Deana Medina

Compassionate, practical therapy for lasting change

LMFT California

Experience: 4 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Deana

Deana Medina is a California-licensed marriage and family therapist who focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, self-esteem concerns, depression, and life transitions. She emphasizes respectful, sensitive, and compassionate care, and works to create individualized plans that match each person's needs and goals.

Background and approach

With four years of clinical experience, Deana aims to support clients through difficult changes and to build practical skills for increased well-being. Her practice includes attention to attachment issues, communication difficulties, guilt and shame, impulsivity, isolation, and mood-related concerns.

She also addresses multicultural considerations, obsessive-compulsive patterns, post-traumatic stress, social anxiety, and workplace challenges. Deana draws on evidence-informed methods including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to tailor conversations and interventions to each client.

She frames therapy as a collaborative process and offers consistent support as clients take steps toward greater fulfillment.

Therapeutic Methods and Online Access

Deana uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and shift unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, often applied to anxiety, depression, and stress-related difficulties. She also incorporates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to support clients in clarifying values and developing psychological flexibility, which can be helpful for coping with painful emotions and life changes. Attachment-Based Therapy informs work around relationship patterns, trust, and emotional connection, especially when early relational experiences contribute to current struggles.

Deciding which approach fits best is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to explore goals, preferences, and responses to different strategies, adjusting methods as progress unfolds and new needs emerge.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for scheduling and communication style. These formats can make it easier to attend sessions from different locations and to maintain continuity of care when life demands change, while still allowing a licensed professional to guide therapeutic work.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist commonly address?

Deana focuses on stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, depression, and coping with life changes, along with related issues like attachment, communication problems, guilt and shame, impulsivity, isolation, mood disorders, OCD symptoms, post-traumatic stress, self-love, social anxiety, and workplace issues.

What is the therapist's general approach to treatment?

The practice emphasizes respectful, sensitive, and compassionate care with individualized treatment plans. Deana integrates methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Attachment-Based approaches, Client-Centered work, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy as appropriate to each client's needs.

How much clinical experience does the therapist have?

Deana has four years of professional work experience as a licensed therapist in California.

What credentials and location are listed for this therapist?

She is a licensed marriage and family therapist with the designation CA LMFT 144292 and practices in California.

Are sessions offered in languages other than English or to international clients?

Sessions are conducted in English, and this therapist is not currently accepting international clients.

Which session formats are available for working together?

Available formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different communication preferences.

How is cost handled for therapy with this clinician?

Costs vary by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin therapy here?

To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuse Self esteem Depression Coping with life changes

Additional focus areas

Attachment issuesCommunication problemsForgivenessGuilt and shame Impulsivity Isolation / loneliness Mood disordersMulticultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCD Post-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