Steven Smith, LMFT

Steven Smith is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in California with ten years of clinical experience. He works with individuals and couples and helps people who are dealing with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, trauma and abuse, and anger. Steven also supports people facing relationship and intimacy issues, parenting strain, grief, addiction, ADHD, and identity concerns such as gender dysphoria.

He trained in psychology at the bachelor level and completed a master’s in clinical psychology. Steven uses a client-centered and existential approach in sessions. That means he listens for what matters to each person and helps clients define their own goals rather than imposing solutions.

Sessions focus on practical conversations about specific problems. Steven uses direct listening and questioning to clarify what’s getting in the way of better days. He works with relationship patterns, communication problems, control issues, and co-occurring struggles like substance use or mood instability.

He also brings in skill-based techniques such as mindfulness and motivational interviewing when they suit a client’s aims. For couples, he uses elements of the Gottman Method to address communication, commitment, and recurring conflict patterns.

Steven is comfortable talking about less usual topics too, including avoidant personality patterns, blended family dynamics, kink and alternative sexual cultures, and dissociation. People who worry about anger, resentment, or losing their temper will find a clear, practical approach focused on reducing overwhelm and improving day-to-day interactions.

How his approaches translate to online work