Rafaela DeSoto-Ray
Supportive, practical therapy for everyday family challenges
- Credentials
- LPC
- Experience
- 25 years
- Licensed in
- Texas
- Languages
- English
- Format
- Online sessions
About Rafaela
Rafaela DeSoto-Ray is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas with 25 years of clinical experience. She focuses on everyday problems like stress, anxiety, depression, sleeping troubles, parenting concerns, and relationship strain. Parents and caregivers often look to her for practical ideas they can use between sessions.
She aims to offer clear, usable steps rather than long theory talks. Her background includes work with trauma and abuse, grief, bipolar disorder, and ADHD.
Background and approach
She also has experience with developmental and neurological concerns such as dementia and head injury. That range helps her adjust tools to each person’s situation. Rafaela blends several approaches to find what fits each client.
She uses client-centered listening, cognitive behavioral techniques, and solution-focused strategies so conversations stay goal-oriented and concrete. Sessions often include trying a new skill or strategy to practice during the week. Her style is collaborative and pragmatic.
She treats clients as the experts on their own lives and helps them build on existing strengths. New ideas and small changes are introduced gradually to reduce overwhelm and support real-life progress. Working with Rafaela involves straightforward planning, checks on what’s working, and adjustments as needed.
For people who want plain language, doable tools, and steady support, she offers a steady, experienced presence.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online care
Client-Centered Therapy starts with listening and respect. The therapist focuses on understanding each person’s story and responding without judgment, which helps people feel heard and more willing to try small changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts and behaviors influence feelings and teaches practical exercises to reduce anxiety, improve sleep, or manage mood swings. Solution-Focused Therapy concentrates on what’s working now and builds short-term goals to create quick, useful changes.Deciding which approach to use is part of the work with the therapist. She will talk with the client about goals, try techniques, and adjust based on what helps. That collaborative process aims to find the best fit rather than forcing one method.
Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect. Video calls let people have face-to-face conversations from home. Phone sessions work when video isn’t possible. Live chat and text-based messaging can support quick check-ins or ongoing coaching between sessions. These options make it easier to get regular support while juggling family, work, and other responsibilities.
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.
Solution-Focused Therapy
Rather than examining the problem at length, this looks at what is already working and builds on it. Sessions tend to be practical and forward-looking, with small achievable steps, which translates readily to shorter online conversations.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Depression
Also works with
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Anger management
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Bipolar disorder
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Dissociation
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Intellectual disability
- Intimacy-related issues
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexuality
- Sleeping disorders
- Somatization
- Trauma and abuse
- Traumatic brain injury
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 25 years
- Licensed
- Texas
- Languages
- English
Next step
Talk to Rafaela
- Takes a few minutes
- Nothing to set up just to look
- Stop at any point