About Stephen
Stephen Creel is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 24 years of clinical experience. He combines a down-to-earth manner with practical tools to help people manage stress, anxiety, addiction, grief, and relationship strain. Stephen's background includes work in rehabs and independent practice in California, where he has supported people through recovery and life transitions.
He trained at Pepperdine University, earning a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology in 2001, and holds LMFT credentials in Texas and California.
Background and approach
Early in his life he worked as a drummer in Hollywood clubs, an experience that shaped his understanding of joy, disappointment, and identity. That personal history informs his compassionate, realistic approach in sessions. Stephen sees therapy as a collaborative process.
He works with people to identify the beliefs that get in the way, such as feeling not good enough or not wanted. Then he helps them test those ideas and build new ways of thinking that fit real life.
In sessions he draws on client-centered methods to listen and reflect, cognitive behavioral tools to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, and trauma-focused approaches when past hurts are central. He also uses EMDR and motivational interviewing as appropriate for recovery and trauma work.
People who come for help with panic attacks, mood struggles, codependency, or process addictions often find the mix of practical skills and steady support useful. Stephen aims for clear steps and steady progress so people can feel more at ease in daily life.
How Stephen's Approaches Work Online
Stephen blends client-centered work with cognitive behavioral therapy and trauma-focused methods to address anxiety, addiction, and past hurts. Client-centered therapy focuses on empathetic listening and reflecting so people feel heard and can clarify their own goals. Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at thought and behavior patterns and teaches practical skills to reduce panic, worry, and low mood. Trauma-focused therapy and EMDR help when painful memories keep showing up and interfere with daily life; these approaches aim to reduce the emotional charge around those memories.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Stephen collaborates with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and comfort level. That might mean starting with supportive listening, adding CBT skills for anxiety, or using trauma-focused techniques if past events are central. The plan can change as progress is made.
Online sessions are offered by video, phone, live chat, or text messaging to provide flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for shorter check-ins. Live chat and text messaging work well for quick updates, ongoing support between sessions, or people who prefer written conversation. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life while using the approaches that best match each person's situation.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Also listed
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 24 years
- Licensed
- California, Texas, Virginia
- Languages
- English
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