- Stress and anxiety
- Parenting support
- Trauma and abuse
About Summer
Summer Richards is a California licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with 18 years of clinical experience. She helps people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, family conflict, parenting challenges, trauma and abuse, and depression. She also works with concerns such as communication problems, control issues, divorce and separation, guilt and shame, isolation and loneliness, life purpose, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress, self-love, and social anxiety and phobia.
She keeps sessions direct and practical. Summer encourages people to name what feels most urgent and to try small, manageable steps between sessions. Conversations focus on what is happening now and on concrete ways to reduce distress and improve day-to-day functioning.
Her approach aims to make it easier to talk about hard things. She invites people to share thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment and listens for patterns that keep problems repeating. From there she works with clients to test new ways of thinking and behaving that can reduce worry, prevent panic, and improve relationships.
Summer has nearly two decades of experience helping adults cope with painful events, relationship strain, and the weight of ongoing stress. She emphasizes steady progress and practical skills people can use outside of sessions. The first appointment is framed as a chance to clarify goals and decide what to focus on next.
To begin, prospective clients are asked to complete a brief matching questionnaire and then schedule a first session. The practice uses a subscription model that can be canceled at any time, with fees that vary by location.
How evidence-based approaches fit into online work
Summer describes her work as grounded in evidence-based therapeutic techniques that aim to reduce symptoms and improve coping. One common approach focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing alternative thoughts and behaviors; this helps with persistent worry and panic by encouraging small behavioral experiments. Another typical element is skills-based work that teaches breathing, grounding, and brief behavioral strategies to manage acute anxiety and panic symptoms.Finding the right approach is part of the process. Summer will work collaboratively with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and day-to-day life, and she adjusts plans as progress is made or needs change.
Confirm current session formats before booking, as the biography does not list specific online options. Online sessions can help fit therapy into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and make it easier to attend shorter check-ins during a break. They can also allow focus on skills practice in the settings where anxiety happens, while still keeping sessions structured and goal oriented.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
18+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, family conflict, parenting issues, trauma and abuse, and depression, and also addresses concerns like communication problems, control issues, panic attacks, and social anxiety and phobia.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is direct and practical, focusing on identifying current patterns and testing small changes that reduce distress and improve daily functioning.
How much experience does she have?
She has 18 years of professional experience working with adults on anxiety, trauma, family concerns, and related issues.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a California licensed marriage and family therapist, listed as LMFT, and practices in California.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
She is not accepting international clients at this time.
How are session fees handled?
Fees vary by location and the practice uses a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Begin by selecting the See online therapy options button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling a first session.