LCSW, 10 years of experience
New to Grow
My name is Diana Pacheco, LCSW, and I am a licensed clinical social worker committed to helping adults reduce stress, improve relationships, and manage the challenges of anxiety, ADHD, and mood disorders. My clinical approach combines CBT, ACT, and IPT with psychodynamic principles to create a structured yet supportive therapy process. Clients can expect a balance of empathy, practical strategies, and clinical expertise designed to help them make measurable progress and long-term changes.
In our first session, we’ll discuss your current concerns, your history, and what you’re hoping to achieve in therapy. I will provide a clear overview of the process, answer any questions, and begin working with you to identify achievable goals. The focus is on building comfort and clarity from day one.
I am trained in IPT and experienced in CBT, ACT, psychodynamic, and strengths-based approaches. My strength lies in integrating these modalities to provide treatment that is flexible yet effective, helping clients address immediate concerns while also fostering long-term growth.
I specialize in working with individuals who want to better manage stress, improve their relationships, and navigate periods of transition. Many of my clients come to therapy looking for a blend of structured tools and meaningful insight into the root causes of their struggles.
I have extensive experience using CBT, as it is one of the most evidence-based frameworks for treating anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns. In my practice, I help clients identify unhelpful thought patterns, challenge distorted beliefs, and experiment with new coping behaviors. CBT is especially useful for clients seeking structure, practical tools, and measurable progress. I often combine CBT interventions with other approaches to create a flexible and individualized treatment plan.
I use ACT to help clients develop psychological flexibility by identifying values, practicing mindfulness, and learning to respond differently to difficult thoughts and emotions. My experience with ACT is rooted in guiding clients to shift from avoidance toward acceptance, allowing them to create meaningful change without being held back by distress. I incorporate ACT tools such as defusion, acceptance strategies, and values clarification into sessions when clients feel stuck in rigid patterns of thinking or behavior.
I am formally trained in IPT and have used it extensively to support clients navigating life transitions, grief, relationship difficulties, and role changes. In practice, I help clients explore the link between mood and current or past relationship patterns, identify interpersonal challenges, and develop healthier ways of relating. My IPT work emphasizes communication skills, boundary-setting, and processing loss or change, allowing clients to feel more connected and supported in their daily lives.
I incorporate psychodynamic principles into my practice to help clients explore how past experiences and relationships may shape present emotions and behaviors. By paying attention to recurring themes, relational patterns, and underlying dynamics, I support clients in uncovering deeper insights into themselves. This process often leads to greater self-awareness, emotional clarity, and the ability to create more intentional and fulfilling changes in their lives.
I take a strengths-based approach to empower clients by highlighting their existing skills, resilience, and resources. This perspective helps clients recognize what is already working well in their lives and use those strengths as tools to overcome challenges. Whether a client is facing anxiety, relationship concerns, or personal growth goals, I emphasize their capacity for resilience and growth, ensuring that treatment feels collaborative and affirming.