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About Denise Neeley, LMFT

I believe people heal when they feel truly seen, heard, and understood. Not diagnosed, not fixed, just met.

I provide grounded, compassionate care for adults and couples in Placentia, CA and virtually across California.

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Why I Do This Work

I grew up needing to be very good at making sure everyone around me was okay. I was the strong one. The capable one. The one who had it together. I also know what it costs to live that way, and that's not a small part of why I became a therapist. My office is a place where you don't have to earn your worth by holding it together. It's grounded, authentic, and it's yours.

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My Story

I've spent 29 years sitting with people as their stories unfold in real time, including in the chapters that feel the most tender, the most stuck, or the most ashamed. What always drew me in wasn't the technique. It was the honor of being let into someone's actual life, including the parts they've never said out loud before.

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A woman with brown hair sitting on a white couch, holding a black textured tumbler in one hand and a notebook with a pen in the other, wearing a light pink and white striped shirt and dark pants, in a minimalistic room with a large green plant and plain white textured wall.

Who I Am, Outside the Office

Give me a great hike, a new city to wander with the people I love, and a good excuse to dance, and I'm genuinely happy.

I love music, and my playlist is basically a mood ring: Beyonce and Bruno Mars when I need something fun, Allen Stone and H.E.R. when I want something grounding, James Taylor when I'm feeling nostalgic.

I have a legitimately never-ending sweet tooth, hunting down the best cupcakes, cookies, or donuts wherever I travel is one of my favorite ways to chase a little whimsy.

I'm also still figuring out how to slow down and stay present myself, growth isn't something any of us finish, it's a lifelong process, and that's exactly the space I'll hold for you too.

What Therapy Is Like With Me:

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The Tone

In our sessions, you can expect warmth, expertise, and genuine care: a space where you can bring your whole self, including the parts of you that are struggling the most.

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The Format

We won't just talk in circles. We'll look at the deeper roots of your patterns: how past experiences and relationships have shaped what feels automatic in your present.

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The Outcome

My goal isn't just symptom relief. It's to help you feel more grounded, emotionally resilient, and connected to yourself and the people you love, with insight that lasts well beyond our sessions.

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Education & Credentials

License: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

Experience: 29 years in practice, working with individuals, couples, and families ages 18+

Specializations: EMDR Trained (EMDRIA), Gottman Method Trained (Couples), Emotionally Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

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How To Get Started:

01. Reach Out — Fill out the brief consultation form to start the conversation.

02. Connect — We’ll have a free 15-minute phone consultation to discuss your goals and answer questions.

03. Begin the Work — Meet in-person or virtually to create a path toward lasting healing.

BOOK A CONSULTATION CALL