Darlene Classen

Finding a therapist who understands your language, your family history, and the weight of carrying more than one culture changes what therapy can do. I offer virtual therapy in English and Spanish to teens, young adults, families, and LGBTQIA+ clients across Florida. I specialize in anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, life transitions, and cultural identity issues, and I hold specialized training in maternal mental health, because new parenthood, loss, and identity shifts often do not come with clear language for what you are feeling. I am Darlene Classen, LCSW (she/her), and I would love to connect with you.

I work from a trauma-informed, strengths-based foundation: which means we start with what you're carrying, not what's "wrong" with you. I primarily use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing, adapting the approach to what actually fits your life and goals. I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all model. Sessions feel more like a structured conversation than a lecture. I'll ask questions, challenge patterns when useful, and give you tools you can actually use between appointments. My cultural background informs how I understand the pressure that family expectations, immigration history, identity, and community belonging can place on mental health, and I bring that lens to the work without making assumptions.

The first session is a two-way conversation. I'll ask about what's been going on, what's brought you to therapy now, and what you're hoping to feel differently about six months from now. You don't need to have it all figured out before you arrive. Showing up is the hard part. By the end of session one, you'll have a sense of where we're headed and what working together actually looks like. I keep a limited schedule intentionally, which means I'm fully present with every client I take on. If you're looking for a therapist who will actually remember your story from one week to the next, that is what you get here.