- Relationship dynamics
- Family patterns
- Anxiety and stress
About Paula
Paula Fuentes is a California licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with 10 years of clinical experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, parenting challenges, self-esteem concerns, and issues related to trauma and abuse. Paula often supports clients who want clearer communication and steadier emotional responses.
She sees relationships and family of origin patterns as a key part of what keeps repeating in adult life. Sessions focus on how roles and expectations from childhood still show up now. Paula talks through practical ways to notice those patterns and to test small changes in daily life.
Her style draws on client-centered methods, then adds skills from cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy when helpful. That can mean identifying unhelpful thoughts, practicing new behavior patterns, or learning ways to regulate strong emotions. She also uses elements of emotionally-focused work to address attachment concerns and mindfulness to build present-moment awareness.
Paula has experience supporting people exploring gender identity and nontraditional relationship structures, and she addresses concerns around sexuality, kink, and codependency without judgment. Her work includes practical communication tools, decision-focused conversations about separation or divorce, and support for fertility-related stress.
Sessions aim to create clear next steps rather than only talking about problems. People leave with small experiments to try between meetings and with skills to manage anxiety, set boundaries, or repair interaction patterns with others.
How therapeutic approaches are used in online sessions
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and reflecting back what matters to the client. It helps people feel heard and clarifies what they want to work on. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions interact. CBT provides specific tools to test unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors in daily life. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) teaches emotion regulation and distress-tolerance skills. Those skills are useful when strong emotions or impulsivity get in the way of relationships.Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Paula will discuss which methods fit a person's goals and preferences and then adjust as needed. The choice of methods is collaborative and can change over time as progress and needs evolve.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current session options before booking. Many people find online sessions easier to fit into busy schedules, allow shorter check-ins on a work break, or reduce travel time. If a client prefers less time on camera or needs a quicker check-in, those preferences can be discussed when arranging sessions.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship problems, parenting, self-esteem, and trauma and abuse concerns. Additional areas include family of origin issues, sexuality and kink topics, codependency, and fertility-related stress.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is client-centered with practical skills added from cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. Sessions typically combine listening with concrete skills and short experiments to try between meetings.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 10 years of experience as a practicing therapist. That time includes work with people exploring gender identity and nontraditional relationship structures.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She is a California LMFT and practices in California. The credential listed is LMFT as provided.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Exact pricing depends on the plan chosen.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the See online therapy options button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling a first session. That process connects you to the matching and booking steps.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.