Dr. Estella Lerlo, LMFT

California LMFT specializing in relationships and trauma

Stress and anxiety support
Relationships and intimacy healing
Attachment-focused therapy

About Dr. Estella Lerlo

Dr. Estella Lerlo is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in California with 14 years of professional experience. She specializes in helping people manage stress and anxiety, navigate relationship and intimacy challenges, and recover from trauma and abuse. Her practice also addresses self-esteem concerns and a wide range of relational and life issues such as abandonment and attachment difficulties, blended family dynamics, codependency and commitment struggles, communication problems, infidelity and forgiveness, first responder stress, post-traumatic stress, isolation and loneliness, and questions of life purpose and money concerns.

As an LMFT Dr. Lerlo focuses on the interpersonal patterns that shape emotional life, using approaches suited to relationship repair, trauma healing, and improving everyday coping skills. She works to create an open, nonjudgmental environment where thoughts and feelings can be expressed honestly and explored collaboratively. Dr. Lerlo recognizes that beginning therapy takes courage and affirms each person for taking that first step. She provides care in English and brings a practical, compassionate orientation to help people clarify goals, build connection, and move toward greater wellbeing.

Areas of Expertise

Primary Focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesSelf esteem

Additional Focus Areas

AbandonmentAttachment issuesBlended family issuesCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsCoping with natural or human-caused disasterFirst responder issuesForgivenessInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSelf-loveWomen's issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic Approach

Attachment-Based Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) Gottman Method Mindfulness Therapy Motivational Interviewing Narrative Therapy Solution-Focused Therapy Somatic Therapy Trauma-Focused Therapy

Frequently Asked Questions

How much experience does Dr. Estella Lerlo have?

Dr. Estella Lerlo has 14 years of professional experience.

Is Dr. Estella Lerlo a licensed therapist?

Yes. She holds the credential LMFT, which stands for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Her California license is CA LMFT 147318.

In which languages does Dr. Estella Lerlo provide therapy?

She provides therapy in English.

Where is Dr. Estella Lerlo located?

She is located in California.

How can I work with Dr. Estella Lerlo as my therapist?

You can work with Dr. Estella Lerlo through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.

Does Dr. Estella Lerlo work with international clients?

Dr. Estella Lerlo does not currently work with international clients.

How much does therapy with Dr. Estella Lerlo cost?

The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist's availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, click the "Start Therapy" button on this page.

How can I get started with therapy?

Getting started with therapy is quick and straightforward. Click the "Start Therapy" button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.

Attachment and Emotion-Focused Approaches for Online Care

Attachment-Based Therapy centers on the ways early relationships shape current patterns of connection and trust. It helps people and couples identify attachment needs, recognize triggers tied to past loss or abandonment, and build more secure, responsive ways of relating.

Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) focuses on the emotional experiences that underlie interactions in relationships. This approach helps partners or individuals access and process core feelings, improve emotional communication, and create stronger bonds through greater emotional responsiveness.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) offers practical tools to identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and to develop skills for managing anxiety, stress, and trauma-related symptoms. CBT is often used alongside relationship-focused work to support clearer thinking and healthier coping.

Finding the right blend of methods is part of the therapeutic process. Dr. Lerlo collaborates with clients to determine which approaches best match their needs, goals, and preferences, and adjusts the plan as work progresses. Licensed professionals and therapists tailor strategies so clients feel supported while exploring change.

Online therapy through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging makes this collaborative work more accessible and flexible. These options allow scheduling around busy lives, enable continuity during transitions, and support consistent progress whether sessions are real-time or ongoing through messaging.

Ready to start therapy with Dr. Estella Lerlo?

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