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Patrick O'Leary

Therapist profile

Patrick O'Leary, LMFT

California

LMFT in California - Anger and Relationship work

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Key details

  • CredentialsLMFT
  • LicenseLMFT, California / 27408
  • NPI1538209572
  • Experience41 years
  • LanguagesEnglish
  • LocationCalifornia

About

  • Client-Centered therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioral tools
  • Mindfulness practices

About Patrick

Patrick O'Leary is a California-licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with 41 years of clinical experience. He works with adults who are facing difficulties such as addiction, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship strain, parenting pressures, and anger. Sessions focus on practical steps people can take to handle stress, restore communication, and manage intense emotions.

Over four decades Patrick has supported people through career shifts, midlife change, and the fallout from trauma or loss. He helps clients sort through what keeps them stuck - patterns in relationships, habits around substances or food, or cycles of guilt and shame. The work is grounded in direct conversation and problem-solving rather than jargon.

His approach draws on Client-Centered methods and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to reduce unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. He also uses Mindfulness techniques to calm reactivity and Narrative and Solution-Focused practices to reframe stories and set achievable goals. Sessions mix listening with concrete tools people can try between meetings.

People come for help with intimacy concerns, attachment difficulties, first responder strain, or parenting stress. Patrick pays attention to communication problems and control issues that often underlie anger and conflict. He supports clients in rebuilding trust with themselves and others through clear steps and steady guidance.

Practical matters such as managing work stress, coping after separation, or handling relapse are addressed directly. Clients are invited to set goals and track progress. The emphasis is on usable strategies that fit into everyday life.

How sessions work

How his approaches translate to online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting back what matters to the client. Online sessions let a therapist follow a person's pace, clarify concerns, and help set realistic goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and provides practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns; this works well over talks that include homework and brief skill practice.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Patrick will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. That may mean trying mindfulness exercises for reactivity, CBT techniques for anger-related thoughts, or narrative work to shift a stuck personal story.

Confirm the current session formats before booking, as the biography does not list specific delivery methods. Online work can make it easier to attend sessions without travel, fit a brief check-in during a busy day, or use phone-based options when bandwidth or camera use is an issue. The focus is on making therapy fit into daily life while working toward clear, practical changes.

Areas of focus

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

AddictionsRelationship issuesIntimacy-related issues

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefEating disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderDepressionCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

Attachment issuesCancerCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDivorce and separationDrug and alcohol addictionFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameMidlife crisisMood disordersPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSex addictionWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapyNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapySystemic Therapy

Experience

41+ years

Listed in

California

Languages

English

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does he help with?

He works with adults on issues like addiction, relationship and intimacy concerns, anger, anxiety, depression, grief, parenting stress, and career or life changes.

What is his therapeutic style like?

Sessions combine clear listening with practical tools. He uses conversation, cognitive strategies, mindfulness, and goal-focused work to reduce reactivity and improve communication.

How long has he been practicing?

He has 41 years of clinical experience working with adults on a wide range of emotional and behavioral concerns.

What credential does he hold and where is he located?

He is a California LMFT (licensed marriage and family therapist) practicing in California.

What languages are sessions offered in?

Sessions are offered in English.

Does he work with international clients?

International clients are not currently accepted.

How are fees and payment handled?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with him?

Use the See online therapy options button, complete a 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 anyone is unsafe, use the crisis numbers.

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Patrick O'Leary

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