Cori Johnson

I'm Cori, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) offering telehealth therapy to adolescents and adults throughout California. My clinical path is a little different from most LMFTs: I built my foundation in crisis stabilization centers, residential recovery programs, and mobile community care — environments where the stakes were high and the work was real. Before becoming a therapist, I worked as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), which gives me the ability to combine structured, data-informed behavioral strategies with the kind of deep psychological work that creates lasting change. It's a combination that shows up especially in my work with neurodiverse clients, families, and adults navigating recovery.

I specialize in co-occurring disorders (trauma + substance use), dual diagnosis, autism and neurodiversity, PTSD, eating disorders, and family and adolescent mental health. I'm also trained in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) — a specialized, evidence-based model for families with young children experiencing behavioral challenges and attachment difficulties. As an Asian and Pacific Islander therapist, I bring both clinical expertise and genuine cultural understanding to every session.

I work from a trauma-informed, systemic lens — which means I understand that what you're carrying didn't appear out of nowhere. Your history, your relationships, your cultural context, and the systems you move through every day all shape what you're struggling with. I hold all of that with care, and I don't expect you to check those parts of yourself at the door.

My approach is integrative and tailored to you. I draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Seeking Safety, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy — and for families with young children, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). I don't pick one model and apply it to everyone; I use what actually fits your situation and your goals.

My style is warm and direct. I'm an active partner in the work — not a passive mirror. Clients often tell me they appreciate that I help them actually move, not just reflect. I take dual diagnosis and co-occurring presentations seriously and bring genuine clinical depth to that work.

Our first session is a real conversation, not a checklist. I'll ask what's been going on, what brought you here right now, and what's feeling most urgent. There's no script, no performance required — just an honest dialogue so we can start figuring out together whether we're a good fit and what the right path forward looks like.

My goal for that first hour is simple: I want you to leave feeling genuinely heard — maybe for the first time in a long while. We'll map what's weighing on you, what's worked before, and what hasn't. By the end, you'll have a clear sense of how I work and what our sessions could look like together. If it feels right, we'll schedule from there. No pressure, no commitment required in session one.