PuttingFamilyFirst

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CS Portrait of Cecilia Samartin
Online therapist

Cecilia Samartin

Skilled, practical therapy for life and relationships

Credentials
LMFT
Experience
20 years
Licensed in
California
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Cecilia

Cecilia Samartin is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who focuses on relationship strain, grief, parenting concerns, self-esteem, and coping with life changes. She brings two decades of clinical experience and a calm, direct manner that helps people find practical steps forward. Cecilia speaks English and practices in California as CA LMFT 130831.

She emphasizes listening first and tailoring each session to what the person needs right now. In sessions she uses clear, conversational work rather than technical language.

Background and approach

She helps people tell and reshape their stories, spot unhelpful thinking patterns, and try small changes that can make daily life easier. Cecilia draws on client-centered methods to keep the person’s experience central, and she weaves in cognitive techniques and narrative ideas as needed. Her background includes long-term clinical practice with adults facing a range of life transitions and relational losses.

She views painful experiences as material for change and encourages exploring meaning as part of healing. Treatment aims are set together and adjusted as progress and goals evolve. Therapy with her tends to be collaborative and goal-oriented.

She supports practical problem solving, clearer communication skills, and ways to manage emotions that get in the way of daily life. Sessions are offered through multiple online formats so people can choose what fits their schedule. Cecilia approaches each person with respect and an expectation that growth is possible.

She focuses on small, sustainable shifts so that relationships, daily functioning, and self-regard can improve over time.

Online approaches that suit everyday life

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing small behavior changes to reduce distress. It is useful for anxiety around relationships, low mood, and daily coping problems. Narrative Therapy helps people reframe the stories they tell about themselves and their relationships, making room for new meanings and different choices.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Cecilia collaborates with each person to choose and adapt methods based on goals, preferences, and what shows progress. She often blends gentle narrative work with practical CBT tools so the plan fits the person rather than forcing a single method.

Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, revisit ideas between meetings, and maintain continuity during life changes. The various formats allow people to pick what helps them engage and make steady progress.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Narrative Therapy

Looking at the story you have come to tell about yourself, and where it came from. The work is in separating the problem from your identity and finding accounts that fit you better.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she help with?
Cecilia supports people with relationship strain, grief, parenting challenges, self-esteem struggles, and coping with life changes. She also works with related issues such as communication problems, commitment concerns, and family of origin issues.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
She practices in a direct, conversational way that centers the person’s experience. Sessions focus on listening, clarifying goals, and trying practical steps between meetings.
What is her clinical background?
She has 20 years of experience as a licensed clinician and has worked with a wide range of adult life challenges and relational losses.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - CA LMFT 130831 - and practices in California.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
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 and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to therapist availability.

Next step

Talk to Cecilia

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