Lilian Zelaya-Coria, LCSW

Lilian Zelaya-Coria is a California Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with nine years of clinical practice. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and lists stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, anger, self-esteem, and coping with life changes among her primary concerns.

She offers a direct, practical approach. Lilian listens for how past experiences affect day-to-day feelings. She uses straightforward tools like journaling, guided imagery, and expressive arts to help people name and manage strong emotions. Sessions emphasize learning concrete coping skills that can be used between meetings.

Before becoming an LCSW in 2019, she completed a Master of Social Work at San Jose State University and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Sonoma State University. Her background includes work in early childhood mental health, nonprofit settings, Child Protective Services, and as a school therapist in K-12 education, where she supported students receiving special education services.

Her clinical stance is trauma-informed and strength-focused. She highlights evidence-based techniques such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, alongside solution-focused and family-systems ideas. She also incorporates mindfulness, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation to help people notice how emotions show up in the body.

In early sessions she focuses on building rapport and practical planning. People are invited to move at their own pace, try expressive strategies, and practice skills that reduce reactive responses and increase emotional control over time.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online work