- Client-centered care
- Focus on relationships
- Mindfulness informed
About Paula
Paula Fuentes is a California-based licensed marriage and family therapist who has spent a decade helping people navigate emotional challenges. She works with clients facing stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, parenting struggles, and low self-esteem. Paula creates a compassionate, affirming space where people can speak openly about their concerns.
She brings practical tools and listening to sessions. Paula emphasizes self-love and clearer communication. She helps people name patterns that get in the way and try different ways of responding.
Paula has experience supporting LGBTQ+ clients, young adults, and people exploring nontraditional relationship structures. Her practice also addresses sexuality topics such as BDSM and kink, codependency, commitment issues, and fertility or divorce-related stress. She adapts her work to fit each person's situation.
Her approach draws on client-centered work, cognitive behavioral methods, dialectical behavior ideas, emotionally focused techniques, and mindfulness practices. That mix allows her to offer both short-term problem solving and deeper emotional work depending on the need.
Paula aims to help people build better coping skills, stronger communication, and clearer direction in life. She supports clients as they make practical changes and discover what matters most to them.
How Paula’s Approaches Translate to Online Work
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and following the client's priorities. It helps when someone needs a supportive space to talk through feelings and decide what matters next.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns. It can be useful for anxiety, stress, and mood challenges.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) brings skills for managing intense emotions and improving relationships. It offers concrete tools for distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and clearer communication.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Paula collaborates with each person to choose methods that match their goals and preferences. She adjusts the mix of skill practice and deeper exploration as needs change.
Confirm current session options before booking to know what formats are available. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy day, reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and let people join from wherever they are. Licensed professionals can use these options to keep therapy practical and approachable without promising a specific outcome.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Credentials
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Paula address?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, parenting challenges, and self-esteem problems. Her practice also covers topics like codependency, sexuality and life-purpose concerns.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Paula uses a compassionate, client-centered approach and blends practical techniques with reflective work. Sessions often mix skill-building, communication practice, and exploration of emotions.
How much experience does she have?
She has ten years of experience as a practicing therapist in a variety of settings. That background informs her work with diverse issues and life stages.
What are her credentials and where is she licensed?
Paula is a licensed marriage and family therapist, LMFT, and is licensed in California. Her practice is based in California.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the U.S. work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How does billing and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin therapy with Paula?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule based on therapist availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.