- Trauma informed
- Parenting support
- English and Spanish
About Elena
Elena Zacarias de Palacios is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California with 30 years of experience. She helps people dealing with trauma and abuse, grief and loss, parenting struggles, low self-esteem, and big life changes. She also supports people through pregnancy and childbirth concerns. Elena speaks English and Spanish, and she encourages anyone who is ready to take a step toward support to reach out.
Elena believes each person is the expert on their own life. She listens closely and follows the lead of the person in the room. Sessions aim to build on existing strengths and practical coping skills. The work tends to focus on clear, usable steps rather than on long explanations.
Her style centers on empathy and respect. She uses Client-Centered Therapy to create a warm, nonjudgmental space where people can talk through what matters most to them. She also draws on hypnotherapy and Internal Family Systems when those approaches seem helpful for a person's goals.
Elena frames therapy as a collaborative process. Together clients and she set goals and try things that feel manageable. Progress is tracked in small, concrete ways so people can notice change over time.
Her long experience includes supporting people through traumatic events and loss, and guiding parents through practical concerns. The aim is steady, realistic improvement that fits into a person's daily life.
How these approaches can work online
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening, acceptance, and following the client’s lead. It helps people who need a calm, steady space to talk through difficult events, build confidence, and clarify goals. Hypnotherapy uses guided relaxation and focused attention to help with symptoms like anxiety, motivation, or sleep problems when someone wants a more experiential method. Internal Family Systems looks at different parts or voices inside a person and aims to help those parts feel heard and less reactive; it can be useful for trauma responses and self-esteem struggles.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels comfortable. Together they decide whether Client-Centered conversations, hypnotherapy techniques, or Internal Family Systems work best for the situation and will adjust as needed.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so please confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, save travel time, and allow brief check-ins when schedules are tight. It also lets people work from a location that reduces interruptions, use audio-only when bandwidth is limited, or choose a session length that fits a lunch break. Elena will help find what practical setup best supports each person’s progress.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
30+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English, Spanish
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Elena help with?
She supports people working through trauma and abuse, grief and loss, parenting challenges, low self-esteem, and major life changes, with additional focus on pregnancy and childbirth.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is client-centered and empathic, emphasizing listening and building on a person’s strengths to set practical goals and steps.
What kind of experience does she have?
She has 30 years of professional experience helping people with trauma, grief, parenting, motivation, and self-esteem concerns.
What credentials and region are listed?
She is an LMFT licensed in California and works as a California-based therapist.
Are sessions offered in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are fees and payments handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin therapy with her?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.