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SY Portrait of Stephen (Steve) Yates

Stephen (Steve) Yates

Support for stress, relationships, and life transitions

LMFT Idaho

Experience
35 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages
English
Explore online therapy options

About Stephen

Stephen (Steve) Yates brings 35 years of clinical experience to his work as an LMFT in Idaho, helping people navigate stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family difficulties, grief, trauma, and issues with intimacy and self-esteem.

Background and approach

He also addresses parenting challenges, anger, bipolar symptoms, and life transitions, and offers focused support around conditions such as autism and Asperger syndrome, codependency, addiction, and obsessive-compulsive concerns. Steve’s background includes individual and couple work as well as inpatient and outpatient settings, which has shaped a flexible, practice-oriented approach.

Rather than relying on a single method, he blends tools from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) to fit each person’s needs.

He draws on varied training experiences, including hypnotherapy and spiritual counseling, and has even trained as a hostage negotiator, informing his calm, strategic stance in difficult moments. Steve frames therapy as a collaborative search for what works best, offering practical ideas and methods intended to produce meaningful change in day-to-day functioning and well-being.

Approaches that guide online sessions



Stephen commonly integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in his online work. CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, which can be useful for anxiety, depression, obsessions, and mood regulation. ACT emphasizes noticing thoughts and values-driven action, helping people build a meaningful life alongside difficult internal experiences.

He also uses client-centered principles, which prioritize empathy, validation, and collaboration so clients feel heard while choosing strategies that fit their goals. Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and he works with each person to determine which methods align with their needs, preferences, and objectives in a collaborative way.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility: sessions are available by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit support into busy schedules or to connect from different locations. These options allow ongoing contact, brief check-ins, or regular sessions depending on what best supports progress and daily functioning.

Frequently asked questions

What issues does this therapist commonly address?
He works with a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family problems, grief, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, parenting challenges, anger, bipolar conditions, and coping with life changes.
What is his therapeutic style and approach?
He uses a flexible, integrative style that blends several approaches such as CBT, ACT, DBT, EFT, and client-centered work to match the needs and preferences of each person.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He has practiced for 35 years across individual and couple therapy as well as inpatient and outpatient settings, giving him broad clinical exposure.
What credentials and location information are listed?
He is an LMFT practicing in Idaho and his credential identifier is LMFT LMFT-6.
In what languages and with which international clients can he work?
He provides services in English and is open to working with international clients.
Which session formats are available?
Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different communication preferences.
How are fees and subscriptions handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working together?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsSelf esteemDepression

Also works with

Trauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementBipolar disorderCoping with life changes

Additional focus areas

Autism and Asperger SyndromeCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsDivorce and separationDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily problemsFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPhobiasSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyHypnotherapyMindfulness TherapySolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

35+ years

Licensed

Idaho

Languages

English