IFSTherapists

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LMFT

Megan Hougardy, LMFT

  • Experience9 years
  • LocationCalifornia
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, Relationship, and Self esteem
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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About Megan

Megan Hougardy is a licensed marriage and family therapist practicing in California with nine years of clinical experience. She focuses on helping people navigate stress, anxiety, depression, career concerns, and grief while supporting changes in self-esteem, motivation, and confidence.

Background and approach

Her work also addresses relationship strains, family issues, sleep difficulties, and compassion fatigue, along with a range of related challenges such as attachment concerns, codependency, chronic illness or pain, and feelings of emptiness. Megan creates a calm, nonjudgmental space where clients can explore difficult thoughts and emotions and work toward clearer priorities and more effective coping.

She integrates evidence-based methods to tailor care to each person’s situation, drawing on approaches that encourage present-moment awareness, values-based action, and practical skills for symptom relief. Whether someone is facing loss, life transition, persistent worry, or career crossroads, she aims to collaborate on realistic steps forward and build resilience over time.

Practical online approaches grounded in therapeutic care

Internal Family Systems (IFS) explores inner parts or subpersonalities and encourages compassionate, curious dialogue with those parts to reduce internal conflict and build self-leadership. This approach can help with longstanding patterns like shame, self-criticism, and conflicted feelings about relationships or life choices.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying personal values and taking committed action while learning to relate differently to painful thoughts and emotions. It is often useful for anxiety, depression, and motivation or career concerns by shifting attention toward meaningful goals rather than symptom elimination.

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy and a nonjudgmental therapeutic relationship, giving clients space to be heard while they process grief, life transitions, and identity or self-esteem work. These approaches are used collaboratively so the therapist and client can identify which methods fit a person’s needs and preferences as therapy unfolds.

Online sessions offer flexibility through video calls, phone appointments, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to maintain continuity during busy schedules or life changes. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises, pacing, and check-ins to each format so clients can pursue consistent, practical progress from wherever they are.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Megan commonly address?
Megan works with a broad set of difficulties including stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship strain, self-esteem issues, career problems, sleep disturbances, and compassion fatigue. She also focuses on related areas such as attachment issues, codependency, chronic pain or illness, and feelings of emptiness.
How would you describe her therapeutic approach and style?
Her style is collaborative and client-centered, using methods that promote present-moment awareness, values-based action, and practical coping skills. Sessions emphasize openness and a nonjudgmental environment for exploring thoughts and feelings.
What is her professional background and experience level?
She is a licensed marriage and family therapist with nine years of professional experience working with a variety of emotional and life concerns.
Where is she licensed and what are her credentials?
She holds the LMFT credential and is licensed in California with license number CA LMFT 112226.
Does she work in languages other than English or with international clients?
Sessions are offered in English only, and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available for working together?
Clients can connect through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.
How is cost handled for sessions with her?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; services are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working with this therapist?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a brief matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesSelf esteemCoping with life changes

Also works with

Family conflictsGriefSleeping disordersCareer difficultiesDepressionCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAttachment issuesChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommunication problemsCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)HypnotherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

9+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English