About Lance
Dr. Lance Smith helps people manage stress and anxiety and navigate relationship and family challenges. He is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 25 years of practice experience.
People also come to him for depression, grief, addiction concerns, trauma and abuse, and issues around intimacy and self-esteem. He keeps sessions direct and practical. He listens first to understand the problem and what the person wants to change.
From there he uses clear, goal-focused steps to build coping skills and improve communication.
Background and approach
Dr. Smith often draws on attachment-based ideas to look at how early connections shape current relationships. He uses cognitive behavioral therapy to identify thinking patterns that fuel anxiety and to try small behavioral experiments that reduce symptoms.
He also uses client-centered and solution-focused techniques to center the person's priorities and find short-term steps forward. Sessions may include role-play for communication, homework exercises to try between meetings, and structured tools for managing panic or strong emotions. He can discuss family dynamics and parenting strain, blended family issues, caregiver stress, and multicultural concerns as they relate to a person's goals.
Dr. Smith holds the LMFT credential and practices in California. He works in English and offers several online session formats to fit different schedules and needs.
Approaches that translate to online therapy
Attachment-based work looks at how early relationship patterns affect current bonds and communication. It helps people understand reactions in close relationships and can guide changes in how they connect with partners or family members. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on recognizing unhelpful thoughts and testing them with small behavioral changes. It is often used for anxiety, panic, and mood challenges to reduce symptoms through practical exercises. Client-centered therapy emphasizes listening and understanding the person's perspective so goals come from the client's priorities and values.Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to identify which methods fit the person's needs, goals, and preferences. Sessions may mix approaches so the work matches what is most helpful at each stage.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to offer flexibility. Video sessions allow for face-to-face conversations and visual cues. Phone sessions can be a good option when bandwidth is limited or for brief check-ins. Live chat and text messaging make short, frequent check-ins possible and can fit around busy days or caregiver schedules. These options help people keep therapy consistent while fitting it into their life.
Questions people ask
What concerns does he address?
What is his general approach in sessions?
How much experience does he have?
What credentials and location are listed?
In which languages are sessions offered?
What session formats are available?
How does cost work?
How do I begin working with him?
What this therapist works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
Also listed
- Abandonment
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Bipolar disorder
- Blended family issues
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Intimacy-related issues
- Multicultural concerns
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trauma and abuse
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 25 years
- Licensed
- Oklahoma, Utah, California
- Languages
- English
We will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you.