Brenda Wicks, LMFT

California · 23 years in practice

Brenda Wicks is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) based in California.

License and registration

LMFT, California: 51256 · expires August 2027
NPI: 1720118995 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 23
Languages: English

Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the license with the issuing state board, and the NPI with the national registry.

About Brenda

Brenda Wicks is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) based in California. She supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addiction, relationship and intimacy concerns, and career or parenting challenges. She also helps with ADHD, trauma and abuse, compassion fatigue, and issues around self-esteem and attachment.

Her approach is warm and interactive. Sessions are guided by what each person brings in that day. She listens without judgment and focuses on practical steps people can try between sessions.

Background and approach

The aim is to help people feel steadier and more able to cope with daily demands. Brenda blends several methods to match a person’s needs. She uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy to look at feelings and connection, client-centered work to follow the person’s lead, and cognitive behavioral strategies to address unhelpful thinking and behavior.

She also draws on dialectical behavior therapy and mindfulness for emotional regulation and stress management. With 23 years of experience, she has worked in a range of mental health settings. That background informs a flexible style that adapts to different concerns and life stages.

Brenda frames therapy as a collaborative process, not a one-size-fits-all prescription. People who choose her can expect straightforward talk, practical tools, and focus on what matters most to them. She encourages small changes that add up over time and supports clients as they try new ways of coping.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Brenda lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Stress, Anxiety
Family conflicts
Grief
Career difficulties
Depression
Addictions
LGBT
Relationship issues
Trauma and abuse
Intimacy-related issues
Parenting issues
Anger management
Self esteem
Bipolar disorder
Coping with life changes
Coaching
Compassion fatigue
ADHD
Abandonment
Attachment issues
Avoidant personality
Blended family issues
Body image
Caregiver issues and stress
Codependency
Commitment issues
Communication problems
Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
Dependent personality
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
Drug and alcohol addiction
Family problems
Forgiveness
Gender dysphoria
Guilt and shame
Impulsivity
Isolation / loneliness
Life purpose
Mood disorders
Multicultural concerns
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Post-traumatic stress
Prejudice and discrimination
Self-harm
Self-love
Sexual assault and abuse
Social anxiety and phobia
Women's issues
Workplace issues
Young adult issues

Approaches Brenda names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.

Online support

How her approaches translate to online care

Brenda uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy to help people notice and name strong feelings and how those feelings affect relationships. That approach can be useful for people working through loss, attachment wounds, or repeated relationship patterns. She also uses client-centered therapy, which means sessions follow the person’s pace and priorities, and cognitive behavioral therapy to identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors.

Finding the right fit is part of the work. She will discuss goals, preferences, and what feels most useful, and then shape the approach together. That collaborative process helps pick techniques that match what a person wants to change and how they prefer to work.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to make care more flexible. Video lets the therapist and client read facial cues and body language, phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier when movement or audio-only check-ins are preferred, while live chat and text messaging support brief check-ins and ongoing contact between sessions. These options help people fit therapy into work, caregiving, or school schedules and make it easier to keep consistent appointments.

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Questions people ask

What kinds of problems does Brenda help with?

She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addiction, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting and career concerns, and related challenges like ADHD and compassion fatigue.

What is her therapeutic style like?

Her style is warm, supportive, and interactive. Sessions focus on listening first, then trying practical steps tailored to the person’s needs.

How much experience does she have?

Brenda has 23 years of experience working in a variety of mental health settings and with many presenting concerns.

What credentials and location are on record?

She is a licensed marriage and family therapist, LMFT, licensed in California.

Which languages are offered in sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available online?

She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging for remote work.

How are fees and billing handled?

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

How do I begin if I want to work together?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions based on the therapist’s availability.

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