Therapist profile
Stephen Creel, LMFT
California
LMFT focusing on addiction and relationship issues
Continue with StephenWhere Stephen stands
- Credentials
- LMFT
- License
- LMFT, California / 44523; LMFT, Texas / 204077; LMFT, Virginia / 0717002148
- NPI
- 1043796386
- Experience
- 24 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- California
About
- Codependency support
- Trauma work
- CBT and EMDR
About Stephen
Stephen Creel is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in California with 24 years of experience. He works with adults facing stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, relationship and family concerns, grief, intimacy issues, parenting struggles, anger, career shifts, and coping with life changes.
Before training as a therapist he spent years as a working musician in Hollywood. That background shaped his view of how disappointment, identity loss, and big life changes can affect a person. He earned a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University in 2001 and then moved into clinical work in rehabs and private practice.
His practice aims to be collaborative. He describes therapy as two people working together to identify what isn’t working and how to address it. He often helps clients uncover beliefs about themselves that get in the way - ideas like not being good enough or not being wanted.
Stephen uses practical methods to challenge those painful beliefs and to develop different ways of coping. His work has included supporting people through substance use recovery, trauma recovery, mood concerns, and patterns of codependency and isolation. Sessions focus on clear goals and changes a person can try between appointments.
People who want help sorting out relationships, reducing anxiety, addressing addictive patterns, or finding steadier emotional ground may find his approach direct and task-focused. To begin, prospective clients follow the site process to match and schedule an initial session.
How sessions work
How his approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy puts the client's perspective first and focuses on listening, building trust, and helping people voice what matters to them. This approach helps with relationship struggles, feelings of low self-worth, and decisions about boundaries. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and uses clear exercises to change unhelpful patterns. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, panic, and problems with motivation or routine. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused method that works on upsetting memories and the reactions they trigger; it is commonly used for post-traumatic stress and for intense distress tied to past events.Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. He will collaborate with each person to pick methods that match their goals, comfort level, and the specific problems they bring. That choice can change over time as progress is made and needs evolve.
If you plan to use online sessions, confirm the available session formats before booking since the biography does not list specific online options. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life - it can save travel time, allow shorter check-ins, and permit sessions during a lunch break or between obligations. The therapist will also discuss practicalities like audio versus video, session length, and homework to make sure sessions fit everyday routines.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
24+ years
Listed in
California, Texas, Virginia
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does he help with?
He works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, relationship and family concerns, grief, intimacy issues, parenting, anger, career changes, and coping with life transitions.
What is his therapeutic style?
He describes therapy as a collaboration and uses client-centered methods alongside practical approaches like CBT and EMDR to address beliefs and behaviors that cause distress.
How long has he been practicing?
He has 24 years of experience, including work in rehabs and private practice since earning a master's degree in 2001.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with licensure in Texas and California, and he practices out of California.
Which languages are offered?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does he accept international clients?
He does not accept international clients at this time.
How does cost and payment work?
Cost varies by location; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started?
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.