- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- EMDR and DBT elements
About Desiree
Desiree Alvarado is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with licensure in California and Texas and four years of clinical experience. She works with adults dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, anger, relationship concerns, grief, parenting strain, and career or life changes. Desiree also addresses issues like self-esteem, intimacy-related problems, and compassion fatigue.
She uses a client-centered approach to help people talk through thoughts and behaviors that lead to unwanted reactions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is commonly used to spot thought patterns and build practical coping skills. Mindfulness exercises and grounding techniques are often woven into sessions to reduce reactivity and increase present-moment awareness.
Desiree draws on experience from child welfare, domestic violence work, mental health court programs, substance use treatment, and work with law enforcement and first responders. That background informs how she supports people who have complex trauma, addiction histories, or safety concerns in relationships. She emphasizes straightforward tools that can be used between sessions.
Sessions focus on identifying triggers, practicing new responses, and building routines that lower anger and impulsivity. EMDR is listed among her clinical approaches for processing trauma, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills are used when emotional regulation is a core issue. Motivational strategies may be part of the plan when someone is working on recovery from substance use.
Desiree aims to help clients develop realistic, usable strategies rather than quick fixes. She invites people to begin by describing what they want to change, then works collaboratively to set achievable steps toward those goals.
How Desiree integrates therapeutic approaches online
Client-Centered Therapy puts the person's goals at the center of work. It focuses on listening, reflecting, and shaping sessions around what the client identifies as important, which helps when anger is linked to relationships or life stress.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the thoughts and behaviors that fuel anger. Sessions teach ways to notice automatic thoughts, test them, and practice alternative responses that reduce escalation at work or home.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills can be used to improve emotional regulation and distress tolerance. These are practical tools for handling intense feelings, stopping impulsive reactions, and building healthier communication habits.
Finding the right approach is treated as a collaborative process. Desiree will work with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences, and may combine elements from different approaches as needed. The plan is adjusted over time based on what helps most.
The site notes session logistics during sign-up, so confirm current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. If someone prefers exercises, thought records, or skills practice between meetings, those can be assigned and reviewed in subsequent sessions.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
4+ years
Listed in
California, Texas
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of anger-related issues are addressed?
She works with anger that shows up as loss of temper, built-up resentment, or reactivity tied to trauma, relationships, work, and parenting.
How would she approach my anger in sessions?
Sessions use a client-centered frame and often include CBT techniques to identify thinking patterns and DBT or mindfulness skills to manage strong emotions.
What is her background with trauma and addiction?
Her experience includes work in child welfare, domestic violence services, mental health court programs, and substance use disorder settings, which informs care for complex trauma and addiction.
What credentials and region does she practice under?
She is an LCSW licensed in California and Texas and is listed with a practice location in California.
Can I have sessions in another language?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How much do sessions cost and how are they billed?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.