Profile / United States
Brenda Wicks, LMFT
California
LMFT - Anxiety and Relationship Concerns
See online therapy options- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- DBT skills
- Mindfulness practice
About Brenda
Brenda Wicks is an LMFT - Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California with 23 years of clinical experience. She works with stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, grief, relationship and parenting concerns. Her practice also addresses trauma and abuse, LGBT issues, ADHD, bipolar mood concerns, and career or life changes.
She uses clear, practical methods in sessions. Brenda combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with client-centered work and DBT skills to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try different responses. She also uses emotionally-focused ideas and mindfulness practices when they fit a person’s goals.
Sessions focus on concrete steps. Brenda helps people identify patterns, test small behavior changes, and build skills for emotion regulation and communication. She works through family stress, blended family concerns, caregiver strain, codependency and problems with commitment or intimacy in this step-by-step way.
Her background includes long experience across community and clinical settings, and years of supporting people after violent crime. Those years shaped her approach to trauma, crisis response, and grief work. Brenda uses practical tools alongside listening to help people move toward clearer decisions.
She asks questions, sets short-term goals, and checks progress regularly. People who want structured, evidence-informed approaches often find this helpful. Before a first session she requests basic information to match goals and plan next steps.
How her approaches translate to online work
Brenda commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thinking patterns and test small behavior changes. CBT is practical and goal-focused, useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and many day-to-day problems.She also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills for emotion regulation and distress tolerance. DBT skills teach concrete techniques for managing intense feelings and improving interpersonal effectiveness. Client-centered elements keep the work collaborative, with the therapist listening and reflecting to clarify goals.
Choosing the right approach is part of the process. Brenda will work together with the client to pick methods that match goals, whether that means more CBT skill practice, DBT strategies, or mindfulness exercises. The plan can be adjusted as progress is reviewed.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current online options before booking. In general, online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Licensed professionals can use online work to maintain regular momentum on goals while adapting practical details to a client's daily schedule.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
23+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she typically address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, grief, relationship and parenting issues, plus trauma and related challenges.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
Her approach is practical and interactive, focusing on observing thoughts and trying different behaviors to reduce distress.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 23 years of experience working in a range of mental health settings and with people facing trauma and crisis.
What credential does she hold and where does she practice?
She is an LMFT - Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in California.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are fees and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin working together?
Select 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 you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.