Diana Gelfand

Originally from Illinois, I have had the opportunity to live and work in both California and Florida, and I am now licensed in 5 states. My career has been deeply rooted in child welfare and pediatric medical social work, which has given me a strong foundation in supporting families through complex, emotional, and often overwhelming seasons of life. Both my professional background and personal experience as a foster/adoptive parent of three children with special needs and medical complexities have inspired my work with parents and caregivers facing similar challenges. I understand the constant advocacy, grief, exhaustion, love, uncertainty, and emotional weight that can come with caring for a child with unique needs. My goal is to offer a compassionate, practical space where you feel understood, supported, and no longer alone in what you are carrying.

My approach is warm, collaborative, honest, and deeply informed by both clinical experience and lived experience. I work with parents, caregivers, and families navigating special needs parenting, medical complexity, child welfare involvement, anxiety, stress, grief, burnout, trauma, family transitions, and the emotional toll of constantly having to be strong. In session, we may talk through the unexpected twists, the ongoing advocacy, the hard decisions, the moments of grief, and the process of accepting what is while still finding a way forward. My style is supportive and practical, but also real. I believe therapy should be a place where you can put down the weight for a moment, feel understood without judgment, and build tools that help you care for yourself while caring for the people who need you.

Our first session is about getting to know you as a whole person, not just checking boxes on an intake. We will talk about what brought you to therapy, what life looks like right now, and what kind of support you need from this space. Whether you are navigating caregiver stress, parenting a child with special needs, medical trauma, anxiety, grief, burnout, family challenges, or the exhaustion of always advocating for someone else, we will begin at a pace that feels comfortable. My priority is to build a relationship where you feel safe, supported, and understood. My hope is that you leave the first session feeling less alone and more confident that you have a place to process the highs, the lows, and everything in between.