- Emotionally-Focused Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- CBT and DBT tools
About Paula
Paula Fuentes is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in California with ten years of clinical experience. She focuses on common concerns like stress, anxiety, relationship patterns, trauma and abuse, parenting strain, and self-esteem. Paula also works with issues such as communication problems, commitment concerns, codependency, and aspects of sexuality including BDSM and kink culture.
Paula uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy as one of her main approaches alongside client-centered work and cognitive behavioral strategies. She helps people name and understand emotions that feel overwhelming. Sessions focus on practical skills for managing strong feelings and clearer ways to communicate with others.
Her style centers on listening and following the client’s lead while offering concrete techniques when they are helpful. She draws on mindfulness and dialectical behavior therapy tools to teach emotion regulation and distress tolerance. Paula also addresses family of origin issues, divorce and separation, fertility-related stress, and feelings of guilt or shame.
Paula has experience supporting LGBTQ+ people and those exploring alternative relationship or sexual arrangements. She uses straightforward language and aims to make sessions useful from the first meeting. People seeking help with life purpose, impulsivity, jealousy, or disruptive mood challenges can discuss practical next steps with her.
To begin, prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session. Fees vary by location and are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How Paula integrates therapeutic approaches into online work
Paula uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy to help people identify and name the emotions that shape their relationships and behavior. EFT focuses on how feelings guide interactions and can be helpful when patterns feel stuck or hard to change.She also works from a client-centered stance, which means sessions follow the client’s concerns and pace while the therapist listens and reflects. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) provides concrete steps to change unhelpful thinking and behavior, useful for anxiety, stress, and mood regulation.
Finding the best approach is a collaborative process. Paula will discuss what techniques fit the client’s goals and preferences, and adjust the mix as therapy progresses. The aim is to match practical tools with the emotional work people bring to sessions.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm available options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a workday, reduce travel time, or use shorter check-ins when needed. If you prefer certain session rhythms or practical accommodations, mention them when completing the matching questionnaire so scheduling can reflect your needs.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she work with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship dynamics, trauma and abuse, parenting strain, and self-esteem issues, plus related concerns like communication problems and codependency.
What therapeutic approach does she use?
Paula lists Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) alongside Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, DBT, and mindfulness approaches to guide sessions.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has ten years of experience working as a therapist in California.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a California LMFT and practices in California.
In which languages are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with clients outside the United States?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
How are sessions paid for and what do they cost?
Costs vary with location and are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Start by selecting the See online therapy options button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling a first session.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.