style?

He uses a direct, practical style that emphasizes skills and concrete strategies. Sessions often focus on problem solving, emotional regulation, and building better daily habits.

What is his background and experience?

He has 22 years of clinical experience and entered the field after addressing his own PTSD. He is a combat veteran and former law enforcement officer, and has worked on emergency psychiatric assessments.

What credentials and region are listed for him?

He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a California LMFT credential and practices from California.

Can I work with him if I live outside the United States?

Sessions are offered in English and he accepts international clients.

What session formats are available?

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

How are fees and payments handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin therapy?

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

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