Terese Ghilarducci, LMFT - Therapist in California

About Terese

Terese Ghilarducci is a licensed marriage and family therapist who blends client-centered care with practical tools. She draws on 25 years of experience supporting young people and families. Terese explains things plainly and helps parents understand next steps.

She often uses art and journaling to help kids and teens name what they are feeling. Terese spent many years as a school counselor in alternative education in the Bay Area. She worked daily with adolescents facing school phobia, stress and anxiety, depression, family conflict, and substance use.

Background and approach

She has also worked as a social worker with foster children and foster families, giving her direct experience with adoption and foster care situations. More recently she began counseling at an elementary school and continues to present classroom lessons on bullying, inclusion, and coping strategies. She runs support groups and helps students with making friends and managing school-related anxiety.

Parents often see concrete strategies they can use at home after a few sessions. Her approach is straightforward and collaborative. Terese listens first, then helps families try specific coping skills and communication techniques.

She adapts activities to a child’s age, using art or journaling when that helps children explain themselves. Terese holds a California LMFT, license number CA LMFT 36326. She works from California and conducts sessions in English.

Her background is especially relevant for parents looking for support around school, family dynamics, and parenting challenges.

Approaches and online support for families and school concerns

Client-centered therapy focuses on understanding each person’s experience. The therapist listens carefully and follows the child or parent’s lead, creating space for feelings and personal goals. This approach is helpful when a family needs steady support and someone to help them make sense of difficult emotions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, behaviors, and feelings connect. It breaks problems into small steps and teaches coping and problem-solving skills. CBT is useful for worry, school anxiety, low mood, and patterns that get in the way of daily life.

Mindfulness-based ideas teach simple ways to notice the present moment without judgment. Short practices and grounding exercises can help during stressful school days or moments of overwhelm. These techniques pair well with art and journaling for children and teens.

Terese works together with families to pick the right mix of approaches. She invites parents and young people to try different techniques and decides what fits based on goals and preferences. That collaborative process helps shape ongoing work.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to meet. Video calls let families keep face-to-face connection from home, phone sessions can be a quick option, and live chat or text messaging supports brief check-ins between sessions. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into school schedules and busy family life.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Mindfulness Therapy

Attention training: noticing thoughts and physical feelings as they arrive without being carried off by them. Much of it is practice you do yourself, so guidance over video or audio works much as it would in person.

Frequently asked questions

What problems does she commonly help with?

She works with stress, anxiety, family conflict, parenting concerns, school phobia, depression, grief, trauma, addictions, ADHD, and other related issues listed in her specialties.

What is her style in sessions?

She uses a client-centered approach, listening first and then collaborating on practical steps. Sessions often include art, journaling, and clear coping strategies for home and school.

How long has she practiced?

She has 25 years of experience, including long work as a school counselor with adolescents and earlier social work with foster children and families.

Where is she licensed and based?

She is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California with license CA LMFT 36326 and practices from that state.

Which languages are supported?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can international clients work with her?

She does not accept international clients at this time.

What formats are available for sessions?

She meets via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging.

How do I begin working with her?

Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Stress, Anxiety
Relationship issues
Family conflicts

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 25 years
Licensed: California
Languages: English

Next step

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