01 · Who Stella works with

Stella works with stress, Anxiety, relationship issues and trauma and abuse

Stella lists 5 specialisms and 23 further focus areas. Specialisms are the subjects Stella chose to list first, which is the closest a listing gets to “this is my actual practice”.

02 · In Stella's own words

What Stella says about the work

Reproduced in full and unedited - not summarised, not tightened, not rewritten in a house voice.

As a licensed therapist in California with four decades of experience, I specialize in supporting individuals through complex emotional landscapes. My professional journey has been dedicated to helping clients navigate challenges related to depression, anxiety, relationship dynamics, trauma recovery, and self-esteem development.

Drawing from my extensive clinical background, I offer a compassionate and culturally sensitive approach that honors each person's unique lived experience. I am bilingual English-Spanish. I understand the nuanced ways life experiences shape our emotional well-being, and I'm committed to creating a supportive, affirming therapeutic environment.

My approach centers on empowering clients to discover their inner strengths, develop resilient coping strategies, and cultivate meaningful personal growth. I bring deep empathy, professional expertise, and a genuine commitment to walking alongside you as you work through life's most challenging moments.

I welcome individuals seeking thoughtful, experienced guidance in their healing journey, with a particular understanding of the needs of diverse communities and older adult populations.

Stella Galarza De Saggese, on the BetterHelp listing · read 7 Oct 2026

03 · What happens next

From this page to a first session

Stella practises through BetterHelp, so the route in is BetterHelp's. This is that sequence, written by Maker Therapy from the platform's published process - not a description of Stella's own practice, and not a promise about how quickly anything happens.

1. A questionnaire, not a booking form

   BetterHelp opens with a set of questions about what you are dealing with, what you want from therapy, and any preferences on the therapist. You are not booking Stella at this point.

2. Naming Stella specifically

   BetterHelp matches algorithmically by default, so asking for Stella is a step you have to take. There is a field for requesting a specific therapist during sign-up, and you can switch afterwards from your account. Starting from a link on this page does not by itself assign you to Stella.

3. If the caseload is full

   You will be offered somebody else rather than put on a waitlist. Worth knowing, because it is easy to assume a match is the person you asked for.

4. The first conversation

   A first session is typically history and orientation: what brought you, what has been tried, what you want to be different. It is also where the questions in the next section belong.

5. If the fit is wrong

   Changing therapist on BetterHelp does not need a reason. A first session that does not click is common and is not a verdict on therapy. That option existing is the main practical difference between a platform and a private practice.

04 · Before you commit

4 questions worth asking Stella

Built from what Stella actually lists, so they are answerable and specific rather than generic. Maker Therapy's, not Stella's - Stella has not seen them and is under no obligation to answer any of them.

• “How do you decide when someone is ready to work on a traumatic memory itself?”

  Pacing is the biggest safety question in trauma work. A clear, unhurried answer here matters more than any credential.

• “With 40 years in, what has changed most in how you work?”

  Long experience is only an advantage if it has been examined. This tends to surface whether it has.

• “How do you handle the gap between sessions if something comes up?”

  On BetterHelp this varies a great deal by therapist. Better to know the rhythm now than to discover it on a bad week.

• “You offer sessions in English and Spanish. Does the work change depending on which we use?”

  People often reach different material in a first language than in a second. Worth naming before you choose.

05 · Practical details

Credentials and licensing

Credential

LPCC

Licensed in

California

Licence

CA LPCC 4690

Licence number

4690

Licence expires

31 Dec 2027

NPI

1326545146

Years in practice

40

Gender

Female

Languages

English, Spanish

International clients

Accepted

Listed since

15 May 2026

06 · Provenance

Where every line on this page came from

Stella's name, credential, state, subjects, approaches and biography are read from BetterHelp's therapist roster, which Maker Therapy re-reads once a day; this page reflects the reading taken on 7 Oct 2026. The licence number and NPI are cross-checked against public registers.

The plain-English method descriptions, the first-session walkthrough and the questions are written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such wherever they appear.

Maker Therapy is not BetterHelp, does not take bookings, and has not met Stella. There are no reviews or ratings on this page because we have no way to verify one. If you start therapy through a link here, we may be paid a commission - it does not change your price and it does not affect who appears here or in what order.

Something on this page wrong or out of date? Report it and it will be checked against the source.