- Client-Centered Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
About Teresa
Teresa Lakin is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California with 17 years of professional experience. She works with adults on concerns such as stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, and coping with life changes. Teresa also addresses issues like attachment struggles, codependency, family of origin problems, and feelings of guilt and shame.
Teresa focuses on straightforward conversation and steady care. She helps people name what they are feeling and understand how past experiences shape current reactions. Sessions tend to be practical and conversational rather than technical. Teresa encourages clients to bring real-life examples so patterns can be noticed and discussed.
Her approach draws on client-centered methods that prioritize the client's perspective. She also uses psychodynamic ideas to look at recurring patterns that may trace back to family or early relationships. For those affected by trauma, she integrates trauma-focused strategies to address distressing memories and their impacts on day-to-day life.
Teresa aims to help people develop clearer ways of coping, better communication habits, and more reliable strategies for managing cravings or anxiety. She works with clients to set achievable steps and to test small changes between sessions. Many people come to address specific problems such as substance use or post-traumatic stress, while others seek help with an overall sense of emptiness or life purpose.
People who choose her often want practical conversation and a steady professional to talk things through. To start, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule their first session through the online booking flow.
How her approaches translate to online work
Teresa draws on client-centered therapy, psychodynamic ideas, and trauma-focused methods. Client-centered therapy emphasizes the client's own perspective and helps people speak about what matters most to them. It is useful for stress, low self-esteem, and decision-making.Psychodynamic work looks at recurring patterns and relationships that shape current feelings. This approach can help people understand why they repeat certain behaviors or feel stuck in similar conflicts. Trauma-focused therapy targets distressing memories and reactions after harm, offering tools to reduce how much those memories interrupt daily life.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. Teresa works collaboratively to identify which methods fit a person's needs, goals, and preferences. She discusses options openly and adjusts the focus as goals change over time.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so please confirm current session options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, shorten travel time, allow quicker check-ins between appointments, and offer flexibility for quiet or low-bandwidth needs. These practical benefits often help people keep therapy as part of their regular routine.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
17+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, and coping with life changes. Additional areas include family of origin issues, guilt and shame, isolation, and post-traumatic stress.
How would she approach shame or guilt?
She uses conversation-focused methods to help clients name painful feelings and trace how those feelings affect behavior. Trauma-informed techniques are used when memories or past harm contribute to shame.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 17 years of professional work experience supporting people with anxiety, addictions, trauma, and related concerns.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT, practicing in California.
Are sessions offered in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she see clients outside the United States?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions scheduled and what about cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Exact fees are provided during the booking process.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session through the platform.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.