LMFT, 14 years of experience
My name is Palei, and I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California with over 10 years of experience. I primarily use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, but my approach is anything but one-size-fits-all. My passion is helping people create a safe space to explore, process, and better understand the complexity of who they are. I consider myself an unorthodox therapist—I self-disclose when it’s appropriate, because I want my clients to know I’m a real person, not a detached clinician. My own life experiences, from childhood to now, have shaped a deep sense of empathy and authenticity in the way I show up for others. What sets me apart is my positive attitude and the fact that I practice what I teach. The same skills I share with clients are ones I use daily in my own life, and they’ve allowed me to create a life worth living. I’ll never ask something of my clients that I wouldn’t ask of myself, and I believe that makes our work together grounded, genuine, and collaborative.
My primary goal is to create a safe and supportive space where clients feel they can be vulnerable, honest, and open to new ideas. Trust is the foundation of the work we do together, and I aim to build that from the very first session. During our initial meeting, we’ll complete a thorough biopsychosocial assessment, gather background information, and explore what brings you to therapy at this point in your life. I’ll also share more about who I am and how I work, so you know what to expect moving forward. The first session is designed to feel approachable—I do most of the talking and you simply answer questions. You don’t need to dive too deep right away; instead, we’re setting the stage for connection and understanding. From the start, my focus is on creating an environment where you feel safe, supported, and heard, so that together we can build a strong foundation for your growth and healing.
I’m known for my compassion, advocacy, and ability to connect with people who’ve struggled with providers in the past. Many clients tell me they finally feel safe, heard, and understood. While my goal is always to work myself out of a job by helping clients become stable and grounded, I’m honored when people say they only want to work with me. Therapy with me isn’t all heavy—I bring humor and energy to sessions, and I’m told I’m pretty good at finding a client’s smile (my track record is about 99%).
I work with people from all walks of life—professionals, college students, parents, retirees—anyone open-minded and ready to collaborate. While I treat anxiety, trauma, and depression, my passion lies in ADHD, which is often overlooked or misdiagnosed as mood and anxiety disorders. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition you’re born with, yet too often symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity get mislabeled as laziness, defiance, or “potential wasted.” This especially affects women and men with inattentive presentations, who quietly struggle in school, work, or relationships while being misunderstood. My own late diagnosis in my 30s was life-changing—it explained years of being treated for depression and anxiety without addressing the root cause. Since then, I’ve helped more than 50 clients get properly evaluated and supported. Time and again, when ADHD is treated, the depression and anxiety tied to chronic misunderstanding and overwhelm begin to ease. I believe people with ADHD aren’t broken—they’re often bright, creative, and thrive in environments that engage them. My goal is to help clients uncover what’s really going on, build skills, and finally receive the support and dignity they deserve.
The CBT model recognizes that thoughts, influence feelings, which influence our actions or behaviors. I am of the belief that our thoughts are so inherently powerful that by engaging in negative thinking, such as self deprecating, self loathing, irrational, thinking, causes negative feelings that then present themselves by the way we behave in the world. If you’re feeling more distressed, or out of control then skills to address the maladaptive behavior is crucial in changing the way we think and feel about ourselves and therefore the way we behave in the world. CBT is full of skill building and strategies that help assist with maintaining more control over our thoughts so that we may have more control over ourselves and our lives.
1 rating with written reviews
April 22, 2025
She is amazing hands down. I can tell she's going to be the best therapist I've ever seen!