- Stress and anxiety
- Relationship problems
- Attachment issues
About Ryan
Ryan Smith is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in California with six years of clinical experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, family conflict, trauma and abuse, and depression. She also focuses on concerns such as abandonment, attachment issues, body image, caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, communication problems, control issues, and isolation.
Ryan prefers straightforward sessions that help people name what feels hard and figure out next steps. She treats each person as the expert on their own life and builds on existing strengths. Sessions are practical and aim to make everyday situations easier to manage.
Her background includes several years helping adults navigate relationship challenges and emotional overwhelm. She uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques to address patterns that keep people stuck and to improve how they handle conflict and emotions.
Ryan often supports people working through guilt, shame, impulsivity, and issues around life purpose or midlife questions. She also helps men dealing with role expectations and people coping with divorce or separation. Conversations cover concrete skills for communication and emotional regulation as well as longer-standing attachment concerns.
She provides sessions in English for clients based in California. Getting started involves completing a short matching questionnaire and scheduling a first session through the online options provided by the service.
How Ryan uses evidence-based approaches online
Ryan draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on changing unhelpful patterns and improving everyday coping. One common approach she uses looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact and teaches practical skills to reduce anxiety and manage stress. This helps with worry, panic, and overthinking that interfere with work or study.Another approach she applies targets attachment and relationship patterns. It helps people understand how past connections shape current reactions, and it teaches clearer communication and more reliable ways of asking for support. This can be useful for relationship strain, repeated arguments, and feelings of abandonment or isolation.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the early work together. She will discuss what feels most relevant, try techniques in session, and adjust the plan based on the client's needs, goals, and preferences. This is a collaborative process rather than a one-size-fits-all prescription.
Confirm the current session options before booking since formats are not specified here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, for example by avoiding travel time, allowing short check-ins between commitments, or reducing the need to be on camera for every meeting. These practical benefits can help keep therapy consistent when schedules and responsibilities are tight.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
6+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship strain, family conflict, trauma and abuse, and depression. Additional focuses include body image, caregiver stress, chronic illness and related concerns.
What is her approach in sessions?
Sessions use evidence-based therapeutic techniques and practical conversation. She treats clients as experts on their own lives and helps them build on strengths to handle daily challenges.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has six years of professional experience working with adults on relationship and emotional issues. That background includes work with trauma, family conflict, and depression.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licensed in California. Her practice is based in California.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Exact pricing is provided during the sign-up process.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session through the platform.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.