Hi there, I'm Maritess! My name is Maritess "Tess" Florez and I am a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist (LMFT) working with California clients via telehealth. I work mostly with individuals from adolescents to adults, as well as collaboratively with parents/children ages 3-8. I also see couples and offer family sessions as the need arises. I work from a trauma-informed lens and am passionate about supporting my clients in navigating through the emotional challenges in their life to enable them to heal, have a voice, and feel empowered to be able to make the choices they need to live the life they want. My approach My approach varies based on my client's needs but is always compassionate, trauma-informed, and strength-based. It is also often attachment-based, emotion-focused, existential, gently directive, mindful, and somatic. I understand that there is no 'one size fits all,' so I do my best to tailor my approach to match my client and therefore spend a good amount of time getting to know my clients at the start of the therapy process. I may utilize any one or a combination of the following: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Narrative Therapy, as well as various somatic-based interventions. My focus My approach over the years has matched well with adolescents, teens, and young adults, including LGTBQ, and collaborating with parents and younger children, all of whom I have worked with in various settings from schools to residential facilities, community-based mental health organizations, and collaborative group practices. My approach has also paired well with adults, especially older adults.