Paola Soto-Ruiz

Compassionate support for stress and trauma recovery

LCSW Florida

Experience: 8 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Attachment-Based Therapy
Languages: English, Spanish

About Paola

Paola Soto-Ruiz is a Florida-licensed clinical social worker who focuses on helping people navigate stress, anxiety, grief, and life transitions. With eight years of professional experience, she supports clients working through depression, family conflicts, and challenges with self-esteem and motivation.

Background and approach

She brings a compassionate, respectful stance to each interaction and tailors conversations and care plans to each person’s circumstances. Her work integrates a range of approaches, including cognitive behavioral strategies, attachment-informed techniques, client-centered listening, EMDR for trauma processing, and solution-focused tools to target practical change.

Paola’s practice pays attention to multicultural concerns and issues related to identity, self-love, and the needs of women and young adults. She emphasizes collaboration, helping clients set meaningful goals while offering guidance and skills to build resilience and confidence.

Clients who choose Paola can expect an individualized process aimed at clarifying values, improving coping, and making steady progress toward the changes they want. She accepts English and Spanish speakers and sees international clients from her Florida practice, adapting her methods to fit each person’s preferences and life situation.

Therapeutic approaches and online support

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify and change unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors, offering practical skills to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on relationship patterns formed early in life and helps people build more supported, trusting connections and healthier ways of relating. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) provides a structured method for processing traumatic memories and reducing their emotional intensity when trauma is a central concern.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey, and Paola works collaboratively with clients to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. She tailors techniques and pacing so clients feel heard and involved in decisions about their care.

Online sessions can be delivered through video calls, phone conversations, live chat, or text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These formats make it easier to maintain continuity of care while balancing work, family, and other commitments, and they allow Paola to adapt communication style and tools to each client's situation.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Paola commonly help with?

She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, self-esteem challenges, depression, coping with life changes, family issues, and grief, with additional focus on attachment, multicultural concerns, post-traumatic stress, self-love, women's issues, and young adult concerns.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Her style blends client-centered listening with practical techniques such as CBT and solution-focused methods, and she incorporates trauma-focused approaches like EMDR when appropriate.

What is her background and experience?

She has eight years of professional experience working with a range of emotional and relational concerns and applies that experience to individualized treatment plans.

What credentials and location are listed for her?

She holds the credential LCSW and is licensed in Florida with license number FL LCSW SW19646.

Can I work with her in English or Spanish and from another country?

She offers services in both English and Spanish and accepts international clients.

What session formats does she offer?

Sessions are available via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences.

How are costs and scheduling handled?

Costs vary with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

What is the process for getting started with her?

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

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

Also works with

Family conflictsGrief

Additional focus areas

Attachment issuesMulticultural concernsPost-traumatic stressSelf-loveWomen's issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Solution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

8+ years

Licensed

Florida

Languages

English, Spanish