Elissa Padilla, LMFT

Elissa Padilla is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in California. She brings three years of clinical experience focused on helping people manage anxiety, depression, stress, and life transitions. Elissa speaks English and offers sessions by video, phone, live chat, and text messaging to fit different schedules and needs.

Her work is practical and straightforward. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot unhelpful thinking and change behaviors. She also draws on Emotionally-Focused and psychodynamic ideas to understand relationship patterns and emotional history. Sessions are collaborative and aimed at clear, manageable goals.

Elissa often supports people facing parenting strain, caregiver stress, grief, and substance-related concerns. She also addresses ADHD, bipolar mood challenges, trauma and abuse, and issues like guilt, shame, and trust after infidelity. Her background includes counseling and case management roles in behavioral health settings.

In the session, she balances empathy with action. Clients can expect conversational sessions that identify one or two practical steps to try between meetings. Progress is tracked in simple ways so people can see what is changing.

Elissa encourages people who are ready to work on relationships, emotional regulation, or coping with major life changes to reach out. The first steps are a short intake and a conversation about goals. From there she helps shape a plan that fits daily life and responsibilities.

Approaches and online care that fit your life

Elissa uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thought patterns and try different behaviors. CBT often focuses on practical skills for anxiety, depression, and coping with change. She also uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy ideas to look at how emotions shape relationships and connection, which can help with attachment, commitment, and relationship strain.

Choosing an approach is a team effort. Elissa discusses your goals and preferences in the first sessions and recommends which methods to try. She adjusts the plan as progress is made so the work stays relevant to your day-to-day needs.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video lets you have a face-to-face conversation when schedule and bandwidth allow. Phone sessions can be a good choice when you need a shorter check-in or lower bandwidth. Live chat and text messaging are useful for brief check-ins, tracking mood between sessions, or when typing feels easier than talking. These options make it simpler to fit therapy into work, parenting, and other responsibilities while keeping treatment focused on your goals.