Megan Hougardy

Compassionate therapist guiding practical change

LMFT California

Experience: 9 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Megan

Megan Hougardy is a California-licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with nine years of clinical experience supporting people through stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and major life transitions.

Background and approach

She blends evidence-informed strategies with a warm, client-centered stance to help clients address concerns such as self-esteem struggles, career challenges, relationship strain, sleeping difficulties, and compassion fatigue. Her work also addresses attachment and abandonment issues, codependency, family of origin problems, chronic illness and pain, and feelings of emptiness or isolation.

In sessions she prioritizes creating an open, nonjudgmental space where thoughts and feelings can be explored collaboratively. Megan pairs practical skills from cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness with acceptance-based methods to help clients build coping tools and make values-driven changes.

She also integrates hypnotherapy and motivational interviewing techniques when appropriate to enhance motivation and self-awareness. Clients who are ready to reflect on patterns and try concrete strategies for change may find her approach straightforward and supportive.

Approaches for online growth and coping

Megan commonly draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy when working online. CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors, offering concrete skills for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and stress management. ACT emphasizes accepting difficult thoughts and feelings while clarifying personal values and committing to actions that support a meaningful life, which can be helpful for grief, compassion fatigue, and life transitions.

Finding the right approach is treated as a collaborative process. She works with clients to consider which methods match their goals, preferences, and day-to-day circumstances, adjusting techniques over time so treatment remains practical and relevant.

Online sessions are offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility and accessibility. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life changes, and practice skills between sessions with the therapist's ongoing guidance.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does she address?

Megan works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship strain, low self-esteem, sleep problems, career difficulties, and compassion fatigue, among other related concerns.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Her style is warm and client-centered, combining practical skills training with acceptance and mindfulness elements to help people explore emotions and try new coping strategies.

What is her professional background?

She brings nine years of clinical experience supporting clients through life changes, chronic illness and pain, attachment and family issues, and related challenges.

Where is she licensed and based?

She is a licensed marriage and family therapist practicing in California and holds the credential CA LMFT 112226.

Does she work with clients in other languages or internationally?

Sessions are offered in English, and she is not accepting international clients at this time.

What session formats are available?

Clients can meet via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on what fits their needs.

How are fees and subscriptions handled?

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

What steps are involved in beginning therapy?

To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesSelf esteem Coping with life changes

Also works with

Family conflictsGriefSleeping disordersCareer difficultiesDepression Compassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAttachment issuesChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommunication problemsCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shame Isolation / lonelinessLife purposeSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)HypnotherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

9+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English