Hai Nguyen

Relationship and addiction-focused therapist

LMFT California

Experience: 15 years in practice
Focus areas: Addictions, Relationship, Family
Approaches: Gottman Method, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English, Vietnamese

About Hai

Hai Nguyen, LMFT, helps people facing relationship strain, addiction, mood disorders, grief, and parenting stress. He listens for the patterns that keep people stuck and focuses on restoring emotional connection and daily coping skills.

Background and approach

He blends clinical experience with years teaching psychology and health subjects. Hai spent over a decade in dual diagnosis settings, moving from therapist to clinical director and then to an operations role.

That background means he is familiar with addiction, co-occurring mental health concerns, and systems that affect recovery. In sessions he uses straightforward conversation and practical exercises.

Expect a balance of problem-solving, skill practice, and time to name painful feelings. He draws on approaches such as the Gottman Method for relationship work and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to build values-driven action.

Hai also pays attention to culture and the challenges of adapting to a new environment. He can conduct therapy in English or Vietnamese and is comfortable talking through cultural pressures, identity, and acculturation stress.

Parents and individuals can expect useful tools for communication, emotional regulation, and relapse prevention. Hai’s background includes work with teens in schools, people recovering from substance use, and people managing mood disorders and trauma.

He aims to make therapy understandable and immediately useful. He practices in California and brings 15 years of clinical experience to his work.

Hai frames therapy as a collaborative process and helps people set clear steps toward change.

Therapeutic approaches and online options

Hai often combines the Gottman Method with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to address relationship strain and individual coping. The Gottman Method focuses on communication patterns, rebuilding trust, and practical exercises couples or partners can use to improve connection. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings while taking actions that match their values, which is useful for anxiety, addiction, and life changes.

He treats approach selection as a team effort. During early sessions he will talk with the client about goals and try out techniques to see what fits. Decisions about which methods to use are made together and can change as needs evolve.

Online therapy offers flexibility for busy lives. Video calls let people work face-to-face when discussion and nonverbal cues matter. Phone sessions require less bandwidth and can fit into a short break. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for brief check-ins, homework support, or when someone prefers written communication. These options make it easier to maintain consistent work on relationship, addiction, or mood concerns while managing daily obligations.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Hai focus on?

Hai works with relationship issues, addiction, grief, mood disorders, anxiety, parenting stress, and related problems such as codependency and communication problems.

How would you describe his therapy style?

He keeps sessions practical and direct, mixing conversation with exercises to practice skills like communication, emotion regulation, and relapse prevention.

What is his clinical background?

Hai has 15 years of experience in clinical settings, including many years in dual diagnosis treatment and roles as therapist, clinical director, and operations leader.

What are his credentials and where is he based?

He holds a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist credential (CA LMFT) and practices in California.

Which languages are supported in sessions?

Sessions are offered in English and Vietnamese.

Can people outside the U.S. work with him?

International clients are not currently accepted; he works with people located in California.

What session formats are available?

Hai offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.

How does cost and scheduling work?

Cost varies by location and availability and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time; to begin, use the Start Therapy button and complete a short matching questionnaire.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

AddictionsRelationship issuesFamily conflictsSelf esteemCoaching

Also works with

Stress, Anxiety LGBT Trauma and abuse Grief Intimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderDepression Coping with life changes Compassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

Abandonment Attachment issuesCo-morbidityCodependency Communication problems Control issuesDissociationDivorce and separation Domestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionForgiveness Guilt and shame Impulsivity Isolation / loneliness Jealousy Life purpose Mood disorders Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersSelf-loveSmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobia

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyGottman MethodJungian TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

15+ years

Licensed in

California

Languages

English, Vietnamese