Dove Salerno

Welcome! I’m so glad you’ve found this space, where I hope you find something that says “I could belong here”… “I could be REAL here” to you. My goal is to create a space, an actually safe space, where my clients know they can show up with their most true, authentic self and that its honorable in my office, to do just that. It’s not about how awful, or even how awesome you have been or could be. Let’s set that aside and just human together as we make sense of what you’ve been through and what you want from it moving forward. I don’t believe it’s helpful to go to someone to have them tell you who or what you should be or do. I want to come alongside you, get in your corner and work with you. At the same time I’ll help you shape cognitive, behavioral and emotional needs with healthy coping strategies, relationship tools, attainable goals, deeper self awareness, and intentional joy in life. Please feel welcome to message me with any questions about what the therapy process with me might look like. I’d love to connect with you! I'm here, choosing this path in life as a therapist, because these same roads have blessed my own life more than I could put words to on an About Me page. I've felt, first hand, how my own life traumas, hardships and achievements were made beautiful in their time through the artful tag team of an awesome psychotherapy clinician and a brave heart. A little more about me... I worked my butt off through my Bachelors in Individual and Family Psychology at Loyola Marymount University. After graduation, I trained and worked as a Lead Behavioral Therapist at a highly respected private organization called First Steps For Kids, a leader in Applied Behavioral Analysis treatment in California. There, I provided in-home, quality behavioral therapy (ABA) to children with Autism, as well as individualized behavioral parent training sessions for family members. At this point, I felt inspired by my own personal therapy experience, education and fresh eyes in the field, realizing a societal need for strong and compassionate mental health that didn't have to feel stuffy or intimidating to be effective. I wanted to pursue a role in mental health service that felt wholehearted, person centered and effective for lasting life change. So the next step was to decide to pursue my dream and earn my Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology. I graduated with honors from Azusa Pacific University (because the course content and experience was rad), while continuing to work as a restaurant manager and a school counselor at a local private K-8 school. During this time, I also grew some strong community roots as I married my childhood best friend and made a home in Orange County. I grew my private practice under the direct, excellent and wholehearted supervision of Laura Rothafel LMFT as I completed 3000+ hours of clinical experience and training. Since then, I have become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (Search “Dovonya Salerno” #11310) and absolutely love running my practice and seeing my clients every week. I also enjoy a balance of being a mama to my active little boys. In my work, I constantly have the thought that it is an absolute honor for me to be in my client’s corners and walk along side them... and I hope to connect with you soon too! Warmly, Dove