Paula Soria

Paula Soria is a Washington-based licensed mental health counselor with 24 years of professional experience. She helps people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, or depression. Paula also supports those who are facing parenting challenges and life transitions. She speaks English and Spanish and meets people with respect and compassion.

Paula focuses on tailoring conversations and plans to each person's needs. She works collaboratively to set goals and find realistic steps that fit daily life. Her approach is direct and down-to-earth, using practical strategies to manage symptoms and build coping skills.

Clients often bring concerns such as mood struggles, panic attacks, body image worries, or issues rooted in family of origin. She also supports people navigating caregiver strain, aging and geriatric matters, immigration-related stress, and multicultural concerns. Paula listens for what matters most and adjusts pace and focus accordingly.

Her work includes addressing communication problems, codependency, control issues, and dependent personality patterns. She helps people with eating and food-related issues, jealousy, and broader family problems. Sessions aim to increase awareness, reduce distress, and strengthen everyday functioning.

Paula encourages a steady, hopeful process rather than quick fixes. She asks questions, offers tools, and helps clients practice changes between sessions. Taking the first step can be hard, and she offers steady support through the journey.

How evidence-based techniques can work online

Paula uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques focused on practical change and coping skills. One common approach emphasizes identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them with real-life experiments to reduce anxiety and lift mood. This helps people notice patterns and try small changes that can ease worry and overwhelm.

Another useful approach focuses on grief and loss, offering ways to honor what matters while building routines that support daily functioning. This approach combines listening with step-by-step strategies to manage difficult feelings and maintain important relationships and responsibilities.

Choosing the right approach is usually a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and what has or has not worked before. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust them as needed.

If you are considering online sessions, confirm current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow short check-ins when needed. Ask about languages, scheduling, and any session format when you complete the matching questionnaire so you can find a plan that fits your life.