Colleen Overholt, LMFT - Therapist in California

Warm and supportive
Practical coping skills
Strengths focused

About Colleen

Colleen Overholt is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with extensive experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, grief, trauma, and major life changes. She works with clients on depression, self-esteem, parenting challenges, sleeping problems, and ADHD. Colleen emphasizes listening first and tailoring sessions to each person’s needs.

Colleen draws on 26 years of clinical experience in community programs, schools, clinics, and private practice. She frames therapy around the relationship with the client and uses practical tools to address everyday struggles. Cognitive techniques and mindfulness practices are common parts of her work when they fit a client's goals.

Her style is warm and supportive while also providing structure when needed. She encourages clients to speak up about what they want from therapy and helps set clear steps toward those goals. Sessions often focus on spotting unhelpful thinking, building coping skills, and identifying personal strengths that can be expanded.

Colleen has held roles as a psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and program manager, which inform her ability to guide people through complex problems. She also draws on psychodynamic ideas to understand patterns that repeat over time.

People seeking help after natural or human-caused disasters will find her experienced in crisis-related stress and coping. She aims to help clients regain stability and make thoughtful next steps after disruptive events.

How Colleen’s approaches translate to online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and following the client's lead. It helps people feel heard and clarifies what they want from therapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts and behavior patterns and teaches practical steps to change unhelpful thinking and routines. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and improve focus.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Colleen will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their needs, goals, and preferences. She adjusts techniques over time based on what proves most useful in sessions.

The original biography does not list specific online session formats, so please confirm current options before booking. In general, online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life - for example, quieter surroundings can help concentration, video calls allow face-to-face conversation without travel, and shorter check-ins can fit a work break. Licensed professionals can use these approaches effectively by adapting exercises, homework, and mindfulness practices to the online setting.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuse Grief Self esteem Depression

Also works with

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changes Compassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesCaregiver issues and stress Chronic pain, illness, and disability Communication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameImpulsivityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / loneliness Life purposeMidlife crisisMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Social anxiety and phobiaSomatizationTrichotillomaniaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

26+ years

Credentials

California

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Colleen commonly address?

She helps with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem, parenting, sleeping problems, ADHD, bipolar concerns, and coping with life changes including disaster-related stress.

What is her therapeutic style like?

Her approach is empathetic and client-centered. She offers structure and guidance while encouraging clients to voice their goals and preferences.

How much clinical experience does she have?

Colleen has 26 years of experience working as a psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and program manager across community and clinical settings.

What credentials and location are listed for this therapist?

She is licensed as an LMFT in California.

Which languages and international options are available?

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

What session formats are offered?

The original biography does not specify session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking.

How does payment or cost work?

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

How do I begin working with Colleen?

Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.