Lilian Zelaya-Coria, LCSW

Lilian Zelaya-Coria is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California with nine years of post-licensure clinical experience and a longer history in mental health care. She speaks English and Spanish and lists stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, anger, self-esteem, and coping with life changes among the issues she addresses. Lilian also notes a focus on codependency, communication problems, family problems, guilt and shame, immigration concerns, isolation and loneliness, multicultural issues, and self-love.

She describes a practice shaped by a trauma-informed, strengths-based perspective. Sessions begin with listening to what matters most to the client. Lilian uses journaling, music, guided imagery, and expressive arts to help people name and move through feelings. She also offers reflection and solution-focused work to help clients spot practical steps forward.

Lilian trained in psychology at Sonoma State University and earned a Master of Social Work from San Jose State University. She obtained the LCSW credential in 2019 and has worked in non-profit settings, with child protective services, and in a K-12 school environment providing mental health services.

Her approach blends evidence-based methods such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with skills from solution-focused and family systems work. She also integrates mindfulness, progressive muscle relaxation, and somatic practices to address how emotion shows up in the body.

In early meetings she focuses on getting to know the client, their goals, and whether the working relationship fits. She does not offer couples therapy and respects each person’s pace when exploring past experiences and learning coping tools.

Evidence-based approaches and how online work fits