Therapist profile
Christian Maciel, LMFT
California
Licensed MFT - relationships and trauma
Continue with ChristianWhere Christian stands
- Credentials
- LMFT
- License
- LMFT, California / 49068
- NPI
- 1629302336
- Experience
- 25 years
- Languages
- English, Spanish
- Location
- California
About
- ACT and CBT methods
- Attachment-focused work
- English and Spanish
About Christian
Christian Maciel is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) in California with 25 years of clinical experience. He works with adults dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, and related issues such as self-esteem and codependency.
He uses straightforward conversations to identify patterns that keep people stuck. Sessions focus on what is happening now, how past attachment and abandonment experiences shape choices, and which behaviors cause repeated strain in relationships. He talks through concrete skills and small changes rather than abstract ideas.
Christian draws on several evidence-informed methods including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). He mixes practical coping tools with attention to emotional experience so clients can try new ways of reacting to stress and conflict.
He also addresses issues tied to chronic pain and caregiver stress, body image, control and dependent personality patterns, divorce and separation, and complications from domestic violence. Work often includes strengthening communication, setting clearer boundaries, and processing difficult memories.
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish. Christian practices in California and emphasizes respectful, direct work that helps people notice patterns and test different responses in everyday life.
How sessions work
How therapeutic approaches shape online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing painful thoughts and feelings without getting driven by them, then choosing actions that align with personal values. It can help with anxiety, stress, and difficulties that come from people-pleasing or codependent patterns.Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships affect current reactions to partners and friends. It helps people recognize attachment and abandonment patterns and practice different ways of relating when emotions run high.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Christian will collaborate with clients to decide which methods to emphasize based on goals, preferences, and what feels most useful in sessions. That decision can shift over time as progress is made and new issues appear.
Confirm the current session formats before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce commute time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also let people access sessions in English or Spanish without travel. Ask about practical scheduling options when you complete the matching questionnaire.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English, Spanish
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does he help with?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, and related struggles such as self-esteem and codependency.
What is his therapeutic style like?
He blends practical skills with attention to emotions using approaches like ACT, CBT, DBT, and attachment work. Sessions are direct and focused on changing unhelpful patterns.
How much experience does he have?
Christian has 25 years of clinical experience supporting adults through relationship, mood, and trauma-related concerns.
What credential does he hold and where does he practice?
He is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) and practices in California.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.
Can international clients work with him?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with him?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe at home, use the crisis and helpline numbers.