Brenda Wicks , LMFT

Brenda Wicks, LMFT, helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief, relationship struggles, addiction, and life transitions. She also supports those coping with parenting strain, caregiving stress, body image concerns, ADHD, and issues related to attachment and abandonment. Her work often addresses intimacy and self-esteem problems as well as challenges linked to trauma and abuse.

She takes a warm, interactive approach in sessions. Conversations are practical and focused on the client’s immediate needs. She listens without judgment and shapes plans around each person’s goals.

Brenda uses tools from client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, emotionally-focused therapy, and mindfulness. That mix lets her combine skill-building with attention to feelings and relationships. Sessions often include skills practice, new ways of thinking about problems, and steps to manage strong emotions.

Her background includes 23 years of clinical experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist in California. That experience spans many settings and a wide range of concerns, including work with survivors of violent crime and people managing addiction and mood conditions.

Brenda offers multiple ways to connect - video, phone, live chat, and text messaging - so people can choose what fits their schedule. Conversations are collaborative; she works with each person to set clear, achievable goals. If someone wants to try therapy, Brenda supports practical steps toward change.

How her approaches translate to online care

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and understanding each person’s experience. It helps people clarify what matters to them and move toward personal goals through supportive conversation and reflection.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It teaches practical skills to change unhelpful thinking and develop new behaviors for anxiety, depression, and stress management.

Dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, emphasizes emotion regulation and coping skills for intense feelings and relationship challenges. It offers concrete tools for tolerating distress and improving communication.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist collaborates with each person to choose methods that fit their goals, preferences, and life situation. Plans are adjusted over time as needs change.

Online formats make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life. Video sessions allow full face-to-face conversation, phone calls work well when internet is limited or a shorter check-in is needed, and live chat or text messaging suit people who prefer writing or who want brief, ongoing support. These options increase flexibility for scheduling and staying connected between sessions.