IFSTherapists

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LMFT

Dr. Lance Smith, LMFT

  • Experience25 years
  • LocationCalifornia
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, Relationship, and Family
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Attachment-Based Therapy
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About Lance

Dr. Lance Smith brings 25 years of clinical experience to clients in California, focusing on a broad range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family issues, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related concerns, parenting struggles, anger, self-esteem, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and coping with life changes.

Background and approach

He also attends to related areas such as attachment and abandonment issues, communication and family-of-origin problems, multicultural concerns, and end-of-life and caregiver stress. His work frequently addresses panic, post-traumatic stress, forgiveness, guilt and shame, and building self-love.

Dr. Smith approaches therapy with thoughtfulness and compassion, aiming to create a respectful space where clients can explore difficult topics.

He integrates several evidence-based methods to match each person's needs, drawing on Internal Family Systems, attachment-based ideas, client-centered principles, cognitive-behavioral strategies, and components of the Gottman Method and solution-focused work. As a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), he combines these perspectives to support individual and relational goals.

He invites prospective clients to consider therapy as a collaborative process toward meaningful change and growth.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online work

Internal Family Systems (IFS) helps people notice and relate to distinct parts of themselves - such as protective, vulnerable, or reactive parts - and works to create inner balance; it can be useful for trauma, mood struggles, and complex emotional patterns. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early relational experiences shape current bonds and communication, supporting work on intimacy, family dynamics, and healing attachment wounds. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathic listening and unconditional regard, giving clients space to explore feelings and discover their own direction while the therapist follows and supports that process.

Choosing the right approach is collaborative rather than predetermined. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and practical needs and may blend elements from these approaches to create a plan that suits the client's concerns and pace. Clients are invited to give feedback so the work can be adjusted as therapy progresses.

Online therapy with this clinician is available through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These formats can make it easier to maintain continuity during life transitions, access care from home, and use brief check-ins or longer sessions as needed to support steady progress.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist commonly address?
He works with a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family problems, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting challenges, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and intimacy-related issues.
How would you describe the therapeutic style and approach?
The approach is thoughtful and compassionate, combining client-centered listening with practical strategies from CBT, solution-focused work, attachment-based ideas, and family-systems perspectives to fit each client's goals.
What level of experience does the therapist have?
Dr. Lance Smith has 25 years of clinical experience working with individuals, couples, and families across a broad array of concerns and relational issues.
Where is the therapist licensed and located?
The therapist practices in California and holds LMFT licensure. Specific license identifiers provided are CA LMFT 158469 and OK LMFT 10117.
Does the therapist offer services in multiple languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English, and the therapist is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available for online care?
Clients can connect with the therapist via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on preference and convenience.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are offered through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are required to begin working with this therapist?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsDepression

Also works with

AddictionsTrauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBlended family issuesCaregiver issues and stressCommunication problemsFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingMulticultural concernsPanic disorder and panic attacksPost-traumatic stressSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Gottman MethodSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

25+ years

Licensed

Oklahoma, Utah, California

Languages

English