Narrative Therapy Directory

A listing of therapists who include Narrative Therapy among their approaches

Eva Smith-Smejkal, LMFT

California | Online sessions in California | English  |  Book with Eva »

Practical support for relationship and family stress

Details

NameEva Smith-Smejkal
CredentialsLMFT
Based inCalifornia
Licensed inCalifornia
Session formatOnline
LanguagesEnglish
Years in practice20

About Eva

Eva Smith-Smejkal is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 20 years of clinical experience. She focuses on helping people handle relationship strain, family conflict, parenting stress, anger, and major life changes. Eva speaks plainly and works to make sessions feel understandable and practical for busy parents.

Her approach starts with listening to each person's story and noticing the patterns that cause pain. She draws on Narrative Therapy to help people reframe difficult stories.

Background and approach

She also uses Client-Centered methods to follow the client's lead and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior. Eva often helps clients build better communication and manage strong emotions. She offers tools for calmer responses, clearer boundaries, and steadier routines during transitions like separation or caregiving shifts.

Many sessions focus on concrete steps that can be tried between meetings. She has worked with people facing blended family challenges, caregiving stress, attachment questions, infidelity, and fatherhood issues. Her work also addresses divorce and separation, codependency, guilt, and feelings of emptiness.

The aim is to strengthen day-to-day functioning and relationships rather than label or diagnose. Sessions are practical and collaborative. Eva explains options, tests what helps, and adjusts the plan as life changes.

She practices in California as an LMFT and offers services in English.

What this therapist works with

Her listing names Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Parenting issues among the things Eva works with, alongside the areas below.

Approaches listed

Narrative Therapy in this listing

Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she 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 Eva directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.

Online session options

How narrative and practical therapies work online

Eva blends Narrative Therapy and Client-Centered approaches with CBT to help people change the stories that shape their relationships. Narrative Therapy focuses on the stories people tell about themselves and their relationships and helps identify alternate storylines that reduce blame and increase choice. Client-Centered methods mean the therapist follows the client's lead, helping people set the pace and pick the issues to address. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) offers practical tools to spot unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors to improve everyday functioning.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Eva discusses options with each person and chooses methods together based on needs, goals, and what feels manageable. That collaborative decision-making continues as progress is reviewed and techniques are adjusted over time.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which make therapy easier to fit into busy lives. Video calls let people read facial cues and practice conversations. Phone sessions can be a good option when internet bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messaging support brief check-ins, ongoing problem-solving, and follow-up between meetings. These options offer flexibility so therapy can happen around work, caregiving, or other daily demands.

Common questions about this listing

What concerns does Eva commonly address?

She helps people struggling with relationship problems, family tension, parenting stress, anger, and coping with major life changes. Additional areas include caregiving stress, blended family issues, infidelity, and communication problems.

What is her therapy style like?

Her style is collaborative and practical. She listens to personal stories, then works with clients to try small, real-world changes that can improve day-to-day life.

How much experience does she have?

Eva has 20 years of clinical experience providing therapy for relationship and family concerns. That background guides her work with communication and life transitions.

What credentials and region apply to this therapist?

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

Which languages are supported for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available?

Therapy can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different schedules and preferences.

How is cost handled for sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability and uses a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Contacting this therapist

Sessions with Eva 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 Eva where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.

Book with Eva »

Or see other therapists in California »

This is a partner link. We will earn a commission if you sign up through it, at no cost to you. It does not change what you pay or the order of the listings.

Other listings in California