Rev. Phillip Deming, LMFT

Rev. Phillip Deming is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California with 25 years of clinical experience. She focuses on practical, down-to-earth help for stress, anxiety, grief, depression, addictions, and relationship struggles. She also supports people facing sexual dysfunction concerns as part of broader relationship and intimacy work.

She uses straightforward conversation to uncover what matters most to each person. Sessions are collaborative and respectful of personal beliefs, including clients who wish to include spiritual supports. She aims to create a calm space where thoughts and feelings can be said aloud without judgment.

Her background includes long experience helping people cope with chronic illness, caregiving strain, and the emotional impacts of cancer. She also addresses family-of-origin issues, blended family challenges, and communication problems that keep relationships stuck.

Rev. Deming draws on several therapeutic approaches to match each person's needs. She uses client-centered listening to understand values and goals, cognitive behavioral tools to change unhelpful thinking and habits, and mindfulness skills to reduce anxiety and improve focus. Narrative work helps people reframe painful life stories into chapters they can move past.

She welcomes discussion of faith and spirituality when clients want that included, without directing anyone toward particular beliefs. For people who have served in the military, she brings experience supporting service members and their families through transition and trauma.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and understanding a person's values and goals. Online sessions using this approach let the therapist follow the client's lead, clarify concerns, and build a plan that fits daily life.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, uses simple exercises to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. When offered online, CBT often includes brief between-session practice and focused check-ins to track progress on specific issues like anxiety or sleep problems.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, teaches skills for managing intense emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness. Delivered in a cooperative format, DBT skills work can help people handle strong feelings and reduce impulsive behaviors.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and symptom patterns and then recommend approaches that fit. Decisions are made collaboratively and can be adjusted as needs change.

The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises and homework to work well across different session arrangements.