PuttingFamilyFirst

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MH Portrait of Megan Hougardy
Online therapist

Megan Hougardy

Calm, practical support for everyday stress

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Credentials
LMFT
Experience
9 years
Licensed in
California
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Megan

Megan Hougardy is a licensed marriage and family therapist who draws on nine years of practice to support people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and life transitions. She practices in California and focuses on straightforward, usable help. Megan aims to make the first step into therapy feel easier and more manageable.

She keeps sessions grounded and collaborative. Conversations are simple and focused on real problems like sleep troubles, career strain, low self-esteem, and compassion fatigue.

Background and approach

Megan listens without judgment and helps clients name what matters to them right now. Megan uses practical tools from cognitive behavioral work and acceptance-based approaches. She teaches small, repeatable skills clients can use between sessions to reduce anxiety and manage mood.

Mindfulness and client-centered techniques add space to notice thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them. Hypnotherapy is also part of her toolkit for people who are curious about guided relaxation and mental rehearsal. Treatment plans are tailored to each person and the concerns they brought, such as relationship or family stress, seasonal mood shifts, or chronic illness adjustment.

Megan describes progress as steady and collaborative. She helps people set modest goals and track what changes are actually helping. Her practical, empathetic style suits those who want direct support for everyday parenting and family-related pressures.

Therapeutic approaches explained for online care

Megan commonly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her online work. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It is often used for anxiety, stress, and life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying thinking patterns that make feelings worse and testing small behavior changes to feel better over time.

She also incorporates client-centered techniques that prioritize listening and building a trusting conversation. Finding the right approach is part of the work together - the therapist will discuss options and help choose methods that match each person’s needs, goals, and comfort level in a collaborative way.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy family schedules and to keep momentum between meetings. The different formats allow people to pick what feels most practical and helpful for their situation.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Less about arguing with difficult thoughts, more about loosening their grip and acting on what matters to you anyway. Values and committed action carry the work, which suits conversation at a distance.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she address?
Megan helps with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, sleep problems, career difficulties, and compassion fatigue, along with family-related issues and self-esteem concerns.
How would you describe her approach in session?
She blends client-centered listening with practical methods like cognitive behavioral work and acceptance-based techniques to create short, usable actions clients can try between sessions.
What is her background and experience?
She is a licensed marriage and family therapist with nine years of professional experience working with stress, mood concerns, grief, and life transitions.
Where is she licensed and practicing?
She holds a California license as an LMFT, CA LMFT 112226, and provides services while based in California.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Therapy is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different schedules and preferences.
How does billing work and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with therapy?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing the short matching questionnaire, and scheduling a session according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
9 years
Licensed
California
Languages
English

Next step

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