- Addictions support
- Trauma and abuse
- Guilt and shame work
About Alia
Alia Smith is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California with 15 years of clinical experience. She works with adults facing addictions, trauma and abuse, mood concerns such as depression and bipolar, anxiety and stress, and relationship struggles. She also helps with issues like ADHD, self-esteem, and coping with life changes, including feelings of guilt and shame.
She frames clients as the experts on their own stories and looks for strengths to build on. Sessions are conversational and practical. She listens for what is getting in the way and offers ways to try new behaviors and thoughts. Motivational interviewing is part of how she helps people find reasons to change.
Her work draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to notice thoughts and choose actions that matter. Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills are used when intense emotions or strong urges are part of the problem. Client-centered principles guide the way she attends to each person's concerns and pacing.
In sessions she helps people break problems into small steps. That can mean learning coping skills for panic or stress, building routines for mood management, or making plans to reduce substance use. She also addresses hard-to-name feelings such as emptiness, shame, or abandonment that often lie beneath behavior patterns.
People who come for therapy can expect straightforward language and concrete strategies alongside space to talk about painful events. She helps clients weigh choices, set small goals, and track progress over time.
How her approaches guide online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice painful thoughts without getting stuck in them and then choose actions that match their values. ACT can be useful for chronic shame, avoidance, and life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on the links between thoughts, feelings, and behavior and uses practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, and panic. Motivational Interviewing supports people who feel stuck about change by exploring ambivalence and building motivation one step at a time.Finding the best approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss goals, try methods, and adjust plans based on what helps. Clients and therapist decide collaboratively which tools to use and how to pace sessions.
Confirm the session formats available before booking, as these are not listed in the biography. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into busy days, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. They also allow using written exercises, screen-shared worksheets, and step-by-step skill practice during a session. Ask about the specific options offered when you schedule so sessions fit into everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
15+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address related to guilt and shame?
She works with guilt and shame alongside issues like addictions, trauma, depression, anxiety, and relationship problems. These feelings are treated as part of larger patterns the client wants to change.
How would she approach feelings of guilt or shame in sessions?
She uses approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to notice painful thoughts and test new responses. Sessions include practical exercises and reflective conversation.
How long has she been practicing?
She has 15 years of professional experience working in clinical settings and with a wide range of concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT, licensed in California and practices from that state.
Can people meet with her in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How does pricing work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and is handled through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working with her?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session to get started.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.