Cecilia Samartin, LMFT
Compassionate therapist who focuses on personal stories
Details
| Name | Cecilia Samartin |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LMFT |
| Based in | California |
| Licensed in | California |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 20 |
About Cecilia
Cecilia Samartin is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) based in California who helps people navigate relationship strain, grief, parenting challenges, low self-esteem, and major life changes. She brings two decades of clinical experience to sessions and focuses on finding practical meaning in painful moments so clients can move forward. Cecilia centers conversations on each person’s story.
She listens for the themes that shape how someone understands themselves and their relationships.
Background and approach
From there she uses narrative ideas alongside client-centered methods to help people rewrite unhelpful patterns and make choices that match their values. Her work also draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to spot and shift thoughts and behaviors that keep people stuck. Psychodynamic ideas inform attention to past experiences that influence current reactions.
Solution-focused strategies support quick, concrete steps when immediate change is needed. In practical terms, sessions aim to be collaborative and down-to-earth. Cecilia tends to use clear language and short-term goals when useful, while leaving room for deeper exploration when that is needed.
She frames difficulties like abandonment, attachment struggles, caregiving stress, body image, and family of origin issues as stories that can be retold with more agency. Clients can expect a steady, empathetic presence and a focus on skills they can use between sessions. Cecilia views setbacks as part of learning and encourages small experiments that build confidence over time.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Relationship issues, Grief, Parenting issues among the things Cecilia works with, alongside the areas below.
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Parenting issues
- Self esteem
- Coping with life changes
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Avoidant personality
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Immigration issues
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Narcissism
- Personality disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Cecilia among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Cecilia among the ways she works.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Listed by Cecilia among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Cecilia among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Cecilia directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Cecilia directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How narrative and practical approaches work online
Cecilia uses Narrative Therapy to help people look at the stories they tell about themselves and their relationships. This approach examines how events have been interpreted and offers ways to retell difficult experiences so they feel less defining. It can help with attachment issues, grief, and patterns that repeat in relationships.She also draws on client-centered therapy, which focuses on listening and responding to each person’s needs in a nonjudgmental way. This method supports building trust and helping someone find their own solutions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, used when helpful, targets specific thoughts and behaviors to create practical change and reduce distress.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with clients to decide which methods fit their goals, background, and current situation. That process can change over time as needs evolve and new challenges arise.
Online formats offer practical advantages for many people. Video calls let sessions feel near face-to-face, phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier during a busy day, live chat works for shorter check-ins, and text messaging supports ongoing reflection between meetings. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, caregiving, and daily routines while keeping the focus on meaningful change.
Common questions about this listing
What concerns does she help with?
She supports people facing relationship trouble, grief, parenting stress, low self-esteem, and coping with life changes. Additional focus areas include attachment issues, abandonment, caregiver stress, body image, and family of origin concerns.
What is her therapeutic style?
Her style is collaborative and down-to-earth, with an emphasis on listening to each person's story. She helps clients reframe unhelpful patterns and set small, practical goals.
How much experience does she bring?
She has 20 years of clinical experience working with a range of personal and relational issues. That experience shapes a steady, practical approach to therapy.
What credentials and region should I know about?
She is a California licensed marriage and family therapist, listed as LMFT, and practices in California.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
How are sessions delivered?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to match different needs and schedules.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Cecilia are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Cecilia where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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