Ian Palombo (he/him)

EdD, LCMHC, LPC
Accepting Clients

Becoming a dad changes everything — not just your schedule and the meaning of "free time," but also unexpected, hard to ignore questions.

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Durham, NC

About My Clients

For a lot of men, it brings up things they weren't expecting: the weight of responsibility, the quiet feeling that you're not doing it right, and a growing noise from your own childhood that's suddenly harder to ignore. I work with dads. That means new fathers who are just trying to figure it out, soon-to-be dads who have no idea what to expect, and fathers who are ready to try therapy for the first time — or return to it.

My Background and Approach

My approach is direct and curious. I draw on evidence-based tools like cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness to help you understand your patterns so you can change how you show up as a father and a partner. For most of my career I worked with athletes and high performers — people who were exceptionally good at pushing through, optimizing, achieving. What I kept seeing, underneath all of that, was the same thing: performance doesn't protect you from the hard stuff. It just gives you somewhere to put it. Fatherhood exposes all of that. it's a different challenge that doesn't reward grinding harder. It asks something different — more internal, honest, and patient. And for men who've spent their lives leading with competence, that can be disorienting. That's the work I care about. Helping dads who are capable and committed figure out what's actually in the way — not of performing better, but of showing up more fully. As a father. As a partner. As themselves.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

I believe everyone is deserving of love and belonging — not as an idea, but as a starting point for the work we do together. I understand that most of us carry parts of ourselves we've learned to shield from the world. That shielding makes sense — it kept us safe at some point. But it's usually that same fear that gets in the way of living and loving fully. I believe in generosity, in equality, and in the power of education to change how people see themselves and the world around them. I believe access to mental health care is a basic human right, not a privilege — and I try to practice in a way that reflects that. I am proudly LGBTQ+ allied. CedarPath is an affirming space, full stop.

Insurance Plans Accepted
  • Out of Network
I offer online counseling in the following states:

At A Glance

  • Experience: 13 years of practice
  • Languages: English
  • Rate: $225 - 225/session

Info

Email Ian
1200 Broad Street
STE 101
Durham, NC 27705

Reach out to Ian