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PF Portrait of Paula Fuentes

Paula Fuentes

Compassionate therapist blending practical strategies and empathy

LMFT California

Experience
10 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages
English
Continue with Paula

About Paula

Paula Fuentes is a licensed marriage and family therapist practicing in California with a decade of clinical experience. She blends practical skills and empathetic listening to support people facing anxiety, stress, traumatic experiences, relationship concerns, parenting challenges, and issues with self-esteem.

Background and approach

Paula prioritizes a calm, affirming atmosphere where clients can examine patterns, identify goals, and try new ways of relating to themselves and others. Her work draws on a mix of evidence-informed methods, including cognitive behavioral strategies and emotion-focused tools, alongside mindfulness and client-centered practices that honor each person’s perspective.

Paula also addresses a range of specialized topics such as kink and alternative sex culture, codependency, communication struggles, family of origin dynamics, fertility concerns, gender dysphoria, and life-purpose questions. She offers collaborative, individualized care aimed at building coping skills, improving communication, and supporting personal growth through real-world strategies and reflective exploration.

Therapeutic approaches and online care tailored to you

Paula commonly uses cognitive behavioral techniques to help clients identify unhelpful thinking patterns and develop concrete skills for managing anxiety, stress, and mood challenges. She also draws on client-centered therapy, offering an accepting, nonjudgmental stance that lets clients set the pace and focus of sessions while exploring values and personal goals. In addition, elements of dialectical behavior therapy are used when attention to emotion regulation and distress tolerance can help clients navigate intense moments and improve interpersonal functioning.

Finding the right approach is part of the collaborative work Paula does with each person. She listens to a client’s history, current concerns, and preferences, and then recommends strategies or blends of methods that align with their goals. Together they adjust the plan over time based on what proves most helpful.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexible options for different schedules and comfort levels. These formats allow clients to access ongoing support from California without needing to commute, and they make it easier to fit skill-building and reflective work into busy lives.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Paula address?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, parenting struggles, and self-esteem challenges, along with several additional focus areas such as fertility concerns and family problems.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is collaborative and person-centered, combining compassionate listening with skills-based methods like cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness practices to help clients make practical changes.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 10 years of professional experience providing therapy and working with a range of concerns and identities.
What credentials and location are on record?
She is a licensed marriage and family therapist with the credential CA LMFT 113516 and she practices in California.
Which languages does she offer therapy in?
Sessions are offered in English only, and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
Clients can work with her via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on what fits their needs.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a session based on the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseParenting issuesSelf esteem

Additional focus areas

BDSM, kink, and alternative sex cultureCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFertility issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameImpulsivityJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisMood disordersPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPost-traumatic stressSelf-harmSelf-loveSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Mindfulness TherapySolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

10+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English