Eric Howell , LMFT

Eric Howell is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who has practiced in California for more than 15 years. He brings a blend of clinical experience across nonprofit, government, and private practice settings, and draws on both professional training and his own personal journey with therapy to inform his work.

Originally from the Northeastern United States, he is a third-generation American of mixed European descent and relocated to California at age 25. His path to becoming a therapist was shaped by positive experiences as a client, which inspired him to help others navigate difficult life transitions, relationship challenges, and mood or anxiety concerns. He works with people across the lifespan and has experience addressing issues such as depression, bipolar disorder, grief, addictions, communication problems, and family-of-origin dynamics.

He also speaks from lived experience as a gay man and has training and experience with LGBTQ communities, including work at the Gay and Lesbian Center in Los Angeles. Growing up in a Catholic background but identifying more with a personal spirituality, he is comfortable integrating spiritual themes when they are meaningful to a client. He has personal familiarity with the impact of serious mental illness in families, including relatives diagnosed with schizophrenia, and brings sensitivity to the complex stresses and rewards that result.

Eric emphasizes collaborative, client-centered care that helps people build coping skills, improve communication, and develop new perspectives that support lasting change.

Approaches to Online Therapy and How They Help

Eric Howell commonly integrates Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) into his online work. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early relationships shape patterns of connection and trust; it can be useful for people struggling with abandonment, intimacy-related issues, and relationship conflicts. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, respect, and the client’s own goals - the therapist offers a supportive presence that helps people explore values, identity, and self-esteem at their own pace. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets unhelpful thoughts and behaviors by teaching practical skills for managing anxiety, depression, mood swings, and impulsivity.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Eric collaborates with each person to identify the methods that best match their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting techniques as insight and circumstances evolve. This collaborative stance helps tailor sessions to what works most effectively for the individual.

Online therapy with Eric is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to maximize flexibility. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, maintain continuity through life changes, and access licensed professionals from different locations while focusing on meaningful progress and practical tools.