About Andrea
Andrea McLellan is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) in California with 14 years of clinical experience. She focuses on helping people identify the roots of their problems and take practical steps toward recovery. Andrea emphasizes clear goals and hands-on strategies that aim to reduce symptoms and improve daily functioning.
Andrea combines solution-focused work with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people set realistic goals and change unhelpful patterns. She also draws on Psychodynamic and Narrative approaches to understand family dynamics and personal stories that shape behavior. This mix supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and parenting struggles, and codependency concerns.
Her background includes teaching psychology at the university level and serving as a court-recognized expert in sexual assault and child abuse. Andrea has done forensic consultation for cases involving court-dependent minors and has worked closely with people harmed within family systems. Those experiences inform her attention to trauma, generational patterns, and the effects of family chaos.
Andrea pays particular attention to people who have faced domestic violence, sexual assault, or elder maltreatment and to those coping with caregiver stress and chronic illness. She also works with issues such as grief, addictions, body image, intimacy, and career stress. Her approach stresses awareness, responsibility, courage, and forgiveness as key parts of healing.
Outside of work she enjoys nature activities like hiking, bird-watching, and camping. She understands the strains faced by public servants and first responders and offers practical support for processing acute and post-traumatic stress.
Therapeutic approaches and online care
Andrea often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy in her work. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and changing behaviors to reduce symptoms like anxiety or low mood, and it works well for stress, depression, and relationship patterns. DBT teaches practical skills for managing strong emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness, which can help with anger, intense emotional reactions, and self-control.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Andrea will work with each person to understand goals, preferences, and life demands, then try approaches that fit those needs. She values clear goal-setting and regular check-ins to adjust methods based on what is helping.
If you are considering online sessions, confirm current session options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also be helpful when someone prefers not to be on camera or needs lower bandwidth options for a session. Ask about specific session formats when you complete the matching questionnaire so you know what is offered and can choose what works best for your routine.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
14+ years
Credentials
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Andrea help with?
She works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and parenting struggles, trauma and abuse, codependency, addictions, grief, and intimacy-related problems.
What is her therapy style like?
Her work is practical and goal-driven, combining solution-focused techniques with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to reduce symptoms and set clear, realistic goals.
What experience does she bring?
Andrea has 14 years of clinical experience and additional roles teaching psychology at a university and providing forensic consultation in cases of sexual assault and child abuse.
What are her credentials and location?
She is a California licensed marriage and family therapist - LMFT - working in California.
Which languages does she offer sessions in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can she work with international clients?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin therapy with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.