PuttingFamilyFirst

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GC Portrait of Gerardo Puga Cervantes
Online therapist

Gerardo Puga Cervantes

Calm, practical help for family and life challenges

Credentials
LMFT
Experience
10 years
Licensed in
California
Languages
English, Spanish
Format
Online sessions

About Gerardo

Gerardo Puga Cervantes is a licensed marriage and family therapist who focuses on Family and parenting concerns alongside many other life challenges. He aims to build a calm, respectful space where people feel heard and understood. He prioritizes rapport and treats each person as the expert on their own life.

Sessions are non-judgmental and paced to the client's comfort. Gerardo uses practical talk and evidence-based tools to address issues like stress, anxiety, addiction, depression, trauma, and coping with life changes.

Background and approach

He blends approaches rather than relying on a single method. That means sessions might include skills training, values clarification, and exploring relationship patterns. He brings ten years of professional experience as an LMFT - Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - practicing in California.

His background includes work with mood and personality difficulties, addictive behaviors, self-esteem, sexuality and relationship concerns, and grief. He also lists additional focuses such as attachment issues, blended family challenges, and codependency. Gerardo offers therapy in both English and Spanish and accepts international clients.

He adapts how he works to fit each person’s goals, using clear language and concrete steps. Many people find this practical approach helpful when facing big life transitions or relationship strains. In sessions he aims to help clients notice what matters to them, practice new ways of coping, and make small changes that add up over time.

He combines compassion with direct feedback and collaborative planning to move toward clearer choices and steadier days.

Evidence-based approaches for online family and life work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice what matters to them and take small actions toward those values. It uses simple exercises to reduce unhelpful avoidance and build willingness to face difficult feelings, which can be useful for stress, anxiety, and life transitions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing them with real-life changes. It usually includes practical skill-building like problem solving and behavior experiments, which can help with depression, anxiety, and coping strategies.

Finding the right fit is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, try approaches that match those needs, and adjust as work progresses. Together they decide which methods feel most helpful and practical.

Online sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to match different routines and comfort levels. This flexibility makes it easier to keep continuity when life gets busy or when travel or distance is a factor. Licensed professionals can use these options to maintain steady progress while tailoring pace and tools to each person’s needs.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Less about arguing with difficult thoughts, more about loosening their grip and acting on what matters to you anyway. Values and committed action carry the work, which suits conversation at a distance.

Attachment-Based Therapy

Looks at how early bonds shaped what you expect from closeness, and how that plays out now with a partner, a parent, or your own children.

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.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does he address most often?
He works with a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, addiction, depression, trauma and grief. Family-related topics and relationship difficulties are also listed among his areas of focus.
How would you describe his therapeutic style?
His style is client-centered and non-judgmental, focusing on building rapport first. He combines practical skills work with values and relationship exploration.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He has ten years of professional experience as a therapist working on mood, personality, addictive behaviors, and relationship issues.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He holds the LMFT credential - Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - and practices in California with license number CA LMFT 51224.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish, and he also accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different needs and preferences.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What steps should I take to begin therapy?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Next step

Talk to Gerardo

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