Kirsten Suarez, LMFT

Kirsten Suarez is a California-based marriage and family counselor who combines clinical training and years of applied behavior work to support individuals and families through a wide range of life challenges. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - LMFT - licensed in California in 2018, and she is also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), a credential that reflects specialized training in behavior assessment and intervention. Her background in behavior analysis includes more than a decade of work with people diagnosed with Autism and other developmental delays, and she brings that expertise to both neurodiverse clients and adults facing mood and anxiety concerns.

Kirsten works with adults presenting with depression, anxiety, anger, attention differences, parenting challenges, relationship strain, and major life transitions. Her approach is warm, collaborative, and nonjudgmental, emphasizing respect and sensitivity rather than stigmatizing labels. She integrates cognitive-behavioral techniques, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, solution-focused strategies, and humanistic principles to create treatment plans tailored to each person s needs.

In sessions she focuses on practical skills and present-moment solutions while remaining attentive to long-term goals. Therapy with Kirsten is framed as a team effort focused on improving daily functioning, relationships, and overall quality of life. She welcomes clients who are ready to take courageous steps toward change and aims to provide support and empowerment throughout the process.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Kirsten draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to address thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in practical ways. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages people to clarify personal values and take meaningful action even in the presence of difficult feelings - it can be helpful for anxiety, stress, and adapting to life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and anger and to improve coping skills. Kirsten also uses Solution-Focused Therapy to highlight strengths and build concrete steps toward immediate goals, which is often useful for parenting challenges, relationship concerns, and problem solving.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Kirsten works collaboratively with each client to determine the best fit based on individual needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts methods over time so the plan remains aligned with progress and changing priorities.

Online therapy offers flexible access to licensed professionals through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life transitions, and receive consistent support from a therapist who can tailor interventions to daily routines and real-world challenges.