Lilia Gonzalez-Joly

Guided support for relationships and self-growth

LMFT California

Experience: 16 years in practice
Focus areas: Relationship, Family, Trauma and abuse
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English, Spanish

About Lilia

Lilia Gonzalez-Joly is a California-licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with 16 years of clinical experience supporting people through relationship strains, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, and questions about career and life purpose.

Background and approach

She combines practical strategies with empathic listening to help clients build greater self-esteem, motivation, and confidence while addressing challenging emotional patterns such as guilt, shame, and forgiveness. Her style emphasizes creating an open, nonjudgmental space where thoughts and feelings can be explored honestly.

Lilia draws on approaches including cognitive behavioral techniques and attachment-informed work to help clients identify unhelpful patterns and develop new ways of relating to themselves and others. Many clients find her collaborative stance useful for clarifying goals and taking concrete steps toward a more fulfilling life.

Conversations focus on what matters most to each person, and she supports clients as they try new perspectives and skills. Bilingual in English and Spanish, Lilia offers guidance grounded in experience and a commitment to empowering people who are ready to move toward meaningful change.

Therapeutic approaches and online access

Many clients benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors to improve mood and problem-solving. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings while clarifying personal values and committing to meaningful actions. Attachment-Based Therapy explores early relationship patterns and their impact on current connections, helping clients build healthier ways of relating to others.

Finding the right approach is part of the collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to consider goals, preferences, and life circumstances and then tailor a blend of methods that fit the client's needs, adjusting the plan over time as progress and priorities emerge.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to fit regular sessions into a busy schedule. These options support ongoing work between appointments and allow people to access licensed professionals from different locations within California, helping maintain continuity of care even when schedules change.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she commonly address?

She works with relationship and family issues, trauma and abuse, self-esteem and career concerns, and related topics such as communication problems, guilt and shame, forgiveness, life purpose, and self-love.

What is her general therapeutic approach and style?

Her style is collaborative and nonjudgmental, blending empathic listening with practical skills. She helps clients clarify goals and apply therapeutic techniques to everyday challenges.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has 16 years of professional experience working with individuals on relationship, family, trauma, and self-esteem concerns.

What credentials and location should I know about?

She is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) practicing in California; her license is listed as CA LMFT 106107.

Which languages are available for sessions?

Sessions are offered in both English and Spanish to accommodate a wider range of clients in California.

In what session formats can I work with her?

She provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging as available session formats.

How are sessions billed and what does it cost?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin therapy?

Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuse Self esteemCareer difficulties

Additional focus areas

Communication problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameLife purposeSelf-love

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Gottman MethodJungian TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

16+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English, Spanish