IFSTherapists

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LMFT

Deana Medina, LMFT

  • Experience4 years
  • LocationCalifornia
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, and Self esteem
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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About Deana

Deana Medina is a California-licensed marriage and family therapist who focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, trauma, depression, and self-esteem concerns. She centers care on respectful, sensitive, and compassionate interaction, shaping conversations and treatment to align with each person's specific situation.

Background and approach

Deana encourages clients to recognize that reaching out for support is a courageous step and offers steady guidance through that process. Her work draws on a range of evidence-informed approaches, from Internal Family Systems to CBT and client-centered strategies, allowing flexibility in addressing issues like coping with life changes, attachment matters, and workplace stress.

With four years of clinical experience she integrates practical skills and reflective exploration to help clients build motivation, enhance self-love, and address symptoms of post-traumatic stress or obsessive-compulsive patterns. Deana tailors goals collaboratively so each plan reflects the client’s values and everyday realities.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Internal Family Systems is a way of understanding internal parts and their roles; in sessions it helps people notice different inner voices, build compassion for parts shaped by past experiences, and work toward more balanced internal leadership. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying personal values and learning practical skills to accept difficult feelings while committing to meaningful action, which can be useful for anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Attachment-Based Therapy explores patterns of relating and emotional bonds to help people identify how early connection styles influence current relationships and emotional responses.

Choosing the right approach is often a collaborative process. The therapist will listen to goals, preferences, and everyday challenges, then suggest strategies and adapt methods over time so therapy fits the client's needs rather than forcing a single model.

Offering video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging makes scheduling more flexible and allows work to continue across different settings and rhythms of life. These options support consistent progress by making it easier to attend sessions, practice skills between meetings, and maintain therapeutic momentum despite busy or changing routines.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, depression, and coping with life changes, and also focuses on issues such as attachment, workplace stress, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
What is the therapist's general style and approach?
The approach is compassionate and client-centered, blending reflective exploration with practical skills drawn from therapies like CBT and ACT to match each person's needs.
How much clinical experience does the therapist have?
The therapist has four years of professional experience working with the listed concerns and treatment approaches.
What are the therapist's credentials and where are they based?
She is an LMFT licensed in California with license number CA LMFT 144292 and practices from that state.
In what language are sessions offered and are international clients accepted?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not currently accepted.
Which session formats are available for online work?
Available formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different preferences and schedules.
How is cost and scheduling handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions are provided through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working with this therapist?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions based on therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changes

Additional focus areas

Attachment issuesCommunication problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessMood disordersMulticultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPost-traumatic stressSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Existential TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

4+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English