About Darlene
Dr. Darlene Viggiano helps people facing relationship problems, trauma and abuse, addiction concerns, grief, anxiety, and parenting stress.
Background and approach
She sees individuals who struggle with intimacy, sleep, anger, self-esteem, career changes, bipolar and depressive challenges, ADHD, and compassion fatigue. Darlene practices from California and has 18 years of clinical experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist.
She uses approachable, practical methods in sessions. Conversations focus on current problems and specific steps people can try between appointments.
She draws on attachment work to look at patterns in close relationships and on cognitive-behavioral ideas to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Emotion-focused methods are used when stronger emotional connection or repair is needed.
Darlene earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology and has a long history working in intensive outpatient programs and clinical supervision. Her background includes case management, training paraprofessionals and students, and running workshops on dream work and transpersonal topics.
She has written two books that address bereavement and dream experiences. Over the years she has worked with people impacted by childhood molestation, dual diagnosis, infidelity, perinatal substance use, and domestic violence-related issues.
She has led anger management and couples communication work, and has experience with process addictions and substance addictions. Her practice blends direct problem-solving with attention to meaning and attachment patterns.
Sessions aim to be clear, goal-focused, and tailored to the person in front of her. People who want to learn specific skills and also understand deeper relationship patterns often find this a useful mix.
How therapy approaches translate to online care
Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationship patterns shape current bonds. Online sessions can help people name these patterns, practice new ways of connecting, and test different responses in ongoing relationships. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and changing behaviors that keep problems going. In an online format, CBT tools like activity planning, thought records, and skill rehearsals fit well into short video or messaging exchanges. Emotionally-Focused Therapy aims to deepen emotional understanding between partners or within a person so feelings and needs can be expressed more clearly; it can be used in individual sessions to clarify emotions and prepare for more connected conversations with others.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. That conversation guides whether attachment, CBT, emotion-focused work, or a mix is emphasized, and it will be adjusted over time as needs change.
Online formats provide flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face interaction for deeper emotion work. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier when steady internet is not available. Live chat or text messaging suits brief check-ins, skill practice, and people who prefer written exchanges. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, caregiving, or other busy schedules while keeping the focus on practical tools and relationship patterns.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
Also works with
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Family of origin issues
- Grief
- Infidelity
- Intimacy-related issues
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Multicultural concerns
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Self esteem
- Sex addiction
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sleeping disorders
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Stress, Anxiety
- Women's issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Existential Therapy
- Gottman Method
- Hypnotherapy
- Imago Relationship Therapy
- Jungian Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Somatic Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
- Experience
- 18 years
- Licensed
- California
- Languages
- English