Elly Fuentes

I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) who has dedicated my career to helping people reclaim ownership of their lives and rewrite the stories that no longer serve them. I earned my Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Florida and have extensive experience working with trauma, identity exploration, relationship issues, anxiety, depression, and suicide.

I currently see clients through my private practice, Rising León Therapy, while also working part-time at a bilingual counseling center, where I’ve supported a diverse range of clients across cultural, racial, gender, and generational backgrounds.

I work especially well with people who are used to being “the strong one” in their families, relationships, or professions—those who have carried others for a long time and are finally ready to be held themselves. I know how exhausting it is to keep everything together, and I offer a space where you don’t have to.

Also important: I’m not the type to just nod and say, “Mmm, how does that make you feel?” You’re getting someone real, someone fully present—and if we’re doing the work right, we’ll probably even laugh a little along the way.

My approach is direct, collaborative, and rooted in deep respect for your autonomy. I believe therapy should help you feel seen and stretched—held with compassion, but never coddled.

I primarily draw from Existential and Multicultural frameworks, helping clients explore meaning, identity, and values in a world that doesn’t always make those things easy. I integrate EMDR for trauma work, IFS for parts-based exploration, Gottman Method for couples and relational healing, and DBT skills to support emotional regulation and boundaries.

My style is warm, grounded, and often infused with humor. I’m not here to “fix” you—I’m here to walk alongside you as you reconnect with your own clarity, strength, and direction.

Clients often leave sessions with a mix of clarity, challenge, and empowerment. You can expect to feel deeply understood—but also gently (or firmly) called out when it matters. Our work together will help you:

• Identify and break through limiting patterns
• Process trauma and internal conflict
• Build healthier boundaries and relationships
• Understand yourself on a deeper, more integrated level
• Reconnect with your values and sense of purpose

Whether you’re trying to heal, rebuild, or just figure things out, my job is to help you feel less stuck—and more powerful.