Kirsten Suarez, LMFT

Kirsten Suarez is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT, practicing in California with three years of clinical experience. She works with people dealing with stress, anxiety, parenting struggles, anger, depression, relationship strain, bipolar concerns, ADHD, and coping with life changes. Sessions are conducted in English and she does not take international clients.

Before becoming an LMFT, she spent many years in behavior analysis, working with people diagnosed with autism and other developmental differences. That background influences how she observes patterns and breaks problems into manageable steps. She has experience with caregiver stress, codependency, obsessive-compulsive concerns, panic attacks, and intellectual disability-related issues.

Her approach mixes practical, evidence-based methods. She uses cognitive behavioral techniques to spot unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors. She draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to clarify values and on Solution-Focused methods to set short-term goals. Mindfulness and Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills are used for emotion regulation and tolerating distress.

In sessions she keeps the work collaborative and straightforward. Conversations focus on what is happening now and what can be tried next. Treatment plans are adjusted based on how an intervention is working rather than on imposing a fixed protocol.

People who come for help with anger often leave with concrete tools for pausing before reacting, clearer communication strategies, and small steps to reduce built-up resentment. She emphasizes practical practice between sessions so new skills carry into everyday life.

Approaches used in online sessions