David Bonfanti, LMFT

David Bonfanti is a licensed marriage and family therapist with two decades of clinical experience. He offers calm, direct guidance for people coping with anxiety, depression, relationship strain, addictions, grief, parenting pressures, ADHD, and other life disruptions. His style is practical and straightforward, helping people notice what reactions keep them stuck and learn new ways to respond.

David works from approaches that include cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and attachment-based ideas. He explains emotions and behaviors in plain language and focuses on small, doable changes that fit into busy lives. Sessions are aimed at building skills that make daily challenges easier to manage.

Clients can expect conversations that balance reflection with concrete tools. He often uses motivational interviewing to support change and narrative therapy to help people reframe difficult stories. The aim is to create clearer choices and reduce unhelpful patterns over time.

With 20 years as an LMFT in California, David has experience across many concerns including trauma, intimacy issues, sleep and eating problems, and career stress. He also works with people facing aging or end-of-life issues, immigration and multicultural concerns, PTSD-related problems, and relationship non-monogamy questions.

Sessions are available in English and offered online by video, phone, live chat, or text messaging. The therapist notes that starting therapy can feel hard at first, but believes steady practice leads to stronger coping and a better sense of direction.

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online

David commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy to help people change unhelpful reactions and live by their values. CBT focuses on identifying thought and behavior patterns that keep problems going and practicing small changes to see different outcomes. Acceptance and commitment therapy helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings while taking committed action toward what matters to them.

Attachment-based ideas are also part of the work, which looks at how early relationship patterns shape current reactions and closeness. Together these approaches help with anxiety, depression, relationship strain, grief, and coping with life changes. The therapist treats therapeutic direction as a collaboration and will help clients decide which approach fits best based on their goals and preferences.

Online sessions are available by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging for flexibility. Video is useful for in-depth conversation and practicing new behaviors with visual cues. Phone sessions require less bandwidth and can be easier during a busy day. Live chat or text messaging supports brief check-ins, homework prompts, and ongoing encouragement between sessions.