Soraya Avalos , LMFT

Soraya Avalos is a licensed marriage and family therapist who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. She supports clients working through relationship problems, life changes, and concerns common to women, including pregnancy and childbirth related stress. Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.

Soraya focuses on clear, practical steps you can use between sessions. She listens first, then tailors simple strategies to fit daily life. Conversations are direct but compassionate so clients can try new habits without feeling overwhelmed.

Her methods draw on tools from cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy to help people change unhelpful thinking and learn coping skills. She also uses solution-focused techniques to set short-term goals and motivational interviewing to strengthen commitment to change.

Soraya has 15 years of experience working in California settings. She holds the LMFT credential, which is listed as CA LMFT. That background informs how she blends skill-building with goal-focused sessions.

Many clients come for help with attachment concerns, communication problems, caregiver stress, guilt or shame, and mood disorders. She also addresses post-traumatic stress, impulsivity, and questions about life purpose. The approach is practical and paced to each person.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors. Online sessions can use worksheets and short homework tasks to practice those skills between meetings.

DBT, or dialectical behavior therapy, teaches concrete skills for managing intense emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness. Skills training and brief coaching through messages or chat can help people use these tools when stress arises.

Motivational interviewing is a collaborative way of strengthening motivation for change by exploring values and goals. It often pairs well with goal-focused work delivered over video or phone sessions.

Soraya will work together with each client to find the best approach based on their needs and preferences. That process may combine methods and adjust over time so goals remain clear and achievable.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video works well for deeper conversation and visual cues. Phone can fit a short check-in or lower bandwidth needs. Chat and messaging are useful for brief updates, homework check-ins, or when people prefer written reflection. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and to continue work between sessions.