Dr. Estella Lerlo

Compassionate, practical therapy for relationships and stress

LMFT California

Experience: 14 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Attachment-Based Therapy
Languages: English

About Estella

Dr. Estella Lerlo is a California-licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with 14 years of clinical experience helping people navigate stress, anxiety, relationship challenges, trauma, and intimacy-related concerns.

Background and approach

She draws on established methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Attachment-Based Therapy, and Emotionally-Focused Therapy to tailor practical strategies and emotional insight to each client's situation. Her approach emphasizes a nonjudgmental, collaborative space where clients can explore difficult thoughts and feelings and build healthier patterns.

Dr. Lerlo attends to both immediate coping needs and longer-term relationship dynamics, addressing issues like abandonment, attachment wounds, communication difficulties, and post-traumatic stress as part of a broader treatment plan.

She also works with concerns related to life transitions, isolation, money stress, and forgiveness. New clients can expect a therapist who values courage in seeking help and who partners with them to set clear goals and realistic steps forward.

Sessions aim to combine emotion-focused understanding with skills-based tools so clients leave with both deeper perspective and actionable change.

How Dr. Lerlo’s Approaches Work Online

Dr. Lerlo commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify unhelpful thinking patterns and develop practical coping skills for anxiety, stress, and mood concerns. Attachment-Based Therapy is another central approach she uses to explore how early relationship experiences shape current emotional responses and interpersonal patterns, which can be helpful for intimacy, abandonment, and attachment issues.

Finding the right approach is treated as a collaborative process. She works with each client to consider goals, preferences, and the presenting concerns and then blends techniques so the plan fits the person rather than forcing a single method. Clients can expect ongoing discussion about what is working and adjustments as needed.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility and accessibility. These formats allow scheduling around work and family life, make it easier to maintain continuity during life transitions, and provide multiple ways to engage so clients can choose the style that feels most effective for them.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Dr. Lerlo address?

She works with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related concerns, and self-esteem challenges, plus related areas such as attachment, codependency, infidelity, and post-traumatic stress.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Her practice balances emotion-focused exploration with skills-based techniques, creating an open and nonjudgmental space that combines insight and practical strategies.

What is her professional background?

She brings 14 years of professional experience working with clients on interpersonal and trauma-related concerns.

What are her credentials and where is she licensed?

She is an LMFT licensed in California, CA LMFT 147318, and practices from that state.

Does she work in languages other than English or with international clients?

She provides services in English and is not currently accepting international clients.

What session formats are available?

Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different needs.

How are fees handled for sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin working together?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesSelf esteem

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAttachment issuesBlended family issuesCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsCoping with natural or human-caused disasterFirst responder issuesForgivenessInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSelf-loveWomen's issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Attachment-Based TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Gottman MethodMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

14+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English