Andrea McLellan, LMFT

Andrea McLellan is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in California with 14 years of clinical experience. She emphasizes practical, goal-driven work that helps people reduce distress and regain a sense of direction. She blends solution-focused strategies with cognitive behavioral ideas to target symptoms and build realistic steps forward.

Andrea draws on long experience with trauma-related cases and forensic consultation. She has worked closely with people harmed by violence and abuse and has provided expert consultation in legal contexts involving vulnerable minors. This background informs a careful attention to how past events shape present behavior and relationships.

Her sessions prioritize identifying root causes and creating actionable plans. She encourages awareness, responsibility, courage, and forgiveness as part of emotional recovery. Clients can expect focused discussions, clear goals, and techniques aimed at reducing anxious and depressive symptoms.

Andrea also supports people facing career stress, intimacy difficulties, addictions, and grief. She notes additional focus on issues such as attachment, body image, caregiver strain, chronic illness, and blended family concerns. Her approach adapts to each person’s priorities while keeping practical outcomes in view.

Outside of clinical work, she teaches psychology at a university and maintains a background in forensic psychology related to sexual assault and child abuse. She enjoys outdoor activities including hiking, bird-watching, and camping.

How Andrea’s Approaches Translate to Online Work

Andrea commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and solution-focused methods. CBT helps people notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can reduce anxiety and depression. Solution-focused work zeroes in on small, practical steps that move someone toward their goals rather than dwelling on problems.

She also draws on psychodynamic ideas to understand how past experiences shape current patterns. That perspective can help people see repeated relationship and attachment difficulties and decide what to change. Together, these approaches give both short-term tools and deeper understanding.

Finding the best approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about their needs, goals, and preferences and adjust methods over time. Clients often try techniques in short cycles and review what helps most so the plan changes based on real progress.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm current session options before booking since formats are set by the practice. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and let people use therapeutic tools in their everyday context. Licensed professionals can adapt CBT exercises, behavioral plans, and goal-setting tasks to an online setting to keep momentum between meetings.