Alia Smith, LMFT
Compassionate therapist who centers your story
Details
| Name | Alia Smith |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LMFT |
| Based in | California |
| Licensed in | California |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 15 |
About Alia
Alia Smith is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 15 years of professional experience in California. She focuses on helping people navigate addictions, trauma, anxiety, mood shifts, and major life changes. Her approach centers on listening closely and helping people make sense of their experiences so they can move forward.
She works from a Narrative perspective, helping people look at the stories they tell about themselves and consider new, more helpful ways to understand those stories.
Background and approach
She also uses practical tools from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to address unhelpful thoughts and build flexible coping skills. Sessions are simple and down to earth. Conversations aim to identify what matters to the person and to find small, workable steps toward change.
She helps people set concrete goals and practice skills between visits. Alia has worked with people facing a wide range of concerns including bipolar disorder, depression, ADHD, panic and stress, and relationship challenges. She also supports people dealing with body image, codependency, dissociation, and recovery from domestic violence or substance issues.
Clients can expect a respectful, nonjudgmental tone and help in naming strengths and options. Her work emphasizes collaboration so people feel involved in choosing what will help them most.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Addictions, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem among the things Alia works with, alongside the areas below.
- Addictions
- Trauma and abuse
- Self esteem
- Coping with life changes
- ADHD
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Abandonment
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Body image
- Codependency
- Dissociation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- Guilt and shame
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Personality disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Somatization
- Workplace issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Listed by Alia among the ways she works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Alia among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Alia among the ways she works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Alia among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Alia among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Alia among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Alia among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Alia directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Alia directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
Online approaches that fit your story and goals
Alia combines Narrative Therapy with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her online work. Narrative Therapy helps people look at the stories they tell about themselves and choose different, more helpful narratives. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy focuses on clarifying personal values and taking committed action even when difficult thoughts or feelings are present. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy breaks down distressing thoughts and behaviors into manageable parts and teaches practical strategies to change them.Finding the best approach is a collaborative process. She will talk with each person about their needs, goals, and preferences and then try methods that fit those priorities. That means sessions can shift over time as people learn what helps and what doesn’t.
Online sessions are designed for flexibility and access. Video calls let people see and hear each other for fuller conversation. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for quick updates, homework support, or when someone prefers typing over talking. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and to keep progress moving between meetings.
Common questions about this listing
What concerns does she help with?
She supports people facing addictions, trauma and abuse, anxiety, depression, bipolar symptoms, ADHD, stress, self-esteem struggles, relationship difficulties, and life transitions.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her work blends Narrative Therapy with hands-on tools from ACT and CBT to reframe personal stories and teach practical coping strategies.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 15 years of professional experience working with a broad range of concerns in California.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - LMFT - practicing in California.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What formats are available for meeting online?
Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How does pricing work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling based on the therapist's availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Alia are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Alia where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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