- Stress and anxiety
- Relationship skills
- Mindfulness and CBT
About Paula
Paula Fuentes is a California licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with ten years of clinical experience. She works with adults on stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, trauma and abuse, parenting, and self-esteem concerns. Paula also addresses issues related to kink and alternative sexual cultures, codependency, and identity questions including gender dysphoria.
Her style is direct and person-centered. Sessions focus on clear goals and practical steps. She listens to what a client wants to change and helps build skills for everyday situations like difficult conversations or managing strong emotions.
Paula uses a mix of methods to help people understand patterns that repeat in relationships and in how they handle stress. She blends client-centered listening with techniques drawn from cognitive behavioral work and mindfulness practices. That combination aims to reduce immediate distress and change unhelpful habits over time.
She pays attention to how family history, past hurt, and current relationships affect daily life. Many clients work on communication problems, commitment worries, jealousy, or issues linked to divorce and separation. Paula also supports people navigating fertility questions and family-of-origin wounds.
In sessions she may teach emotion-regulation skills from dialectical approaches and use solution-focused steps to map next actions. The focus is on practical tools you can try between meetings and on building clearer ways of relating to yourself and others.
How her approaches are used in online therapy
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and prioritizing what the client wants to work on. It helps people clarify goals and feel understood, which can make tackling stress or relationship issues easier. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and teaches concrete strategies to change them, useful for anxiety, low self-esteem, and mood difficulties.Paula also uses elements of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to teach emotion-regulation and distress-tolerance skills. Those techniques help when emotions feel overwhelming or when impulsivity is a problem. Choosing which approaches to use happens together; she will discuss your goals and try methods that fit your situation and preferences.
Confirm current session options before booking so you know what formats are offered. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into busy days, reduce travel time, and allow for more consistent check-ins between work or school. It can also let you focus on skills practice in the moment and use shorter or more frequent meetings when helpful. Licensed professionals can adjust pace and methods to fit everyday life needs.
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 help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, trauma and abuse, parenting, and self-esteem. Additional focuses include kink and alternative sex culture, codependency, and life purpose.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her approach is client-centered and practical. She combines listening with concrete skills from CBT, DBT, EFT, and mindfulness to address feelings and behavior.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has ten years of experience working with adults on relationship and emotional concerns.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is a California LMFT and practices in California.
Can someone who speaks another language work with her?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
How are sessions paid for and how much do they cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What do I need to do to get started?
Click the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your 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.