Dr. Louis Buchhold, LMFT

Dr. Louis Buchhold is a California-based licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 22 years of professional experience. He identifies as a gay cis-gendered man and works in English. He brings a range of therapeutic approaches to help people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, grief, and relationship concerns.

He describes his work as experiential, using art therapy, sand play, and psychodrama techniques alongside talk therapy. He also integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), brief treatment methods, and existential ideas to help people set practical goals and take action. Many clients are given short, self-driven assignments between sessions to try out new ways of coping.

Dr. Buchhold often supports people dealing with sexuality-related concerns, LGBT issues, intimacy and relationship questions, and a variety of process and substance addictions. He also lists aging and geriatric issues, chronic illness and disability, and social isolation among his focus areas. He frames clients as the experts in their own stories and aims to build on their strengths.

Sessions emphasize direct work and personal exploration through creative methods and structured techniques. He encourages people to take small, achievable steps toward change and brings a collaborative tone to planning therapy. Prospective clients in California can expect a practical, skills-focused approach that makes use of artful, experiential tools as needed.

Dr. Buchhold holds a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology and two master’s degrees: one in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling and another in Art Therapy. He lists California LMFT as his credential and practices with an emphasis on dignity and personal agency.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online work

Dr. Buchhold commonly combines Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in his work. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and helping people find their own answers, which can help with relationship issues, self-esteem, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at patterns of thought and behavior and uses practical exercises to change unhelpful habits, which often helps with anxiety, depression, and addictions.

Finding the right mix of approaches is a collaborative effort. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what techniques feel useful, and then try short assignments or experiments to see what helps. That collaborative trial-and-error is a core part of planning ongoing work together.

Session formats are not listed in the biography, so please confirm current session options before booking. Many people find online sessions easier to fit into a busy day, require less travel, or allow for shorter check-in visits when needed. Online work can also make it simpler to continue therapy around health challenges or caregiving responsibilities, and it supports using experiential tools such as guided art prompts or in-session reflection adapted for remote work.