About Brett
Brett Smith is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) based in California. He helps people facing stress, anxiety, trauma, addiction, depression, and challenges with self-esteem. He also supports people dealing with relationship and intimacy concerns, grief, parenting strain, career stress, and issues around body image and identity.
He brings 22 years of clinical experience to sessions. His background includes work in emergency departments conducting psychiatric assessments, and many years helping people with trauma and personality-related struggles.
How Brett works
Brett served in the military and previously worked in law enforcement, which shaped his understanding of trauma and first responder issues. His approach is straightforward and practical. He commonly uses dialectical behavior therapy but adapts methods when a case calls for a different path.
He also draws on cognitive behavioral techniques, hypnotherapy, Jungian ideas, and mindfulness practices depending on the person's needs. Sessions focus on clear goals and real skills. Brett aims to help people manage symptoms, improve communication, and rebuild routines that support healthier behavior.
He also addresses specific concerns such as ADHD, compulsive behaviors, codependency, and sexual subcultures like BDSM and kink. Outside of clinical work he and his wife enjoy sailing, backpacking, and training dogs. He maintains a YouTube channel with videos related to topics he covers in therapy.
Brett lists 5 ways of working on the entry:
What Brett works with
The areas below are the ones Brett selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
Also listed
- Abandonment
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Anger management
- BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
- Body image
- Career difficulties
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Dependent personality
- Depression
- Dissociation
- Eating disorders
- Family of origin issues
- First responder issues
- Grief
- Infidelity
- Intimacy-related issues
- Jealousy
- LGBT
- Mood disorders
- Parenting issues
- Personality disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexuality
- Sleeping disorders
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
Training and background
| Register | LMFT |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 22 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | California |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
Approaches for online work and what they do
Dialectical behavior therapy focuses on teaching emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal skills, and mindfulness. It can help people who feel overwhelmed by intense emotions or who struggle with impulsive behavior. Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions and helps people try new ways of thinking and behaving to reduce anxiety, depression, or problematic habits.Hypnotherapy uses guided relaxation and focused attention to help people access internal resources and shift patterns like habit behaviors or deep-seated reactions. It may be offered when someone is open to suggestive, imagery-based techniques alongside other approaches.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to choose or blend methods based on goals, comfort, and the problems at hand. That flexibility helps tailor sessions to what actually produces change for the person.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is good for face-to-face conversation and skill demonstrations. Phone sessions use less data and can fit a break at work. Live chat and texting are helpful for shorter check-ins, pacing work through messages, or when people prefer not to be on camera. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life.
Start online instead of waiting
Our partner service asks a few questions about what you are looking for and matches you with a therapist for sessions from home.
Book with BrettWe will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you.
Common questions
What kinds of problems does this therapist address?
How would you describe his therapy style?
What background and experience does he bring?
What credential does he hold and where is he based?
Which languages are available for sessions?
What formats are available for online sessions?
How does payment and cost work?
How do I begin working with him?
A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
We will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you. Entries are not assessed or endorsed by this directory.
Other entries for stress, anxiety
Supportive LCSW helping people build strength and clarity
Practical, trauma-aware therapy for everyday life
Practical, relational therapy for life transitions