Madeleine Clelland
I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who works best with adults, couples, and families who want more than surface-level coping alone. Many of the clients I work best with are thoughtful, self-aware, and trying to make sense of patterns in their relationships, identity, emotions, or family dynamics that no longer feel sustainable. My approach is compassionate, direct, and insight-oriented, and I integrate evidence-based methods to help clients move toward greater clarity, healing, and meaningful change.
First session
In our first session, my goal is to help you feel grounded, understood, and clear about what brings you to therapy. We'll talk about what is currently weighing on you, any important background or patterns that may be relevant, and what you hope will be different through our work together. You do not need to come in with everything perfectly organized or figured out. I'll help guide the conversation so we can begin identifying both what hurts and what may be most important to focus on.
Strengths
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to combine depth with clarity. I help clients look honestly at patterns, relationships, and internal conflicts without losing sight of practical change. I am especially strong at helping people make sense of complex emotional experiences, family dynamics, trauma-related patterns, and parts of themselves that may feel conflicted, protective, or difficult to understand. Clients often appreciate that my style is both compassionate and direct, and that I can hold nuance without becoming vague.
Ideal clients
I work especially well with adults, couples, and families who are seeking deeper insight into themselves, their relationships, and the patterns that may be keeping them stuck. Many of the clients I work best with are thoughtful, self-reflective, and ready to look honestly at the stories, protective patterns, and internal conflicts shaping their lives. They may be struggling with identity, relationships, trauma, anxiety, or family dynamics, and are looking for therapy that is both compassionate and direct.
Treatment methods
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
I use Internal Family Systems (IFS)-informed work to help you as the client better understand and relate to different parts of yourself that carry pain, protection, conflict, or vulnerability. In practice, I integrate this approach to support greater self-awareness, compassion, internal balance, and healing of parts that may be stuck in longstanding roles or burdens.
Attachment-based
I use an attachment-based approach both in individual and family therapy, to help clients understand how early relational experiences shape their current patterns in relationships, emotional regulation, and sense of self. In practice, I use this framework to explore recurring interpersonal dynamics, build greater insight and security, and support you as the client in developing healthier ways of relating to yourself and others.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I use DBT-informed interventions to help you as the client build skills in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness. In practice, I integrate DBT to support you in managing intense emotions, strengthening coping strategies, and responding to stress in ways that are more balanced and effective.
EMDR
I use EMDR to help you as the client process distressing experiences that continue to affect present-day functioning, emotional responses, and self-beliefs. In practice, I integrate EMDR to support reprocessing of traumatic or disruptive memories, reduce symptom distress, and help you as the client move toward greater resolution, stability, and adaptive functioning.
Narrative
I use narrative therapy to help clients examine the stories they hold about themselves, their relationships, and their lives, especially when those stories have become limiting or problem-saturated. In practice, I integrate narrative approaches to support greater insight, externalize problems, and help you as the client move toward more empowered and values-consistent ways of understanding yourself.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Doesn't specialize in
Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 160261