Hidden Gems: Meet Desiree De Pace of A Therapist Near Me

Today we’d like to introduce you to Desiree De Pace.

Hi Desiree, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My path to becoming a therapist began nearly two decades ago, shaped by determination, long nights, and an unshakable belief in the power of growth. As a first-generation college student and biracial woman, I often found myself navigating systems not designed to support diversity, inclusion, or nontraditional students. Both higher education and the workforce in the United States often overlook the realities of working parents, caretakers, and marginalized communities.

Higher education, in particular, isn’t built for students with complex lives — childcare is expensive and difficult to access, with waitlists that can stretch from months to years. Many degree programs also require evening or weekend classes, making balance nearly impossible. These same structural barriers continue into the workforce, where flexibility and support for parents and caretakers remain limited, forcing people to constantly choose between their families, their education, and their careers.

I put myself through both undergraduate and graduate school while raising my daughter as a single parent and caring for my mother. There were countless late nights studying after my daughter went to bed, missed dinners, and difficult financial choices that required constant sacrifice. I often felt like I was running on determination and caffeine, trying to hold everything together while still showing up for the people who depended on me. Those years were exhausting, but they strengthened my resilience and taught me how to adapt in the face of uncertainty.

I was incredibly fortunate to have a strong community of close friends, family, and chosen family who supported me emotionally and practically. They stepped in when I needed help the most — offering childcare, encouragement, and moments of laughter when things felt overwhelming. I also had exceptional mentors who challenged me to grow, encouraged me to persist, and provided opportunities to conduct and publish research. Those experiences deepened my understanding of the field and shaped my commitment to providing evidence-based care grounded in compassion and cultural competence.

All of these experiences inform my work today. They taught me perseverance, empathy, and the importance of creating spaces where people feel seen and supported — especially those navigating systems not built for them. That vision became the foundation of The Therapist Near Me, where I strive to make therapy accessible, inclusive, and rooted in cultural humility. Today, I’m honored to provide telehealth therapy to children, teens, adults, and elders across California.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My path has had its fair share of challenges, but each one has shaped the therapist I’ve become. There were seasons marked by uncertainty, exhaustion, and self-doubt. There were moments when I questioned whether I was capable of doing it all. But those experiences taught me something invaluable: that growth often happens in the tension between perseverance and vulnerability.

What I once saw as obstacles became lessons in empathy, boundaries, and balance. I learned the importance of asking for help, resting when needed, and extending the same compassion to myself that I encourage in others. The challenges I faced also taught me a deep gratitude for the present, for the moments of calm between the chaos, and for the people who chose to hold me to a higher standard when I doubted myself. Their belief in me pushed me to rise, to stay grounded, and to keep growing.

Those insights directly inform how I work with clients today. When someone sits across from me feeling overwhelmed, inadequate, or like they’re falling behind, I understand that feeling on a human level. My role isn’t to tell them to “push through,” but to help them recognize their capacity for resilience and to remind them that struggle isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s often the birthplace of strength.

We’ve been impressed with A Therapist Near Me, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My practice, The Therapist Near Me, was created with a simple mission: to make mental health care accessible, inclusive, and grounded in cultural competence and authenticity. I provide therapy via telehealth, serving children, teens, adults, and elders across California.

I work with clients navigating anxiety, depression, life transitions, identity development, relationship challenges, and trauma. I’m EMDR-trained and use a range of evidence-based approaches, including CBT, REBT, TF-CBT, solution-focused, narrative, and psychodynamic therapies. But more than any technique, I focus on the belief that my clients are not broken. They’ve adapted to their environments in ways that once kept them safe. My role isn’t to “fix” them, but to help them develop new tools to navigate life when those old survival skills no longer serve them.

What sets The Therapist Near Me apart is its foundation in cultural humility, inclusivity, and genuine human connection. As a biracial therapist and first-generation college graduate, I know how powerful it is to feel seen and validated. I strive to meet each client with compassion, curiosity, and respect — not assumption.

I’m most proud that my work stands for equity, inclusion, and access. The Therapist Near Me is about creating a space where people feel understood, empowered, and supported in rewriting their stories. Therapy, to me, isn’t about erasing pain, it’s about helping people reconnect with their resilience and rediscover the parts of themselves that have always been strong.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is witnessing growth in myself, my clients, and my community. Watching someone begin to believe they’re not broken, but resilient and capable, is incredibly rewarding. It’s a privilege to witness those moments of transformation and to be trusted with someone’s healing journey.

Outside of my work, I find happiness in simple, grounding moments with my loved ones — cooking together, laughing, or just sharing quiet space after long days. I also love hiking, spending time in nature, and learning new things. Those moments remind me to stay present and connected to life outside of work.

I’ve also learned to find joy in the ordinary, mundane tasks that fill daily life because living itself is such a privilege. For me, happiness isn’t a single event or achievement; it’s a practice of gratitude, connection, and finding meaning in both the stillness and the chaos.

Pricing:

• I accept private pay and insurance, but pricing varies depending on session length, type of service, and insurance coverage. Readers are welcome to contact me directly for details.
• 175 per 53 minutes for individuals w/ out insurance
• 200 per 53 minutes for couples & families w/ out insurance

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thetherapistnearme.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/findatherapistnearme?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61566898791551