Desiree Maldonado-Peluffo

Practical, trauma-aware therapy for stress and relationships

LICSW Massachusetts

Experience: 10 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English, Spanish

About Desiree

Desiree Maldonado-Peluffo is a licensed clinical social worker practicing in Massachusetts who helps people navigating stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, family conflict, and depression. She brings ten years of professional experience and a trauma-informed perspective to support clients seeking practical coping skills and renewed hope.

Background and approach

Her work emphasizes building tools to improve emotional regulation and strengthen connections with oneself and others. She draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, mindfulness practices, and Internal Family Systems to tailor interventions to each person's needs.

Desiree focuses on reducing the control that negative emotions and unhelpful thinking patterns exert, while using mindfulness to stay grounded in the present and foster valued action. Therapy with her aims to combine emotional support with concrete strategies for personal growth and healthier relationships.

Approach-Focused Care Delivered Online

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms and improve daily functioning; it is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related difficulties. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy emphasizes clarifying personal values and learning to accept difficult emotions while committing to meaningful action, which can help during major life changes and when working through avoidance patterns.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Desiree works with clients to explore which methods fit their goals, preferences, and challenges, and she adapts techniques over time so therapy aligns with what the client finds most helpful.

Online sessions via video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging make regular therapy more flexible and accessible for many people. These formats allow continuity of care across locations and provide options for those who prefer shorter check-ins, ongoing messaging, or longer face-to-face video conversations, supporting engagement in treatment on a schedule that fits everyday life.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Desiree commonly address?

She works with stress, anxiety, relationship and family problems, depression, and challenges tied to life transitions. Additional focus areas include attachment and abandonment issues, codependency, communication and control issues, dissociation, mood disorders, narcissism, PTSD, SAD, social anxiety, and young adult concerns.

What is her therapeutic style and approach?

Her practice integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, mindfulness techniques, and Internal Family Systems to combine skill-building with exploration of internal patterns. The style blends practical strategies with present-moment awareness and internal work.

How much clinical experience does she bring?

She has ten years of professional experience working with people facing trauma, mood concerns, and interpersonal challenges. That background informs a trauma-aware approach to therapy.

What are her credentials and where does she practice?

She holds an MA and is a LICSW licensed in Massachusetts with licence number MA LICSW LICSW121390. Her practice is based in Massachusetts.

Which languages are available for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English and Spanish. She is not accepting international clients at this time.

What session formats are offered?

Clients can meet through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on availability and preference. Multiple formats allow flexible ways to stay engaged in therapy.

How does payment and cost work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided via a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. Exact pricing depends on those factors.

What are the steps to begin working together?

To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability. Scheduling is arranged based on openings in her calendar.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsDepression Coping with life changes

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAttachment issuesCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDissociationFamily problemsLife purposeMood disordersNarcissismPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Social anxiety and phobiaYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

10+ years

Licensed

Massachusetts

Languages

English, Spanish