Brett Smith, LMFT

Brett Smith is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California with 22 years of experience. He helps people who are overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship problems, addictions, grief, and life changes. He also supports people dealing with grief, parenting strain, work burnout, and identity concerns including LGBT issues.

Brett draws on his lived experience as a combat veteran and former law enforcement officer to understand trauma from both sides. That background shaped his interest in how trauma changes behavior and how long symptoms can linger. He has spent much of his career helping people with trauma symptoms and personality disorder challenges.

In session his style is direct and practical. He commonly uses dialectical behavior therapy to teach skills for managing emotion and behavior. He also uses cognitive behavioral strategies and mindfulness to help people notice patterns and make changes.

Brett has post-graduate study in hypnotherapy and works with Ericksonian and transformational hypnotherapy concepts when that approach fits a person's needs. His experience performing emergency psychiatric assessments has informed his ability to sort through complex presentations and clarify next steps.

Outside of work he spends time sailing, backpacking, kayaking, and caring for dogs with his wife. He shares short videos on a public YouTube channel about topics he covers in therapy. If someone wants to explore life changes or reduce long-term distress, he invites them to take the first step toward change.

How specific approaches translate to online work

Dialectical behavior therapy helps people build concrete skills for managing intense emotions, reducing impulsive behaviors, and improving relationships. Online sessions can focus on learning and practicing those skills in short, structured segments so clients can apply them between meetings.

Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions. In an online setting this often means identifying unhelpful thinking patterns, testing new behaviors, and using homework assignments to track progress between sessions.

Hypnotherapy using Ericksonian and transformational approaches involves guided imagery and suggestion to access internal resources and foster change. When used online, the therapist guides relaxation and imagery work while helping clients notice shifts in perspective and habit.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the process. The therapist will collaborate with the client to choose strategies that match goals, daily routines, and comfort with different techniques. That choice can change as work progresses and needs evolve.

The original profile does not list specific online session formats, so confirm the current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, allow shorter focused check-ins, and reduce travel time so therapy can be scheduled around work, caregiving, or other obligations.