- Calm practical support
- Focus on strengths
- Clear actionable steps
About Arlene
Arlene Drake is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California with 40 years of clinical experience. She helps people facing anxiety, stress, relationship strain, life transitions, trauma, and intimacy-related concerns. Her work also includes support for LGBT issues, career questions, and challenges tied to codependency and family patterns.
Arlene approaches therapy as a collaborative process. She treats the person, not just the problem, and starts by listening to each person’s story. Sessions focus on building on strengths, naming what gets in the way, and trying practical ways to change daily patterns. She uses clear, straightforward language and keeps the work focused and goal-oriented.
Her background spans four decades of practice in California. That experience includes work with people who have faced abuse or post-traumatic stress and those navigating adoption, abandonment, infidelity, or divorce. She also supports people dealing with body image, aging concerns, and prejudice or discrimination.
People can expect a calm, respectful presence and encouragement to try new ways of relating to themselves and others. Arlene emphasizes small, manageable steps so change feels doable. She aims to empower people to make choices that fit their values and life goals.
If you want a straightforward, steady therapist who listens first and helps you plan next steps, Arlene offers that grounded approach. To begin, follow the site’s intake process and choose a time that fits your schedule.
Approaches that guide online therapy
Arlene uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques to guide her work and help people move forward. One common approach she uses focuses on identifying unhelpful patterns in relationships and behaviors, then testing small changes to see what works better in daily life. This approach helps with codependency, intimacy problems, and relationship stress.Another approach concentrates on processing difficult experiences related to trauma and abuse. It helps people make sense of past events and reduce their impact on current choices and emotions. This work often includes building safety, pacing difficult topics, and strengthening skills for coping with triggers.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their needs, goals, and comfort level. Plans are adjusted as progress and preferences become clearer.
Confirm what session formats are offered before booking, since format details are not listed here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life by removing travel time, allowing check-ins during a work break, or offering a shorter session when that best meets immediate needs. Licensed professionals can help tailor session length and pacing so therapy fits practical daily demands.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Experience
40+ years
Credentials
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She helps people dealing with anxiety, stress, relationship and intimacy issues, trauma, and life changes. Her work also includes LGBT concerns, career questions, and codependency.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is collaborative and down-to-earth. She listens first, highlights strengths, and suggests practical steps people can try between sessions.
How much experience does she have?
She brings 40 years of professional experience in clinical work. That background includes helping people with abuse, post-traumatic stress, and relationship challenges.
What credentials and region are listed?
She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT, licensed in California. Her practice and professional background are based in California.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the U.S. work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are costs and billing handled?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Exact pricing is provided during the intake process.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to the therapist's availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.