- Years in practice
- 24
- Credentials
- LMFT
- Licensed in
- California, Texas, Virginia
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Addictions
- Focus
- Trauma and abuse
About Stephen
Stephen Creel is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 24 years of experience. He draws on a straightforward, collaborative style to help people work through stress, anxiety, addiction, trauma, and parenting concerns. He speaks plain language and aims to make therapy feel practical and within reach.
Stephen began his professional life as a drummer in Hollywood clubs. That time brought highs and lows and shaped his belief that people can recover meaning after disappointment.
Background and approach
He earned a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University in 2001 and moved into clinical work soon after. Over two decades he has worked in rehabilitation settings and independent practice. He has supported people coping with substance use, depression, codependency, trauma, panic, and mood struggles.
His background includes work with people processing family of origin issues and the stresses that come with caregiving and life transitions. In sessions he treats therapy as a collaboration. He listens first and then helps clients identify unhelpful beliefs such as not feeling good enough.
From there he uses practical tools to challenge those beliefs and build healthier habits of thought and action. Stephen blends Client-Centered methods with cognitive behavioral techniques and trauma-focused approaches when appropriate. He also uses motivational interviewing and EMDR as part of recovery work.
He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.
What Stephen works with
Everything Stephen lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Stephen helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Trauma and abuse
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Family of origin issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
Approaches Stephen lists
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Approaches that translate to online care
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the relationship and understanding your experience. The therapist listens deeply and helps you set the pace and goals that feel right. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at patterns of thinking and behavior and teaches practical skills to reduce anxiety, depression, and anger.EMDR, a trauma-focused tool he also uses, helps people process distressing memories in order to reduce their emotional intensity. These approaches are chosen to match the issue at hand and can be combined depending on whether the focus is addiction recovery, parenting stress, or trauma recovery.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist works together with each person to decide which methods fit their needs and goals. That collaborative decision helps set a clear plan for sessions and small steps for change.
Online therapy offers flexibility for busy lives. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when visual connection helps. Phone sessions can be a good option when bandwidth is limited or for shorter check-ins. Live chat and text-based messaging let people check in between sessions or use brief, written coaching during a work break. These options make it easier to fit therapy into daily life while using approaches suited to the issue being addressed.
Questions people ask about Stephen
What concerns does Stephen address?
He helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma, parenting issues, relationship and intimacy concerns, grief, anger, and career or life-change challenges.
What is his therapeutic style?
He practices a collaborative, client-centered style and combines that with cognitive behavioral tools and trauma-focused work when needed.
How much experience does he have?
Stephen has 24 years of clinical experience working in rehabs and personal settings with a range of concerns.
What credentials and region does he hold?
He is an LMFT licensed in Texas and California and is based in California.
Which languages and client locations are supported?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to match different preferences and schedules.
How are costs and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.
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