Sheet 1
- LGBT concerns
- Trauma and abuse
- Relationship stress
About Arlene
LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) in California with 40 years of professional experience. Arlene Drake works with people facing LGBT concerns, family issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy problems, stress, anxiety, relationship and career challenges. She centers the work on each person's story and strengths.
Arlene starts by listening to what matters most to the person sitting across from her. She treats clients as the experts on their lives and helps them find practical ways to manage difficult feelings and choices. Sessions focus on clarifying goals, noticing patterns, and testing small changes between meetings.
Her practice addresses a wide range of situations, including abandonment, attachment issues, adoption and foster care histories, and post-traumatic stress. She also works with concerns such as body image, codependency, infidelity, and the stress of life transitions. The emphasis is on straightforward problem solving and rebuilding relationships when they have been strained.
Arlene frames difficult experiences in everyday terms. She helps people sort through guilt, shame, prejudice and discrimination, and questions about life purpose. Conversations are aimed at helping clients make decisions, reduce distress, and practice different ways of relating to others.
People meet her to work on concrete tasks as well as longer-term patterns. With decades of practice, she brings a steady presence and a focus on what can be changed now. Before booking, confirm the current session formats she offers.
Sheet 2
Therapeutic approaches and how online work can fit in
Arlene describes her practice as using evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on strengths and problem solving. One common approach used in such work is trauma-informed care, which helps people process painful experiences and reduce the impact of traumatic memories on daily life. It is useful for post-traumatic stress, abuse recovery, and long-standing trauma responses.Another relevant method is attachment-focused work that looks at patterns in close relationships. This helps people understand recurring relationship behaviors, address abandonment or commitment concerns, and practice new ways of relating. Both approaches emphasize practical skills and concrete changes rather than abstract theory.
Choosing the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will collaborate with the client to decide which techniques fit their goals and preferences. That conversation often happens in the first few sessions and can be adjusted over time based on what helps most.
Confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not specified in the biography. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It can also let people meet without needing to be on camera for every session or use less bandwidth when that helps. Ask about the specific session formats offered when you complete the matching questionnaire.
Sheet 3
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Experience
40+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Sheet 4
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with LGBT issues, family conflict, trauma and abuse, intimacy problems, stress, anxiety, relationship and career concerns. Additional focuses include abandonment, adoption and foster care, and post-traumatic stress.
What is her therapeutic style?
Her approach treats the client as the expert on their story and builds on existing strengths. Sessions focus on clarifying goals, noticing patterns, and trying practical changes between meetings.
How much experience does she have?
She has 40 years of professional work experience as a therapist. That background informs a practice oriented toward steady, practical problem solving.
What credential and location should I note?
She is an LMFT, licensed in California. Her practice is based in California.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
How are sessions billed?
Cost varies by location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Specific rates are provided during the sign-up process.
What are the steps to begin?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session to get started.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the urgent help numbers.