- Client-centered listening
- Practical steps
- Focus on meaning
About Cecilia
Cecilia Samartin is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) based in California. She helps people facing relationship strain, grief, parenting challenges, low self esteem, and transitions in life. Her approach aims to make difficult moments easier to understand and manage.
Cecilia draws on about 20 years of clinical experience to guide conversations that feel honest and straightforward. She uses client-centered listening to learn what matters most to each person. She also works with narrative and solution-focused ideas to help people spot patterns and try small, practical changes.
Sessions often focus on making meaning out of painful experiences so people can move forward with more confidence. Cecilia talks with clients about how past family dynamics, attachment patterns, and life events shape current choices. She pays attention to communication problems, commitment concerns, and issues that show up around divorce, blended families, and caregiving stress.
Her methods include elements of cognitive behavioral work to address unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. She also uses psychodynamic ideas to trace how earlier relationships influence present reactions. These tools are adapted to each person rather than applied the same way for everyone.
Cecilia values working at a pace that fits each client's needs. She invites people to explore setbacks as part of growth and encourages practical steps toward better daily routines, clearer boundaries, and healthier relationships. Her style is warm, direct, and focused on useful change.
How approaches translate to online counseling
Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening and building a trusting conversation. It focuses on understanding each person's goals and responding to what they say so sessions feel tailored and supportive.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and then tests small changes to see if they work. This approach is useful for managing low self esteem, anxiety around money decisions, and practical coping skills.
Narrative Therapy looks at the stories people tell about themselves and their relationships. It can help separate a problem from a person's identity and open up new possibilities for action and meaning.
Choosing the right approach usually happens together. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences and suggest techniques to try. Clients and the therapist check in and adjust the plan as needed so the work fits each person's life.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It also lets people access a therapist from different locations while keeping the work focused on practical changes and new perspectives.
Areas of focus
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She supports people with relationship problems, grief, parenting challenges, low self esteem, and coping with life changes. Additional focus areas include attachment issues, codependency, family of origin issues, and caregiver stress.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is client-centered and conversational, with practical, goal-oriented elements. She combines listening with focused strategies to help people try small changes that fit their lives.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She brings about 20 years of clinical experience working with a wide range of concerns. That background shapes how she tailors sessions to each person's needs.
What credentials does she hold and where is she based?
She is a licensed marriage and family therapist, LMFT, licensed in California. Her practice is located in California.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How does cost and payment work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin if I want to work together?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.