Jessica Criner

Compassionate, practical therapy for relationship and trauma concerns

LMFT California

Experience: 7 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Jessica

Jessica Criner draws on cognitive behavioral therapy as a core part of her work while integrating emotion-focused and attachment-informed ideas to address stress, relationship strain, family conflict, trauma, and self-esteem concerns.

Background and approach

As a licensed marriage and family therapist with seven years of clinical experience, she emphasizes collaboration and practical tools to help clients manage anxiety, process traumatic experiences, and rebuild trust and connection in relationships.

She frames therapy around clients' strengths and resilience, helping people identify patterns that contribute to guilt, shame, codependency, or commitment anxieties and then testing new ways of responding. Jessica brings experience addressing complex family dynamics including blended family challenges, immigration-related stress, hospice and end-of-life concerns, and the aftermath of domestic violence or infidelity.

Her approach balances symptom-focused strategies with deeper work on attachment wounds and multicultural considerations to support emotional healing and improved functioning. Jessica practices in California as an LMFT (CA LMFT 140356) and conducts sessions in English.

She guides clients through measurable, collaborative steps toward clearer values, healthier relationships, and greater emotional regulation while respecting each person's story and cultural context.

Online approaches that combine skills and attachment work

Jessica uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors through practical exercises and skill-building, which is useful for anxiety, stress, and mood difficulties. She also draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to support values-based action and mindful acceptance of difficult emotions, helping people pursue meaningful goals even when distressing feelings arise. Attachment-Based Therapy informs her work on relationship patterns and early relational wounds, focusing on repairing connection and improving emotional bonds.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. She works with clients to explore which methods fit their goals and preferences, adjusting strategies over time as progress and needs become clearer. This collaborative stance helps tailor work to issues such as family conflict, trauma recovery, or intimacy concerns.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, allowing clients to access care from home or other locations in California. These formats can make scheduling easier and support consistent attendance, while still allowing for skills practice, check-ins, and relational work with a licensed professional.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of difficulties does she help with?

She works with stress, anxiety, relationship and family problems, trauma and abuse, and self-esteem concerns, as well as related issues like abandonment, codependency, infidelity, and postpartum depression.

What is her general therapeutic style?

Her style blends cognitive behavioral methods with attachment-informed and emotion-focused techniques to combine practical coping skills with exploration of relational patterns and underlying wounds.

How long has she been practicing clinically?

She has seven years of clinical experience working with adults on a range of relational and trauma-related concerns.

Where is she licensed and based?

She is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California, listed as CA LMFT 140356, and maintains a practice in that state.

Does she offer therapy in languages other than English or accept international clients?

Sessions are offered in English only, and she is not currently accepting international clients.

Which session formats are available with her?

Clients may work with her via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on availability and preference.

How are fees and payment handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin therapy?

To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to her availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuse Self esteem

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAttachment issuesBlended family issuesCodependencyCommitment issuesDomestic violenceFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesImpulsivityInfidelityMulticultural concernsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Self-harmSexual assault and abuseYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Solution-Focused TherapySomatic Therapy

Experience

7+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English