Desiree Maldonado-Peluffo, LICSW

Desiree Maldonado-Peluffo is a licensed clinical social worker in Massachusetts who supports people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, family conflict, and depression. She speaks English and Spanish and brings ten years of professional experience to sessions. Her aim is to help clients feel more hopeful and improve how they relate to themselves and others.

Desiree uses straightforward, skills-based work that helps people manage difficult feelings and everyday problems. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and mindfulness practices to build practical coping tools. Sessions focus on small steps clients can try between meetings to notice change.

She pays attention to how attachment and past hurts shape present reactions. That means talking about patterns like codependency, abandonment worries, or communication problems and then practicing new ways to respond. Desiree also supports people coping with life transitions, mood disorders, trauma histories, and social anxiety.

Conversations are nonjudgmental and focused on concrete goals. Clients can expect guidance in recognizing unhelpful thoughts, practicing grounding and present-moment skills, and choosing values-based actions that match what matters to them.

Desiree offers multiple online session formats for flexibility, including video, phone, live chat, and text-based messaging. She helps clients set practical plans they can use in daily life and adjusts techniques to fit each person’s needs and pace.

Using CBT, ACT, and Mindfulness Online

Desiree often combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness-based work in online sessions. CBT helps identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors, useful for anxiety, mood concerns, and social fears. Mindfulness therapy focuses on present-moment awareness and simple practices to reduce reactivity and build steady attention.

She also draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify values and take actions that matter to them, even when strong emotions are present. Together these approaches aim to give practical tools, not just talk, and they can be adapted to each person's goals and pace.

Finding the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. Desiree will listen to a client's needs and try techniques together, adjusting methods as progress is made. Clients set goals and she offers exercises and check-ins that match those priorities.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is helpful for face-to-face interaction and practicing skills in real time. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for shorter check-ins. Live chat and text messaging are useful for quick notes, coping reminders, and staying connected between appointments.