Lilian Zelaya-Coria

Lilian Zelaya-Coria is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California with nine years of clinical experience. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and brings a calm, practical presence to sessions. Lilian focuses on helping people who struggle with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, anger, self-esteem, and major life transitions.

She believes therapy should fit the person, not the other way around. Sessions start by getting to know the client and exploring current symptoms and life patterns. Lilian uses straightforward tools like journaling, guided imagery, music, and expressive activities to help people name feelings and practice new coping skills.

Her background includes work in early childhood mental health, non-profit settings, Child Protective Services, and as a school-based therapist for K-12 students. This range of roles informed how she supports clients dealing with trauma, grief, family conflict, substance concerns, and behavioral challenges.

Lilian describes her approach as trauma-informed and strengths-based. She draws on evidence-based practices while adapting techniques to each person’s needs. She also includes somatic methods such as mindfulness, progressive muscle relaxation, and meditation to help clients notice and shift patterns held in the body.

People who connect well with Lilian often want a warm, collaborative style and practical strategies to manage emotion and increase resilience. The work is paced to match each person’s boundaries and goals.

Approaches that guide online work and learning

Many of Lilian's techniques come from evidence-based therapies that focus on changing thinking and calming the body. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people notice unhelpful thought patterns and practice new ways of thinking and behaving to reduce anxiety and anger. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy adapts CBT methods to address traumatic events, helping people process painful memories and build coping skills.

She also uses somatic and mindfulness-based practices in sessions to help clients feel how emotions show up in the body. These exercises include breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and guided imagery to support mood regulation and self-soothing during stressful moments.

Choosing the best approach is a collaborative process. Lilian will work with each person to test techniques, see what helps, and adjust pace and tools based on goals and preferences. The plan evolves from week to week as needed.

The original biography did not list specific online formats. Please confirm current session options before booking. In general, online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove commuting time so therapy feels more manageable alongside work, school, or family responsibilities.