Danielle Palomares (she/her)

I specialize in complex and developmental trauma (C-PTSD) alongside post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I have worked extensively with survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, narcissistic abuse, and recovery from cults/ religious abuse. On a systemic level, so many aspects of our culture are rooted in violence, and I often spend time processing intergenerational and racial trauma and systemic abuses.

I currently run an in-person and virtual consensual non-monogamy processing group in Pasadena, CA, and have the honor of supporting clients in the CNM community, including (but not limited to) folx in poly, open, solo poly, and swinging relationships. I also work extensively with relationships in transition-- transition due to gender changes, shifting sexuality, chronic illness, divorce, co-parenting changes, and blended family dynamics, to name a few. I absolutely love doing this work!

As mammals, I believe that safe, secure human attachment is a birthright. My clients and I spend a lot of time looking at the role of attachment in their lives, including present-day relationships and childhood attachment with caregivers. As an attachment therapist, I see a huge part of my role as providing a contained space for clients to experience safe attachment, attunement, co-regulation and empathy in the room with me as well.

Internal Family Systems therapy made a huge mark on my own personal journey in psychotherapy, and I am honored to be able to provide IFS-informed parts work. I am also informed by Ego States and the Structural Dissociation Model. Parts work offers a nonpathologizing, imaginative way for us to make sense of our protective parts, cognitive dissonance & internal warfare that clients often describe experiencing, particularly in the wake of C-PTSD & trauma.

I am trained in Eye Motion Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), and have been lucky to study with trainers specialized in attachment-focused EMDR. AF-EMDR emphasizes front loading resourcing, stabilization, and a look at the role of attachment in our trauma histories and healing journeys. I am able to facilitate EMDR both in-person in Pasadena, CA as well as via telehealth. I often provide IFS and EFIT-interweaves for my EMDR clients, which can be incredibly powerful.

I have advanced training in Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples, as well as individuals (EFIT). I often describe EFT as the "Hufflepuffs" of the therapy world, as many EFT therapists are known for a gentle, affirming, compassionate, and soothing presence. EFT is highly experiential, meaning clients can expect to be guided towards accessing their deeper feelings and engage in visualizations and enactments in the room.

As a trauma therapist, I have worked extensively with complex-trauma, developmental trauma, and single incident traumas. Many of my client's traumatic incidents unfortunately involve abuse, including sexual abuse, intimate partner violence, domestic violence, and childhood sexual abuse. I also work extensively with clients to process systemic oppression and abuses, including recovery from cults/ religious abuse.