- Family of origin issues
- Attachment-based methods
- CBT and EFT techniques
About Erica
Erica Smith Jimenez is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California with 23 years of clinical experience. She works with adults on stress, anxiety, relationships, parenting concerns, grief, mood disorders, and family of origin issues. Erica also supports people facing ADHD, bipolar mood challenges, and career or life-direction questions.
She uses clear, direct conversation to help people name what’s happening and try different ways of responding. Sessions focus on practical coping skills, improving communication, and understanding how early family roles and expectations still affect current choices. Erica draws on attachment-based ideas to look at patterns between people. She also uses cognitive behavioral techniques to change unhelpful thoughts and emotionally-focused methods to address relationship pain.
Her approach is client-centered and collaborative. She listens to each person’s goals and then suggests steps to practice between sessions. Motivational interviewing helps when someone feels stuck or unsure about changing long-term habits.
Erica’s background as an LMFT means she has spent decades working with relational problems and parenting stress. She leans toward solutions that people can try right away, such as communication exercises and thought-record strategies for anxiety and mood shifts.
People who come for help often want clearer boundaries with family, less reactivity in relationships, or better tools to manage strong emotions. Erica encourages steady, practical work over time rather than quick fixes. If you want to explore how family patterns shape your life now, she offers a focused, straightforward way to do that.
How her approaches shape remote sessions
Erica integrates attachment-based work to identify how early relationships shape present patterns. That approach looks at roles people learned in their families and how those roles show up in current relationships. It is often useful for people exploring family of origin issues and connection problems.She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors. CBT is practical for anxiety, low mood, and the day-to-day strategies that reduce reactivity. Emotionally-Focused Therapy is used for relationship work and helps people name and move through strong emotions between partners or within themselves.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Erica treats how you respond to situations as something to test and adjust together. She will discuss goals, try methods that fit your needs, and check in about what feels helpful so you can shape the process collaboratively.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current online options before booking. Many people choose remote sessions because they can fit therapy into work breaks, quieter parts of the day, or when travel would be difficult. Remote work can also make shorter check-ins easier and reduce the need to arrange childcare or long commutes.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
23+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship and parenting concerns, grief, mood disorders, ADHD, and family of origin issues among other areas.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is direct and down-to-earth. She focuses on clear conversation, practical skills, and improving communication.
How much experience does she have?
She has 23 years of clinical experience working with relational and individual concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in California.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people from other countries work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions scheduled and what do they cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session to get started.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.