- Guilt and shame
- CBT and DBT tools
- Mindfulness methods
About Paula
Paula Fuentes is a California licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with 10 years of clinical experience. She works with adults who are dealing with stress, anxiety, relationship challenges, trauma and abuse, parenting strains, and self-esteem concerns. Paula also lists focused areas such as guilt and shame, family of origin issues, fertility concerns, and questions around gender and sexuality.
She frames sessions around listening carefully and responding to what each person brings. Conversations often cover communication problems, codependency, commitment worries, and managing impulsivity or jealousy. Paula notes experience supporting people exploring BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture and those facing separation or divorce.
Her practice draws on client-centered methods alongside Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy tools. Mindfulness and Emotionally-Focused Therapy ideas appear in her work too. That mix aims to help people notice patterns, try new coping strategies, and practice different ways of relating.
Paula says she brings a trauma-informed perspective to sessions and works with people across diverse backgrounds, including LGBTQ+ identities and young adults. She focuses on concrete skills like communication and stress management as well as understanding the roots of painful feelings.
Sessions are described as collaborative, with the therapist and client choosing what to focus on together. People are invited to name practical goals, try short-term strategies, and shift longer-standing patterns over time.
How therapeutic approaches shape online sessions
Paula uses Client-Centered Therapy which centers the conversation on the person’s experience and priorities, helping them feel heard and steering sessions by what matters most. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify unhelpful thought patterns and practice different ways of thinking and behaving that reduce distress.Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills appear in her work as well; these include practical tools for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and improving interpersonal effectiveness. These approaches are useful for dealing with anxiety, relationship conflicts, intense emotions, and shame-based reactions.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Paula will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. That may mean starting with client-centered conversations and adding CBT or DBT tools over time based on what helps.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current online session options before booking. Many people find remote sessions easier to fit into a weekday routine, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and make it simpler to attend without travel. Paula aims to help clients apply therapeutic skills in everyday life and will discuss practical arrangements when you schedule your first appointment.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, parenting concerns, and self-esteem problems. Additional focuses include guilt and shame, family problems, fertility, gender and sexuality questions, and related topics.
How would she approach feelings of guilt or shame?
Paula uses client-centered conversation alongside CBT and DBT techniques to identify unhelpful thoughts and develop coping strategies. Mindfulness practices are sometimes used to notice and tolerate difficult feelings.
What is her background and experience?
She has ten years of clinical experience working with diverse communities, including LGBTQ+ people and young adults, and with people exploring nontraditional relationship structures.
What credentials and location does she hold?
She is a California LMFT and practices in California.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are offered?
The original biography does not specify session formats, so confirm current session options before booking.
How does pricing work for her services?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with scheduling a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.