Andrea McLellan , LMFT

Andrea McLellan is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) based in California who blends practical, goal-focused methods with deeper exploration of life patterns. She uses clear steps to help people reduce symptoms and set achievable goals. Andrea draws on 14 years of clinical experience to guide that work.

She often begins by looking at what keeps a problem going. That might be painful memories, family patterns, or habits that no longer serve someone. Andrea helps people name those patterns and choose actions that make day-to-day life easier and more manageable.

Her approach pairs solution-focused work and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to reduce symptoms and set realistic goals. She also uses psychodynamic and narrative ideas to understand how past events and personal stories shape current feelings and choices. Motivational Interviewing supports people who are ready to make changes but feel stuck.

Andrea has worked in forensic consultation and teaches psychology at a university, experience that deepened her understanding of trauma and family systems. She pays close attention to how childhood exposure to family chaos can affect relationships and emotional health later in life.

People bring a range of concerns to her office, including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, and challenges related to parenting and identity. She names practical steps, encourages responsibility and self-compassion, and helps clients move toward clearer goals.

Outside of clinical work she enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, bird-watching, and camping. That balance informs a down-to-earth style that aims to respect each person’s story while helping them take small, useful steps forward.

Online approaches that focus on goals and meaning

Andrea commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy as part of her online work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people spot unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors to reduce anxiety, depression, or stress. Dialectical Behavior Therapy teaches practical skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improving relationships, which can be useful for strong mood swings or intense emotional reactions.

She also draws on Motivational Interviewing to help people who feel stuck find their own reasons to change. Andrea treats choice of approach as a collaborative process. She will talk with each person about their goals, try a few methods, and adjust the plan together based on what helps most.

Online therapy with her is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, which provides flexibility for different schedules and needs. Video can work well for longer sessions and fuller conversation, while phone calls use less bandwidth and can fit a break at work. Live chat or messaging are helpful for brief check-ins, ongoing encouragement, or people who prefer typing. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care and to fit therapy into a busy life.