Dr. Gail Masterson , LMFT

Dr. Gail Masterson brings 28 years of clinical experience to her psychotherapeutic work, combining formal training with a career spent helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life transitions and emotional challenges. She holds a BA in Humanities, an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy, and a PhD in Psychology, and is licensed in California as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).

Her practice blends short-term, solution-oriented work with the option for deeper, longer-term exploration. Early in her career she gained extensive teletherapy experience while working with David Viscott, MD, at the Viscott Center for Natural Therapy, where brief, focused interventions were offered to callers nationwide. Alongside that work she pursued extended, in-depth psychotherapy as part of her training and ongoing professional development, making her comfortable with both brief and longer-term approaches.

Dr. Masterson helps people who are coping with stress, anxiety, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, parenting and family issues, career and life-purpose questions, and challenges related to aging, caregiving, and end-of-life matters. She also works with concerns such as ADHD, compassion fatigue, depression, and adjustment to major life changes. Her method trusts that clients often know what they need and benefits from thoughtful coaching, reflective questioning, and collaborative planning.

She offers a supportive, listening presence and partners with clients to clarify goals and identify practical steps forward. Dr. Masterson is not accepting new clients at this time.

Approaches for Online Therapy and How They Support Change

Dr. Masterson draws on client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and existential therapy to guide online work in ways that fit each person's needs. Client-centered therapy focuses on empathic listening and collaboration, helping clients feel heard and supported while they explore personal goals and decisions. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) targets the thoughts and behaviors that maintain distress, offering practical tools to reduce anxiety, depression, and unhelpful patterns. Existential therapy invites exploration of meaning, values, and life choices, which can be especially useful for people facing major transitions, grief, or questions about purpose.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Dr. Masterson works collaboratively with clients to identify what fits best given their goals, preferences, and life circumstances. She blends coaching, questioning, and reflective work so therapy becomes a joint effort to clarify direction and take achievable steps forward.

Online therapy with licensed professionals offers flexibility and accessibility, since sessions can occur by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to receive consistent care around work, family, or mobility constraints and to continue progress even when life is busy or unpredictable.