Deana Medina, LMFT
Practical support for stress and trauma recovery
Details
| Name | Deana Medina |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LMFT |
| Based in | California |
| Licensed in | California |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 4 |
About Deana
Deana Medina is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and the effects of trauma. She aims to make the first steps feel less daunting and offers steady, respectful support as clients begin to build more satisfying daily routines and relationships. She uses a blend of approaches to match each person's needs.
Sessions are conversational and practical. Deana listens for patterns that shape how someone sees themselves and their problems, then helps them try small changes that feel doable.
Background and approach
Her work often centers on attachment issues, communication struggles, and feelings like shame, guilt, or isolation. She also supports people dealing with obsessive thoughts, mood problems, and workplace stress. The focus is on clear goals and skills people can use between sessions.
Deana draws on Narrative Therapy to reframe personal stories and on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to clarify values and take meaningful steps. She also uses Client-Centered and Cognitive Behavioral techniques to address thinking patterns and emotional reactions. With four years of professional experience in California, she brings a respectful, culturally aware stance to sessions.
People meet in formats that fit their lives, including video calls, phone, live chat, or text messaging. Deana aims to tailor each plan so it fits the person, not the other way around.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem among the things Deana works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Attachment issues
- Communication problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Workplace issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Listed by Deana among the ways she works.
- Attachment-Based Therapy: Listed by Deana among the ways she works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Deana among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Deana among the ways she works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Deana among the ways she works.
- Existential Therapy: Listed by Deana among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Deana among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Deana among the ways she works.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Listed by Deana among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Deana among the ways she works.
- Somatic Therapy: Listed by Deana among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Deana among the ways she works.
- Internal Family Systems: Listed by Deana among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Deana 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 Deana directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How therapeutic approaches work online with practical care
Deana commonly uses Narrative Therapy to help people separate themselves from difficult stories they tell about their lives; that makes it easier to notice other possibilities and rewrite how problems fit into their identity. She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which helps people clarify what matters to them and take value-driven actions even when unwanted feelings are present. Attachment-Based Therapy appears in her work when relationships and early patterns shape current reactions, with a focus on understanding those patterns and building more helpful ways of relating.Finding the right combination of approaches is part of the process. Deana will work together with each person to identify goals, try different techniques, and adjust the plan over time. She frames therapy as a collaboration where the client's needs and preferences guide which methods are used.
Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text messaging, which can fit different schedules and comfort levels. Video sessions make it easier to read facial cues, phone sessions use less bandwidth and can work well during a break, and text or live chat can support brief check-ins or ongoing reflections between meetings. These formats aim to increase flexibility and help people make steady progress without major disruption to their daily life.
Common questions about this listing
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
Deana helps with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, and self-esteem challenges. She also addresses attachment issues, communication problems, obsessive thoughts, workplace issues, and related mood concerns.
What is her therapy style like?
Her sessions are conversational and practical, with an emphasis on listening and small, doable changes. She tailors dialogue and strategies to each person's needs and goals.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has four years of professional experience working as a therapist in California.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT, licensed in California.
In which language are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How does payment and getting started work?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability and uses a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. To begin, choose the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Deana 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 Deana where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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