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Patrick O'Leary

Profile / United States

Patrick O'Leary, LMFT

California

LMFT in California - Addiction and Relationship work

See online therapy options
  • Addiction support
  • Relationship issues
  • Cognitive behavioral work

About Patrick

Patrick O'Leary is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in California with 41 years of clinical experience. He works with people facing addiction, relationship and intimacy problems, anxiety, depression, and life changes. Patrick also addresses parenting concerns, grief, trauma and abuse, and mood disorders.

He uses clear, structured methods that focus on how thoughts and behaviors affect feelings. Sessions typically involve noticing unhelpful thinking patterns and trying small changes to see what helps. Patrick draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy along with client-centered and mindfulness approaches to keep work practical and focused on daily life.

He also uses narrative and solution-focused techniques to help people reframe difficult experiences and set concrete goals. That can look like mapping patterns in relationships, practicing new communication steps, or creating short experiments to test a different response to stress. He helps people address issues such as codependency, anger, addiction, and career stress with direct strategies.

Patrick has long experience helping those adjusting to major life events - divorce, loss, midlife shifts, and the aftermath of disasters. He pays attention to patterns tied to attachment, guilt, and shame and offers ways to build steadier coping skills. Work often includes skill practice between sessions so changes carry into daily routines.

People who prefer straightforward, skills-based work tend to fit his style. Prospective clients should confirm the current session options and scheduling details before booking. To begin, follow the practice's intake steps and schedule an initial appointment.

How he uses practical approaches in online sessions

Patrick commonly draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors. CBT focuses on small, testable changes such as altering thought patterns, practicing exposure to feared situations, or building step-by-step routines for mood and anxiety concerns.

He also uses client-centered methods that prioritize listening and reflecting back what a person says, and mindfulness therapy which teaches simple attention and breathing skills to reduce reactivity. Client-centered work supports clearer self-expression while mindfulness provides tools to notice stress and respond differently.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. He will discuss goals, preferences, and what feels practical for day-to-day life, then suggest a mix of methods to try together. This is a collaborative process that can shift as needs change.

The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Many people use video to practice communication skills in real time or brief phone check-ins for quick progress reviews, but confirm which formats are offered before you schedule.

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

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does he commonly address?

He works with addiction, relationship and intimacy issues, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, parenting and other life changes.

How would you describe his therapeutic style?

He uses practical, structured methods that focus on thoughts, behaviors, and small experiments to change how people feel.

What is his professional background?

He has 41 years of clinical experience as a therapist working with a wide range of concerns and life transitions.

What credentials and location are listed?

He is an LMFT licensed in California and practices in California.

Which languages and international options are available?

Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not currently accepted.

What session formats does he offer?

Confirm the current session options before booking since the biography does not list specific formats.

How is cost handled for sessions?

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

How do I get started with him?

Select the See online therapy options button, complete the 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.

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Patrick O'Leary

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