Works with
- Anger
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Parenting issues
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
How Stephen works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LMFT
- Licensed in
- California
- Years in practice
- 45
- Languages
- English
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Stephen
Dr. Stephen Lovato is a licensed marriage and family therapist who brings decades of experience to each session. He focuses on practical help for people dealing with anger, stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strains, and LGBT-related concerns.
Dr. Lovato speaks plainly and offers steady support for those who are unsure where to begin. He uses simple talk therapy to understand what matters most to each person.
Sessions are shaped around the client's goals and current problems rather than a fixed script.
Background and approach
He encourages direct conversation about patterns that cause repeated conflict or emotional pain. Over 45 years of work in California have exposed him to many kinds of life challenges. That background includes helping people with parenting questions, grief, trauma, addiction, sleep problems, and issues tied to identity and intimacy.
He draws on that experience to respond to common crises and long-term concerns. Dr. Lovato draws from several approaches to therapy.
He leans on client-centered work to build trust, uses cognitive behavioral ideas to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, and brings psychodynamic thinking to look at deeper patterns from the past. He also uses solution-focused techniques when people want clear, short-term goals. His style is respectful and direct.
He aims to help people notice what repeats in their lives, try small changes, and track results over time. For anyone feeling stuck by anger, relationship conflict, or persistent low mood, he offers a steady, experienced presence to work alongside them.
What Stephen works with
Everything Stephen lists, in the therapist's own terms. Anger is the reason this directory exists; the rest tells you what usually sits alongside it in Stephen's practice.
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Parenting issues
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Sleeping disorders
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Antisocial personality
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Avoidant personality
- BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Control issues
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Intellectual disability
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Paranoia
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Postpartum depression
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Stephen lists
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
How his approaches translate to online therapy
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and building a respectful relationship. Online sessions let him use this approach to hear what matters most and help people feel understood, whether by video, phone, chat, or text. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, targets specific thoughts and behaviors and turns them into step-by-step exercises; those tasks and homework adapt well to messaging, phone check-ins, and video work for tracking progress.Finding the right approach is part of the work together. He will discuss goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before, then recommend ways of working that fit the person's needs. That choice is collaborative and can change as goals shift.
Online formats offer real practical benefits. Video calls let the conversation feel close to an in-person meeting. Phone sessions require less bandwidth and can fit into a shorter break. Live chat and text messaging are useful for quick check-ins, brief reflections, and reminders between sessions. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent while fitting into busy days.
Questions people ask about Stephen
What concerns does he often help with?
He helps people facing anger, stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and LGBT-related concerns, plus parenting, grief, trauma, addictions, sleep problems, and self-esteem issues.
What is his general therapy style?
His style is straightforward and collaborative. He combines client-centered listening with practical techniques to help people change thoughts and habits.
How long has he worked in this field?
He brings 45 years of professional experience working with a wide range of emotional and relationship issues.
Where is he licensed and based?
He is a licensed marriage and family therapist, LMFT, practicing in California.
Which languages are offered for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.