- Client-centered methods
- Cognitive behavioral work
- Mindfulness practice
About Gail
Dr. Gail Masterson is a California LMFT with 28 years of clinical experience. She supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, relationship strain, grief, parenting challenges, and anger. Dr. Masterson combines long-term psychotherapy and shorter, solution-focused work depending on what a person needs.
She trained in marriage and family therapy and completed a PhD in Psychology. Early in her career she worked with David Viscott, MD, at the Viscott Center for Natural Therapy, where she gained extensive teletherapy experience and practice in brief, solution-oriented methods. That history informs how she balances shorter coaching-style sessions and deeper exploration.
Sessions aim to be straightforward. She listens, asks questions, and helps people identify small steps they can try between visits. For someone who’s stuck, she uses coaching and motivational interviewing to move from stuckness to action, and she draws on cognitive behavioral and mindfulness techniques to manage stress and anger.
Dr. Masterson says people usually know what will help them and that therapy is a collaborative process. She also offers longer-term work for those who want to explore patterns from family of origin, grief, or life transitions such as divorce, caregiving, fertility struggles, aging, or end-of-life issues.
Her practice covers a wide range of concerns including career, depression, ADHD, intimacy issues, and compassion fatigue. Sessions are conducted in English and follow the mix of brief and in-depth approaches she has used across her career.
Therapeutic approaches and how online sessions work
Dr. Masterson uses client-centered therapy to focus on what each person brings to a session, listening closely and following the client’s priorities. This approach helps with relationship strain, life transitions, and figuring out next steps when someone feels stuck.She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy, a practical method that looks at patterns of thoughts and behaviors and tests small changes to reduce stress, anxiety, and anger. Mindfulness techniques are added when helpful to teach short practices for calming the body and noticing reactions before they escalate.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work. She collaborates with clients to decide whether brief, solution-oriented coaching or deeper, longer-term exploration makes sense. That decision depends on the person’s goals, history, and the immediate problems they want to address.
If you are considering online sessions, confirm the current session options before booking so you know how she is offering visits now. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow a shorter check-in when time is limited, and reduce travel time so people can schedule sessions around work, caregiving, or other obligations.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
28+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship problems, grief, anger, parenting strain, career issues, depression, and related areas listed in her profile.
How does she approach therapy?
Her style blends client-centered listening with practical methods like cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing.
How many years has she practiced?
She brings 28 years of clinical experience to her work.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a California LMFT and practices in California.
Which languages does she use in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the US work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What do I do to begin?
Click the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.