Stephanie Lerma, LMFT

Compassionate therapist focused on practical change

About Stephanie

Stephanie Lerma is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California with five years of clinical experience. She speaks English and Spanish and offers therapy through video, phone, live chat, and text messaging.

Background and approach

Stephanie focuses on helping people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, parenting concerns, and family-related struggles. Her approach blends practical skills with deeper exploration.

She uses techniques from cognitive-behavioral methods and dialectical behavior ideas along with psychodynamic thinking to understand patterns that keep problems going. Sessions often include learning new coping skills, noticing automatic thoughts, and looking at personal history that shapes current reactions.

Stephanie aims to make sessions feel warm and straightforward. She listens for what matters most to each person and adjusts the pace to match their needs.

Parents can expect help with communication, boundary-setting, and managing caregiver stress without judgment. Over time she works on concrete goals like reducing anxiety, improving mood, and strengthening daily routines.

She also addresses concerns such as abandonment, attachment wounds, body image, guilt and shame, impulsivity, loneliness, and post-traumatic stress. Work can include short-term skill building or more open-ended exploration depending on the concern.

To begin, clients choose a subscription plan and follow a short matching questionnaire to schedule sessions. The subscription can be canceled at any time.

Stephanie meets people where they are and helps them take practical steps toward feeling better.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Stephanie uses evidence-based techniques that combine skill learning with exploring life patterns. Cognitive behavioral approaches focus on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to reduce anxiety and low mood. These methods are useful for day-to-day coping and changing negative thinking habits.

Dialectical behavior ideas emphasize practical skills for managing intense emotions and improving communication. These skills help with stress, impulsivity, and relationship tensions by teaching grounding, emotion regulation, and clearer expression. Psychodynamic principles look at recurring patterns rooted in past relationships to understand why certain reactions keep happening, which can help with attachment issues and longstanding family problems.

Deciding on an approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to pick techniques that match their goals, needs, and comfort level. That might mean focusing on skill training at first, then adding deeper exploration later as trust grows.

Online therapy offers flexibility and easier scheduling. Video calls allow for a full session similar to in-person meetings. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for those wanting to avoid being on camera. Live chat and text-based messaging suit quick check-ins, ongoing support between sessions, or people who prefer writing to speaking. These options make it simpler to fit therapy into a busy life.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does she help with?

She works with stress, anxiety, depression, parenting concerns, and self-esteem issues. Additional focuses include attachment concerns, body image, caregiver stress, and post-traumatic stress.

What is her general therapy style?

Her style mixes practical skills and deeper reflection. Sessions often include coping tools, thought work, and exploring patterns from one’s past.

How long has she been practicing clinically?

She has five years of clinical experience working with adolescents, adults, and family-related concerns. That experience informs both skill-based work and longer-term exploration.

What are her credentials and where is she based?

She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT, practicing in California. The listing uses the CA LMFT credential provided.

Which languages are supported in sessions?

Sessions are offered in English and Spanish. International clients are not currently accepted.

What session formats are available online?

Sessions are available as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options allow for shorter check-ins or longer video conversations.

How does billing and cost work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability and uses a subscription model. Subscriptions can be canceled at any time.

How do I start working with her?

Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling according to therapist availability. The questionnaire helps match needs and preferences.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Stress, Anxiety
Family conflicts
Parenting issues

Experience: 5 years
Licensed: California
Languages: English, Spanish