Dr. Lance Smith, LMFT
Therapist in California
Dr.
- License 10117, 13638245-3902, 158469 · Oklahoma, Utah, California Expires December 2026, September 2026, October 2027
- NPI 1316190655 · national registry
- Experience and languages 25+ years in practice English
Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check any license with the state board and any NPI with the national registry.
About Lance
Dr. Lance Smith helps people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, grief, trauma, addiction, and parenting challenges. He also supports those coping with mood concerns, ADHD, intimacy issues, anger, and major life changes.
He is based in California and brings 25 years of practice as an LMFT - licensed marriage and family therapist. Dr. Smith aims to make sessions straightforward and practical.
He listens first, then helps set clear goals. He uses everyday language and simple tools people can try between meetings.
Background and approach
Sessions focus on what matters most to each person or couple. His work draws on several approaches such as Gottman Method ideas for relationships, attachment-focused thinking, and cognitive behavioral tools for managing thoughts and mood. He may also use client-centered and solution-focused techniques to keep therapy grounded and action-oriented.
The mix depends on what a client needs and wants to try. People meet him for a range of concerns, including family conflict, blended family stress, caregiver strain, multicultural challenges, and hospice or end-of-life counseling. He also addresses panic, post-traumatic stress, abandonment and attachment wounds, and issues around self-worth and forgiveness.
Dr. Smith describes himself as thoughtful and compassionate. He works collaboratively to build a respectful atmosphere where people feel able to speak honestly.
He helps clients make steady changes and develop practical ways to cope and grow.
Credentials
- LMFT (Oklahoma)
- License 10117 · expires December 2026
- LMFT (Utah)
- License 13638245-3902 · expires September 2026
- LMFT (California)
- License 158469 · expires October 2027
- NPI
- 1316190655 · national provider identifier
Both are public records. A state board register will confirm a license and its standing, and the national registry will confirm an NPI. This directory copies what the therapist lists and checks neither.
Focus areas and approaches
Everything Lance lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Depression
- Addictions
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Blended family issues
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Communication problems
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Multicultural concerns
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Young adult issues
Approaches Lance names
- Gottman Method
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
These are the approaches Lance names on their own professional profile. Naming an approach is not evidence of training or certification in it, and this directory checks no training records. Ask directly if it matters to you.
Online support
How therapeutic approaches translate to online sessions
Gottman Method ideas focus on improving how partners communicate and reconnect. In online sessions this means practicing small, guided conversations and learning skills to reduce conflict and build trust. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early bonds shape current relationships and emotional responses; online work can include mapping relationship patterns and trying new ways of asking for support. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, teaches practical ways to notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can be practiced during calls and reinforced with exercises between sessions.Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with clients about their goals and preferences and then recommend ways of working that fit. That process is collaborative and can shift as needs change over time.
Online therapy offers flexibility and easier access to regular sessions. Video calls allow face-to-face interaction when a visual connection matters. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier on busy days. Live chat and text messaging suit shorter check-ins, quick skill practice, or people who prefer typing. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent around work, childcare, or travel.
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Frequently asked
What kinds of concerns does Dr. Smith address?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family problems, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy issues, parenting, anger, self-esteem, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and related concerns.
How would you describe his therapeutic style?
His style is direct and collaborative. He listens first, sets clear goals with clients, and uses practical strategies to address symptoms and relationship patterns.
What experience does he bring to sessions?
He has 25 years of clinical experience working with a wide range of concerns and family situations, bringing long-term practice to each client relationship.
What are Dr. Smith's credentials and where is he located?
He is an LMFT - licensed marriage and family therapist with licensure in California and Oklahoma, and he is based in California.
Which languages are supported for therapy?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How does cost and billing work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
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