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Arlene Bagain Rivera, LPCC

Age Group Served
adults
Therapy Format
individuals
Treatment Focus
acute-stress-disorder, post-traumatic-stress-disorder, sexual-abuse, traumatic-grief, anxiety, depression, trauma-and-ptsd, self-esteem
Types of Therapy
Attachment-based/Relational Therapy
Compassion Focused
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Integrative
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
LGBTQ+ Affirming
Trauma-Focused
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Insurance Accepted
Out of Network
Can Prescribe Medication: No
Offers Sliding Scale: No
Accepting New Therapy Fund Clients: No
Last modified: June 11, 2026

Arlene Bagain Rivera, LPCC

In-Person / Virtual: tele
License Number(s): LPCC 2587
States / Provinces Served: California
Ethnicity: Filipino/a
Racial Identity / Culture: second-generation-asian-immigrant
Languages Spoken: English
Sex/Gender: Female

I support Asian and Asian‑American adults residing in California who are carrying more than they show on the surface — the quiet anxiety, trauma, identity stress, and emotional weight that often goes unspoken in our families and communities. As a second‑generation Filipina-American, I understand how cultural expectations, intergenerational patterns, and unspoken roles can shape the way we move through the world. My approach is warm, steady, and culturally attuned, offering a space where you don’t have to explain everything for it to make sense.

I specialize in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy for C‑PTSD (complex PTSD), childhood trauma, childhood abuse and neglect, attachment injury, relational wounds, and long‑standing patterns that feel hard to shift. Many of my clients are thoughtful, high‑functioning adults who have spent years relying on strength, self‑sufficiency, or perfectionism to get through. Together, we slow down, work with the nervous system, and create room for healing that feels safe, grounded, and sustainable.

In addition to EMDR Therapy, as a foundationally trained DBT Therapist, I integrate DBT (Dialecticla Behavior Therapy) skills for clients who want practical tools for emotional regulation, boundaries, and communication. My style is collaborative and paced with care — never rushed, never one‑size‑fits‑all. You’ll have space to explore your experiences with clarity and compassion, and to reconnect with parts of yourself that may have been overlooked or pushed aside.

If you’re looking for a therapist who understands the nuances of cultural identity, family dynamics, and the quiet burdens many of us carry, I’d be honored to support you.