- Stress and anxiety
- Relationship problems
- Text messaging therapy
About Stacy
Dr. Stacy Johnston is a California psychologist with 32 years of professional experience. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, family problems, low self-esteem, and depression. Her practice also focuses on abandonment, attachment difficulties, codependency, communication problems, control issues, and the fallout from separation or infidelity.
She works from a view that clients are the experts on their own stories and already carry strengths that can be used to handle hard situations. Sessions are conversational and practical. She listens for values and patterns, then helps people try small changes that feel manageable.
Her approach draws on Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Solution-Focused Therapy. That means discussions about how thought patterns affect mood, brief goal-focused steps, and attention to the client’s experience in the moment. Techniques are adapted to what a person finds useful rather than following a single script.
Dr. Johnston has used asynchronous text messaging with clients and prefers it for its flexibility and ongoing contact. She describes that format as allowing multiple short exchanges in a day and responses within about 12 hours when possible. She notes it can be easier for some people to write about difficult topics rather than speak them aloud.
People interested in exploring what comes next are invited to review the online therapy options and complete the short matching questionnaire before scheduling a first session.
How therapeutic approaches shape online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and responding to the person’s experience. The therapist reflects what is said and follows the client’s concerns to build understanding and practical next steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts and behaviors influence mood and offers exercises to test and change unhelpful patterns. Solution-Focused Therapy emphasizes concrete goals and short-term steps that move a person toward a clearer direction.Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss what feels most helpful and adapt techniques based on the client’s goals, preferences, and what emerges in sessions. This is collaborative rather than prescriptive, with adjustments made over time as needed.
The biography states a preference for asynchronous text messaging and describes benefits such as flexibility, quicker exchanges across the day, and the ability to refer back to prior messages. If that format appeals, ask about response timing and how multiple exchanges are managed. If you are unsure which format will fit your schedule and needs, confirm the current session options before booking so you can match therapy to everyday life and obligations.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
32+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship strain, family problems, low self-esteem, and depression, along with related issues such as attachment, codependency, and infidelity.
How would she approach someone feeling stuck or directionless?
Her style is conversational and practical, using Client-Centered, CBT, and Solution-Focused ideas to identify patterns and try small, manageable changes.
How much professional experience does she have?
She has 32 years of professional work experience as a psychologist in California.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is a CA Psychologist, license number 17457, and practices in California.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients.
What session formats does she use?
Her biography notes she provides asynchronous text messaging therapy and prefers that format; confirm current session options before booking.
How is payment handled and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin working together?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.