- Relationship struggles
- Grief and loss
- Parenting support
About Cecilia
Cecilia Samartin is a California LMFT with 20 years of clinical experience working with adults facing relationship strain, grief, parenting pressures, self-esteem concerns, and major life transitions. She speaks English and practices in California. She approaches work with people who are trying to make sense of painful events and want to move forward in their relationships, work, and daily life.
Her style blends client-centered listening with narrative and psychodynamic ideas. Cecilia helps people tell the story of what happened to them and then looks at patterns that keep them stuck. She uses practical Cognitive Behavioral Therapy tools when people need concrete steps to manage thoughts and behaviours, and she can move toward solution-focused work to set short-term goals.
Sessions are conversational and aim to clarify what matters most to the person in front of her. She pays attention to how early attachments and family of origin issues shape current relationships and to struggles like abandonment worries, codependency, or commitment anxiety. She also supports those coping with caregiver stress, aging-related concerns, divorce, and blended family challenges.
Cecilia offers a straightforward approach to problems such as body image, communication breakdowns, control issues, and life-stage uncertainty. She frames setbacks as opportunities to learn and often helps clients identify small, achievable experiments to test new ways of relating. Her work is intended for adults navigating change who want clearer self-understanding and practical next steps.
If someone wants to begin, they are asked to use the online therapy options button, complete a brief matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Approaches used in online sessions and what they do
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting so a person can better understand their own priorities and choices. It helps with finding clarity in relationships, parenting decisions, and self-esteem concerns.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and offers simple experiments to test new responses. It is useful for managing unhelpful thinking, anxiety about work or relationships, and building practical coping skills.
Narrative Therapy helps people separate themselves from problem stories and rewrite how they view past events. This can be helpful for grief, feelings of abandonment, or patterns that repeat across relationships.
Finding the right mix of methods is part of the work. The therapist will review how someone responds to different approaches and collaboratively choose techniques that fit the person's goals and preferences. That might mean more reflective, talk-based work at first or quicker goal-focused steps when someone needs immediate tools.
Session logistics should be confirmed before booking because formats are not listed in the biography. Ask about which online session options are available and how they fit into your routine. Online sessions can make it easier to schedule therapy around work, study, or caregiving responsibilities, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time so sessions are easier to maintain.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with relationship problems, grief, parenting stress, low self-esteem, and coping with life changes. The biography lists many related concerns such as abandonment, codependency, and communication problems.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
Her style mixes client-centered listening with narrative and psychodynamic ideas. She also uses CBT and solution-focused techniques when practical steps or short-term goals are helpful.
How much experience does she have?
She has 20 years of clinical experience as an LMFT practicing in California.
What credential and location does she hold?
She is an LMFT licensed in California and practices in that state.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not list specific session formats. Please confirm the current session options before booking.
How does billing and cost work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a first appointment?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.