John Alilovich, LMFT

John Alilovich is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in California with 40 years of experience. He began his career working in the county mental health department and later opened a private practice. John has long focused on relationship and substance concerns, parenting issues, and a wide range of emotional challenges.

Over four decades he has supported people dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma and abuse, and challenges around intimacy. He also works with clients facing grief, stress, compassion fatigue, addiction, and life transitions. John has experience with concerns tied to family of origin, adoption and foster care, and blended family dynamics.

His approach is warm and personal. He listens to learn how each person understands their life and goals. Together he and the client set practical aims and try approaches that fit the person rather than forcing a single method.

John often draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) along with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Attachment-Based ideas. He also uses client-centered principles and skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy when they match a person’s needs. He explains options plainly and helps clients choose what feels most useful.

Sessions are intended to be collaborative and paced to the client. John emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and steady problem-solving. He aims to help people find clearer coping steps, improved relationships, and a stronger sense of purpose.

How his approaches work in online therapy

John often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thinking and test new behaviors. CBT focuses on clear steps and exercises that can be done between sessions to change patterns of thought and behavior.

He also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify their values and take committed action even when difficult feelings are present. ACT is helpful for worries, depression, and long-term stress by teaching flexible ways to respond to thoughts and emotions.

Attachment-Based work helps people understand how early relationships shape current bonds and reactions. That approach can be useful for intimacy issues, abandonment feelings, and family of origin concerns.

Choosing the right approach is a joint process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, try methods that fit, and adjust the plan as progress is made. That collaboration helps match techniques to what each person needs.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video is useful for deeper conversation and visual cues. Phone works well when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and messaging can be used for brief updates, coaching, or paced conversation between longer sessions. These options make therapy more flexible and easier to fit into a busy life.