Mara Bruckner , LMFT

Mara Bruckner is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with more than 22 years of clinical experience in Southern California. As an LMFT she is trained to work with individuals, couples, and families, offering therapy that addresses relationships as well as individual mental health concerns.

Her background includes work in private practice as well as county and state funded agencies that provided behavioral therapies for children, teens, and adults on the autism spectrum. Her clinical work has included play therapy, applied behavior analysis (ABA), social skills groups, and guidance for parents navigating developmental and behavioral challenges. In private practice she has extensive experience with adolescents and adults who have Asperger's syndrome or high-functioning autism, and with teens and adults coping with anxiety, depression, and other adolescent-onset disorders. She also works with adults across the lifespan.

Bruckner is certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), an evidence-based approach effective for problems such as depression, anxiety, phobias, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, and many relationship concerns. Her counseling style is warm and interactive, often using humor to ease difficult conversations. She tailors treatment to each person, integrating client-centered, psychodynamic, solution-focused, and cognitive behavioral techniques as appropriate. She takes a collaborative approach that encourages active participation from the people she works with and focuses on practical steps toward meaningful change.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Client-centered therapy places the client at the heart of the process, emphasizing empathy, nonjudgmental listening, and the client's own goals. It helps people gain self-awareness and make choices that align with their values and relationships.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It is practical and skill-oriented, often used for anxiety, depression, phobias, and patterns that interfere with daily functioning and relationships.

Psychodynamic therapy explores past experiences and emotional patterns that influence current behavior and relationships. It can help clarify long-standing dynamics and provide insight into recurring difficulties.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey, and Mara works collaboratively with clients to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. She helps people experiment with different strategies and adjust the plan as therapy progresses.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules or to maintain continuity during life transitions. These options allow licensed professionals to provide consistent support and practical tools while accommodating different communication styles and logistical needs.