IFSTherapists

The therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp and we will earn a commission if you use our link - at no cost to you.

LMFT

Elena Zacarias de Palacios, LMFT

  • Experience30 years
  • LocationCalifornia
  • Focus areasTrauma and abuse, Grief, and Parenting
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Client-Centered Therapy
  • LanguagesEnglish and Spanish
Continue with Elena

Review online therapy options and next steps on BetterHelp.

About Elena

Elena Zacarias de Palacios is a California-licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with 30 years of clinical experience helping people navigate trauma and abuse, grief and loss, parenting challenges, self-esteem, and life transitions.

Background and approach

She also offers focused support around pregnancy and childbirth and brings a strength-based perspective that centers each person's own knowledge of their life. Her approach honors the client's expertise while offering evidence-informed tools.

Elena emphasizes exploring internal parts and patterns to understand difficult reactions, using Internal Family Systems alongside client-centered listening and hypnotherapeutic techniques to help clients build resilience and motivation. She aims to foster confidence and practical change through a collaborative, respectful process.

Elena works with English and Spanish speakers across California and frames the start of therapy as a courageous first step. Prospective clients complete a brief matching questionnaire and schedule sessions based on therapist availability, with subscription-based sessions that can be canceled at any time.

Integrating Internal Work and Client-Centered Care Online

Internal Family Systems helps clients notice and relate to different internal parts with curiosity and compassion, which can be useful for understanding responses to trauma, grief, and shifts in identity. Client-Centered Therapy prioritizes the client's experience by offering empathic listening and validation to support self-directed growth. Hypnotherapy uses guided relaxation and focused attention to access resources for coping and confidence building when appropriate.

Finding the right approach is part of the work; the therapist collaborates with each person to determine which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. Sessions often blend listening, parts work, and guided techniques so the plan evolves from ongoing conversation and shared decision-making.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to schedule care around daily life. These formats allow licensed professionals to provide continuity of support across different circumstances while accommodating varied communication preferences and availability.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she commonly address?
She works with trauma and abuse, grief and loss, parenting issues, self-esteem, and coping with life changes, and also has focused experience supporting pregnancy and childbirth concerns.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
The style is client-centered and strengths-based, prioritizing respectful listening and collaboration while helping clients explore internal patterns and build practical skills.
What is her professional background?
She brings three decades of clinical experience, offering long-term practice working with people facing trauma, grief, parenting challenges, and life transitions.
What credentials and location apply to this practice?
She holds an LMFT credential and is licensed in California under CA LMFT 128690.
In which languages can sessions be held and are international clients accepted?
Sessions are available in English and Spanish, and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are offered for online work?
Clients can meet via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on what fits their needs and schedule.
How are fees and payment arranged?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions operate through a subscription model that may be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working together?
Interested individuals select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Trauma and abuseGriefParenting issuesSelf esteemCoping with life changes

Additional focus areas

Pregnancy and childbirth

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyHypnotherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

30+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English, Spanish