- 22 years experience
- CA LMFT
- Trauma informed
About Brett
Brett Smith is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 22 years of experience. He focuses on helping people who feel stuck by stress, anxiety, depression, codependency, trauma, relationship struggles, and other life challenges. He speaks English and practices in California.
Brett draws on lived experience as a combat veteran and a former law enforcement officer to relate to trauma and crisis. That background informed his move into counseling and shaped his interest in how trauma changes behavior over time. He has spent much of his career aiding people who face personality disorder features and long-running trauma symptoms.
In sessions Brett aims to be direct and practical. He typically uses dialectical behavior therapy to teach coping skills and emotional regulation. He also integrates cognitive behavioral tools and mindfulness practices to help people change patterns that cause pain.
He has completed postgraduate work in hypnotherapy and uses Ericksonian and transformational hypnotherapy techniques when they fit a person's goals. His time conducting emergency psychiatric assessments has broadened his assessment skills and helped him untangle complex situations.
Outside of work Brett sails, backpacks, and trains dogs with his wife. He posts videos on a public YouTube channel about topics he discusses in sessions. Prospective clients who want to start can follow the site's intake steps to match and schedule an initial appointment.
Approaches that translate well to online work
Dialectical Behavior Therapy helps people learn practical skills for managing intense emotions, reducing self-destructive behaviors, and improving relationships. It focuses on step-by-step skills practice and can be used to build a routine for handling daily stressors.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and tests them with small experiments. It emphasizes homework and concrete techniques for reducing anxiety, depression, and patterns linked to codependency.
Hypnotherapy using Ericksonian and transformational methods works with imagery, focused attention, and suggestion to support change in habits, trauma responses, and self-image. It is typically integrated alongside other therapies when it fits a person's goals.
Choosing an approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what has or has not worked in the past. Together they can try one method and adjust if something else seems more useful for the person's needs.
Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life by reducing travel and offering more flexible scheduling. It can also allow shorter check-ins when a full session is not needed and make it easier to meet from different time zones since international clients are accepted. The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm the current options before booking to know how sessions are conducted.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
22+ years
Credentials
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Brett often address?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, codependency, trauma and abuse, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, ADHD, and related challenges listed on his profile.
How would you describe his therapy style?
His manner is direct and skills-focused. He teaches coping strategies, emotional regulation, and practical tools tailored to each person's needs.
What kind of background does he bring to sessions?
He is a combat veteran and a former law enforcement officer who moved into counseling after working through his own PTSD, and he has 22 years in the field.
What credentials and location apply to this therapist?
He is a California LMFT, which stands for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and he practices in California.
Which languages and international options are available?
Sessions are offered in English, and he accepts international clients according to the profile details.
What session formats are used for meeting with him?
The original biography does not list specific session formats; please confirm current session options before booking to know how sessions are held.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule 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.