Lilian Zelaya-Coria

Lilian Zelaya-Coria is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in California who brings a bilingual Latinx perspective to her practice. She opens sessions with warmth and patience to help people take the hard first step toward change. Lilian encourages clients to move at their own pace while learning coping skills that fit their lives.

She has nine years of experience as an LCSW and over fifteen years working in mental health settings. Her background includes non-profit work, Child Protective Services, and school-based therapy in K-12 settings. Lilian has supported people dealing with anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, anger, and related stressors.

Lilian uses a trauma-informed, strengths-based approach. She combines practical tools such as journaling and guided imagery with mood-regulation exercises. Mindfulness and somatic practices like progressive muscle relaxation are offered to help people notice and shift physical stress responses.

Her work is collaborative and solution-focused. Lilian often helps clients reflect on patterns, try new ways of coping, and build emotional resilience. She describes herself as a sounding board who also offers concrete strategies when people get stuck.

Lilian also addresses cultural and immigration concerns, codependency, communication and family challenges, guilt and shame, and feelings of isolation and loneliness. She provides therapy in English and Spanish and emphasizes meeting each person where they are.

Approaches that help people process trauma and build coping skills

Lilian uses evidence-based techniques focused on practical skills and healing. One approach she often draws on is Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which helps people name thoughts and feelings linked to traumatic events and learn new ways to respond. Another is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which looks at how thought patterns affect mood and behavior and teaches concrete strategies to change unhelpful thinking.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Lilian collaborates with each person to pick methods that fit their needs and goals. She listens to preferences and adjusts pace and tools as therapy unfolds so the plan feels manageable and relevant.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm the current session options before booking since formats are not specified here. Online sessions can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. They also let people continue care from different locations within the therapist's service area. A therapist will help tailor session length and frequency so therapy fits into everyday life.