Lani Stoner, LMFT

Lani Stoner is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 27 years in the field. She focuses on practical help for people coping with anxiety, stress, relationships, grief, depression, and life changes. She aims to help people find clearer ways to manage daily struggles and restore hope.

She uses focused, goal-oriented methods that often lead to brief, actionable work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the approaches she uses to help people change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. She also draws on client-centered and mindfulness ideas to keep the work grounded in each person’s experience.

Her background includes decades working in county and agency settings with adults, children, and older adults, and later in private practice. She has experience with chronic mental illness, caregiving stress, chronic pain, trauma and abuse, and conditions that affect mood and attention. She has also volunteered online with military and veteran communities.

Lani trained at Chapman University, earning a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, and completed gerontology coursework at Sacramento State University. She has spent many years learning approaches for trauma and for people facing major life stressors.

In sessions she takes an active, directed stance while still listening to each person’s story. She works with practical tools and collaborative planning so people can try new skills between sessions. Her work is aimed at improving daily functioning, relationships, and overall quality of life.

How these approaches translate to online care

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and responding to each person's concerns with empathy and respect. It helps people feel heard and guides exploration of personal goals and values. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches concrete skills to change patterns that cause distress. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related issues. Mindfulness Therapy teaches attention to the present moment and simple practices to reduce reactivity and support emotional regulation.

Lani works collaboratively to find the best approach for each person. She discusses goals and preferences and adjusts methods as needed. Choosing a therapeutic approach is part of the process, and she helps people decide what matches their needs and situation.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and demonstrations of skills. Phone sessions can fit a break from work or be easier when video is not desirable. Live chat and messaging make it possible to check in between sessions or to have shorter, more frequent contact. These options offer flexibility so people can fit therapy into their daily life.