Terese Ghilarducci , LMFT

Terese Ghilarducci is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in the Bay Area of California with 25 years of professional experience. She brings a long history of working with adolescents and their families, combining her background as a social worker with many years serving school communities. Over a 17-year period she worked as a school counselor at an alternative education site, supporting students facing school phobia, stress and anxiety, depression, family challenges, and substance use concerns.

In the fall of 2024 she began serving as a school counselor at an elementary school, where she continues to offer classroom presentations on bullying, inclusion, and coping strategies, and to facilitate support groups. Her earlier experience also includes work with foster children and their foster families, which informs her understanding of attachment, placement, and family dynamics.

Terese emphasizes a client-centered approach that honors each person's perspective and goals. She often incorporates art and journaling to help clients explore feelings and patterns in a concrete, creative way. She offers a welcoming space for individuals and families to share their stories and to build practical skills for managing school-related concerns, relationships, and life transitions.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Terese frequently uses a client-centered approach, which focuses on listening closely to each person's experience and building treatment around their priorities. This approach helps clients feel heard and supported while they work toward personal goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is another common method she uses; CBT looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact and teaches practical skills to reduce anxiety, manage mood, and change unhelpful patterns. Mindfulness therapy may also be integrated to teach present-moment awareness and simple practices that reduce stress and increase emotional regulation.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Terese works collaboratively with clients to decide which methods fit best based on their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting strategies as progress is made. This partnership helps tailor sessions to what is most useful for the individual or family.

Online therapy offers flexibility for busy families and individuals through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to attend sessions from home, coordinate around school or work schedules, and maintain continuity of care when in-person meetings are not possible, while still working with licensed professionals and therapists toward meaningful change.