Mara Bruckner , LMFT

Mara Bruckner is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in Southern California with more than 22 years of clinical experience. She has worked across private practice and county and state funded agencies, providing behavior-focused services to young children, teens, and adults on the autistic spectrum and offering support for a wide range of emotional and relational concerns.

Her early work included interventions such as play therapy, applied behavior analysis (ABA), social skills groups, and parent guidance, and in private practice she has developed substantial experience with teens and adults who have Asperger's or high-functioning autism. She also treats adolescents and adults presenting with anxiety, depression, and other challenges common in developmental transitions, as well as adults across the lifespan.

Mara is certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, a structured, evidence-informed approach used to address depression, anxiety, phobias, OCD, and relationship problems. Her counseling style is warm and interactive, often incorporating appropriate humor to ease the weight of difficult topics. She tailors treatment to each individual, drawing on cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic, solution-focused, and client-centered methods and emphasizing a collaborative process that invites active participation from those she works with.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Options with Mara Bruckner

Mara Bruckner employs Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and shift unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns; CBT is often used for depression, anxiety, phobias, OCD, and relationship concerns. She also uses client-centered therapy, which focuses on building a supportive, nonjudgmental relationship so clients can explore their values and goals at their own pace. Psychodynamic therapy is another approach she integrates when helpful - it explores patterns rooted in past relationships and emotions to increase self-understanding and change long-standing dynamics.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Mara works collaboratively with clients and licensed professionals to tailor methods to each person’s needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting techniques as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility: sessions can occur by video call or phone, and shorter exchanges are possible through live chat or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, maintain continuity of care during life changes, and access support from different locations while working with experienced therapists.