Paula Fuentes
Support for stress, relationships, and parenting
- Credentials
- LMFT
- Experience
- 10 years
- Licensed in
- California
- Languages
- English
- Format
- Online sessions
About Paula
Paula Fuentes is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California with ten years of clinical experience. She focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, trauma, parenting concerns, and self-esteem. Paula aims to make the first step feel manageable and straightforward for people searching for support.
She creates a calm, accepting space where clients can speak honestly about what matters to them. Sessions emphasize clear communication and practical skills.
Background and approach
Paula listens closely and works with each person to set achievable goals. Her work draws on several evidence-based methods. Paula uses cognitive behavioral techniques to identify unhelpful thought patterns and build new coping skills.
She also uses dialectical behavior therapy skills when emotions feel overwhelming, and emotionally-focused work to improve connection and communication when relationships are a central concern. Paula brings attention to identity and sexuality issues as they arise, and she is comfortable discussing topics such as kink, gender questions, and nontraditional relationship choices.
Her approach is trauma-informed and centered on helping people regain stability after painful experiences. Clients can expect short-term skill building alongside deeper work when needed. Paula explains tools in everyday language and helps people practice them between sessions.
Her practice aims to support more steady moods, clearer communication, and a stronger sense of self over time.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online care
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening without judgment and supporting each person’s own goals; it helps people feel heard and understood so they can make choices that fit their life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts influence feelings and actions and teaches practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns, which can reduce anxiety and improve daily functioning.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Paula works with clients to decide which methods match their needs, goals, and preferences. She adjusts the plan over time so therapy stays useful and relevant.
Online therapy offers flexibility in how people connect. Sessions can happen by video call for face-to-face conversation, by phone if that feels easier, or through live chat and text messaging for brief check-ins and ongoing support. These options make it simpler to fit sessions around work, parenting, and daily life while maintaining consistent 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.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Concrete skills for riding out strong emotion, tolerating distress, and handling relationships without things escalating. The skills are practised in daily life, so between-session support by message or phone fits naturally.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Paula address?
What is her style in therapy?
How long has she been practicing?
What are her credentials and where is she based?
Which languages are supported?
Can international clients work with her?
What session formats are available?
How does the cost and getting started process work?
Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
Also works with
- BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Divorce and separation
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fertility issues
- Forgiveness
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Parenting issues
- Personality disorders
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 10 years
- Licensed
- California
- Languages
- English
Next step
Talk to Paula
- Takes a few minutes
- Nothing to set up just to look
- Stop at any point