Erica Sandoval, LMFT
Calm guidance for stress and trauma recovery
Details
| Name | Erica Sandoval |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LMFT |
| Based in | California |
| Licensed in | California |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 7 |
About Erica
Erica Sandoval is a California-licensed marriage and family therapist who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and the effects of trauma and abuse. She also supports folks working on self-esteem, communication problems, and feelings of isolation. Erica writes plainly and aims to make the first steps into therapy feel less overwhelming.
Erica uses Narrative Therapy to look at the stories people tell about themselves. That helps separate a person from a problem and opens room for new meanings.
Background and approach
She pairs that with Client-Centered work, which keeps the conversation focused on each person's goals and lived experience. She also draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to spot unhelpful thinking patterns and Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills for emotion regulation when feelings feel intense. Sessions are conversational and practical, with tools you can try between meetings.
Erica emphasizes small, doable changes rather than big, immediate fixes. With seven years of experience, Erica has worked with people facing mood disorders, post-traumatic stress, social anxiety, and challenges around forgiveness, guilt, and control. Her approach blends active listening with targeted techniques to address both feelings and behavior.
Erica aims to create a calm space where clients can name problems and rewrite unhelpful narratives. She offers a steady, collaborative style and helps clients set clear goals for change.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Family conflicts, Trauma and abuse among the things Erica works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Mood disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Young adult issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Erica among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Erica among the ways she works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Erica among the ways she works.
- Existential Therapy: Listed by Erica among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Erica among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Erica among the ways she works.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Listed by Erica among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Erica among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Erica among the ways she works.
- Systemic Therapy: Listed by Erica among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Erica 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 Erica directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
Online approaches that help rewrite personal stories
Erica commonly uses Narrative Therapy to help people separate themselves from their problems and reframe difficult life stories. This approach is useful for people who feel stuck in a single story about themselves and want to explore alternative meanings and possibilities.She also uses Client-Centered Therapy, which centers the conversation on the client's experience and goals, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which breaks down how thoughts, feelings, and actions interact and then builds practical strategies to shift them. These methods work well for mood issues, anxiety, trauma-related patterns, and low self-esteem.
Choosing the right approach is a shared process. Erica will talk with each person about their needs and preferences, try methods that fit, and adjust over time so treatment matches real goals. That collaboration helps clients feel more involved and more likely to use what they learn.
Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility. Video is helpful for fuller conversations and visual cues, phone works well when bandwidth is limited, chat or messaging can suit quick check-ins or ongoing support, and text lets people write out thoughts between meetings. These options make it easier to schedule therapy around work, school, or caregiving.
Common questions about this listing
What concerns does Erica commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, and self-esteem issues, plus related concerns like communication problems, guilt and shame, isolation, and young adult issues.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is conversational and collaborative, blending Narrative and client-centered approaches with practical skills work from CBT and DBT.
How much experience does she have?
She has seven years of clinical experience working with people facing mood disorders, post-traumatic stress, and anxiety-related concerns.
What credential does Erica hold and where is she based?
Erica is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - LMFT - and practices out of California.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available online?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How are costs handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin therapy with Erica?
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 Erica 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 Erica where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
Explore online therapy options »
Or see other therapists in California »
This is a partner link. We will earn a commission if you sign up through it, at no cost to you. It does not change what you pay or the order of the listings.
Other listings in California
- Moushumi Ghose, LMFT - California
- Yanina Lambert, LMFT - California
- Stacey Sugar, MD, LCPC, LPCC - California
- Lisa Wyatt, LMFT - California
- All therapists for stress, anxiety »