Narrative Therapy Directory

A listing of therapists who include Narrative Therapy among their approaches

Dr. Paul Van Zeumeren, LMFT

California | Online sessions in California | English  |  Book with Paul »

Calm, practical therapy to change daily life

Details

NameDr. Paul Van Zeumeren
CredentialsLMFT
Based inCalifornia
Licensed inCalifornia
Session formatOnline
LanguagesEnglish
Years in practice11

About Paul

Dr. Paul Van Zeumeren is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in California with 11 years of clinical experience. He focuses on helping people who are struggling with stress, anxiety, addiction, grief, depression, and major life changes.

Dr. Van Zeumeren aims to create practical paths forward so daily life feels more manageable. He draws on Narrative Therapy to help people reframe the stories they tell about themselves.

That work often pairs with Client-Centered and Cognitive Behavioral approaches to identify unhelpful patterns and build new habits.

Background and approach

Sessions emphasize clear goals and small, doable changes that fit each person's life. Dr. Van Zeumeren has a Psy.D. in clinical psychology and uses his doctoral work to inform action-focused strategies.

He also integrates perspectives from addiction counseling when substance use is a concern, aiming for approaches that support lasting change. He describes his style as results-oriented and solution focused. People come for help with relationships, family of origin issues, low self-esteem, anger, and problems with sleep or eating.

He also works with mood conditions such as bipolar disorder and offers support for caregiver stress, aging concerns, and feelings of isolation or emptiness. The emphasis is on practical steps to reduce distress and improve functioning. Sessions are offered in English and delivered remotely by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging.

Getting started involves a short matching questionnaire and scheduling through the site's intake flow.

What this therapist works with

His listing names Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse among the things Paul works with, alongside the areas below.

Approaches listed

Narrative Therapy in this listing

Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how he 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 Paul directly how he uses it and what a session usually looks like.

Online session options

Using Narrative and Practical Therapies Online

Dr. Van Zeumeren often works from a Narrative Therapy perspective, which looks at the stories people tell about their lives and separates the person from the problem. That approach helps people rewrite unhelpful narratives and regain a sense of agency over decisions and relationships.

He also uses Client-Centered Therapy to create a respectful, empathetic space where clients set the pace and focus. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used alongside these ideas to identify specific thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and to test new ways of acting that lead to different results.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist and client collaborate to choose methods that match the person’s goals, strengths, and preferences. Sessions begin with practical goals and adjust as progress is made.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone calls work well when bandwidth is limited, live chat is handy for short check-ins, and text messaging supports ongoing prompts or brief reflections between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and different routines.

Common questions about this listing

What kinds of problems does he help with?

He works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma, grief, depression, relationship and family concerns, and other life changes listed on his profile.

How would you describe his therapy style?

He combines Narrative Therapy with client-centered and cognitive behavioral ideas to reframe stories and change unhelpful habits. Sessions are practical and action oriented.

What is his background and experience?

He has 11 years of clinical experience and holds a Doctor of Psychology degree. His work includes extensive experience in addiction counseling.

Where is he licensed and based?

He is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (CA LMFT) practicing from California.

Which languages are supported for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English only.

Can international clients work with him?

He does not accept international clients at this time.

What formats are available for online sessions?

He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to match different needs and schedules.

How does the cost and scheduling work?

Cost varies by location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, select Start Therapy, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule based on availability.

Contacting this therapist

Sessions with Paul 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 Paul where he has space. Ask about fees, and whether he holds a licence or registration where you live.

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