Christian Maciel, LMFT
Narrative-informed therapist focused on practical change
Details
| Name | Christian Maciel |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LMFT |
| Based in | California |
| Licensed in | California |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English, Spanish |
| Years in practice | 25 |
About Christian
Christian Maciel is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 25 years of experience. He works with people facing anxiety, depression, stress, relationship strain, and the fallout from trauma and abuse. Christian speaks English and Spanish and meets with clients from California who are looking for steady, practical support.
He uses Narrative Therapy to help people tell and reframe the stories they carry about themselves and their relationships. That approach sits alongside methods from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and attachment-focused work.
Background and approach
Sessions are conversational and aim to make difficult emotions easier to name and handle. Christian draws on a mix of practical tools and listening skills. He helps people notice unhelpful patterns and try small, doable changes.
For someone coping with chronic pain, caregiving strain, or low self-esteem, he breaks problems into parts you can work on together. Many clients bring concerns about communication, abandonment wounds, codependency, or the pain of separation. Christian pays attention to how past relationships shape present choices and offers straightforward strategies for change.
He also addresses guilt, shame, body image, and control issues without judgment. Sessions balance acceptance and action. Christian often helps people clarify values, practice new reactions, and test different stories about themselves.
His goal is to make therapy usable in everyday life and to help clients move toward clearer thinking and steadier functioning.
What this therapist works with
His listing names Stress, Anxiety, Relationship issues, Trauma and abuse among the things Christian works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Abandonment
- Attachment issues
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Emptiness
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Narcissism
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in his listing among his approaches.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Listed by Christian among the ways he works.
- Attachment-Based Therapy: Listed by Christian among the ways he works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Christian among the ways he works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Christian among the ways he works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Christian among the ways he works.
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT): Listed by Christian among the ways he works.
- Existential Therapy: Listed by Christian among the ways he works.
- Gottman Method: Listed by Christian among the ways he works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Christian among the ways he works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Christian among the ways he works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Christian among the ways he works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Christian among the ways he works.
- Systemic Therapy: Listed by Christian among the ways he works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Christian directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how he works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Christian directly how he uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How Narrative and Acceptance-Based Work Translate to Online Therapy
Christian often uses Narrative Therapy to help people separate themselves from their problems and retell stuck parts of their life story. That approach helps when relationship patterns, shame, or feelings of emptiness feel like an unchanging truth. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, complements narrative work by helping people name their values and take small actions even when emotions are strong. ACT is useful for anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and caregivers who feel overwhelmed.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Christian treats therapy as a collaboration and will talk with the client about which methods fit best. He adjusts pacing and techniques to the client’s goals, preferences, and day-to-day realities so the process feels manageable and relevant.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video sessions let the therapist and client see nonverbal cues and practice new ways of relating. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging allow brief check-ins, reflective exercises, or supportive prompts between longer sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and keep momentum between meetings.
Common questions about this listing
What kinds of concerns does this therapist address?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, trauma and abuse, and self-esteem issues. Additional areas include attachment wounds, codependency, chronic illness or pain, and body image.
How would you describe his therapeutic style?
Sessions emphasize Narrative Therapy combined with practical tools from ACT and CBT. The style is conversational, focused on helping people name patterns and try small changes.
What experience informs his work?
Christian brings 25 years of clinical experience to his practice, working with a wide range of emotional and relational concerns.
What credentials and location apply to this therapist?
He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT, practicing in California.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish. International clients are not currently accepted.
What formats are available for meeting online?
Christian offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different needs and schedules.
How does billing and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Christian are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Christian where he has space. Ask about fees, and whether he holds a licence or registration where you live.
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