Therapist profile
Dr. Julia Kaluga, LMFT
California
Doctor of Psychology - LMFT, Anger and Relationship work
Continue with JuliaKey details
- CredentialsLMFT
- LicenseLMFT, California / 93579
- NPI1700290012
- Experience14 years
- LanguagesEnglish, Russian
- LocationCalifornia
About
- ACT techniques
- CBT strategies
- DBT skills
About Julia
Dr. Julia Kaluga is a Doctor of Psychology and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in California with 14 years of experience. She works with adults who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, substance use, trauma, grief, low self-esteem, and concerns related to LGBT issues. Sessions are offered in English and Russian.
Her style is straightforward and practical. She focuses on what matters day to day - managing strong feelings, repairing strained relationships, and handling life transitions. In session she listens, helps name what is happening, and suggests tools people can try between meetings.
Dr. Kaluga draws on several evidence-based approaches to guide therapy. She uses cognitive behavioral techniques to notice and change unhelpful thinking patterns. Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy help people tolerate difficult emotions while keeping sight of personal values. Dialectical Behavior Therapy offers concrete skills for emotion regulation and distress tolerance.
Clients who contact her can expect a mix of practical skill-building and conversational work about goals and values. She helps people practice new responses to anger, anxiety, or grief and checks in on what actually works in daily life. She also integrates coaching elements when people want focused help with work or career decisions.
Her background includes long-term clinical work with adults facing trauma, addiction, and relationship strain. She works from California and assists English and Russian speakers. If someone wants to begin, they complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session through the platform.
How sessions work
Therapeutic approaches and online work
Dr. Kaluga commonly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her work. ACT focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them while choosing actions that align with what matters. CBT breaks down patterns of thought and behavior, and offers small experiments to test new ways of responding to triggers.She also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy for people who need concrete skills in emotion regulation and distress tolerance. DBT provides step-by-step strategies for calming intense feelings and handling conflict more effectively.
Choosing the right approach is collaborative. She will talk with the client about goals, try methods that fit the person’s needs, and adjust based on what helps. The first sessions are often exploratory and focus on which skills feel useful in everyday situations.
The platform’s process starts with a short matching questionnaire and scheduling a first session. The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm the current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit meetings into a busy life - shorter check-ins, fewer travel demands, and the ability to schedule sessions around work or caregiving. Therapists can adapt exercises and homework for use between meetings so progress continues outside the session.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
14+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English, Russian
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address related to anger?
She helps people who struggle with anger alongside stress, relationship conflict, substance use, and grief. Anger is addressed as part of broader emotional and interpersonal work.
What is her therapy style like?
Her approach is practical and skills-focused. She combines conversation with exercises to try between sessions.
How much experience does she have?
She has 14 years of professional experience working with adults on mood, trauma, addiction, and relationship issues.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California and holds a Doctor of Psychology degree.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Russian.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How does cost work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is unsafe, use the crisis numbers.