About Brian
Brian VanBrakle is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California with ten years of experience. He helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and relationship or intimacy concerns. He also supports those coping with grief, trauma and abuse, parenting stress, and career or life changes.
Brian keeps sessions warm and interactive. He listens closely and uses straightforward talk to help people find practical steps. He treats each person with respect and compassion while focusing on what feels useful right now.
How Brian works
His work leans on cognitive-behavioral ideas and solution-focused methods. That means he helps people spot patterns in thoughts and behaviors, and then try small changes that create relief. He adapts tools to a person's needs rather than following a one-size-fits-all plan.
Over the past decade he has worked with a wide range of concerns, including mood challenges like bipolar disorder, sleep and eating issues, parenting strains, anger, and LGBT-related matters. He brings steady support for people who have experienced emotional trauma or abuse. Brian aims to empower people to take practical steps toward a more meaningful life.
He invites people to set clear goals and to try strategies that fit their daily routines. If someone is ready to start, he guides them through the first steps and supports progress along the way.
What Brian works with
The areas below are the ones Brian 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
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- LGBT
- Parenting issues
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Sleeping disorders
Training and background
| Register | LCSW |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 10 |
| 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
How evidence-based methods work online
Brian draws from cognitive-behavioral techniques that help people spot unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors. Online sessions use talk and practical exercises to reduce anxiety, improve mood, and change daily routines.He also uses solution-focused strategies that focus on goals and small steps. These methods are good for people who want clear, action-oriented plans for problems like stress, relationship concerns, sleep issues, or trouble coping after loss.
Finding the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, try methods that fit those goals, and adjust as needed. Clients and the therapist decide together which techniques feel most helpful and realistic.
Online therapy offers flexible ways to meet. Video calls let people use face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is low or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging let people share thoughts in writing, fit sessions into a busy day, or send quick updates between meetings. These options make it easier to keep continuity of care and to use strategies in real life.
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Common questions
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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.
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