Hello,
My name is Teresa Gamez DePerez

Some people come in carrying a loss nobody sends cards for. Some come in after an affair, from either side of it. Some come in because a four-year-old has taken over the house and nothing is working.

I’m a Latina therapist at Leela Mental Health in Palo Alto. I see adults, couples, and parents of young children, in person and by telehealth anywhere in California. I work in English and Spanish.

Grief and loss

I’m certified in therapy for grief. It takes longer than people expect and looks stranger than people expect. There’s the grief everyone recognizes, and then there’s the kind that goes unnamed: a job, a home, a marriage, a country, a version of yourself you don’t get back. Around month six the calls stop coming and you’re supposed to be finished. Most people aren’t. I have room for all of it.

Couples

I use Emotionally Focused Therapy. It goes after the cycle underneath the fight instead of the fight itself. Couples usually aren’t arguing about what they think they’re arguing about. I work with couples after infidelity, with partners stuck in the same argument for years, and with people who’ve stopped bringing things up because it never goes anywhere.

Young children and parents

I’m trained in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. In PCIT I coach you through play with your child in real time, usually with an earpiece, while it’s happening. Your child doesn’t get sent off alone to be fixed. It’s structured, it’s measured, and it works with kids too young to sit and explain what’s wrong. Most families see change within a few months.

Terapia en español

Hablo español. Si piensas y sientes en español, no tienes que traducirte aquí. Trabajo con adultos, parejas y familias en duelo, ansiedad, depresión, trauma y crianza.

I also see adults for anxiety, depression, and trauma, and families working through patterns that started generations before anyone in the room. Culture, family, and the expectations you grew up inside all show up in this work. I take that seriously without assuming I already know your version of it.

Common Questions

Do you provide therapy in Spanish?
Yes. I provide therapy in Spanish and English for adults, couples, and families throughout California, in person in Palo Alto and by telehealth statewide.

What is PCIT and what ages is it for?
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy is a structured, evidence-based treatment for children roughly ages two to seven with difficult behavior. The parent is coached live during play sessions. Most families complete it in a few months.

Do you work with couples after infidelity?
Yes. I work with both partners, whether you were the person who had the affair or the person who found out.

How long does grief therapy take?
There’s no schedule. Some people come for a few months around an anniversary, others stay longer. We decide together as we go.

Where are you located?
Leela Mental Health, 220 California Ave, Suite 105, Palo Alto, CA 94306. Telehealth is available anywhere in California.

Areas Of Support

Grief & Loss · Couples Therapy & EFT · Parent-Child Therapy (PCIT) · Trauma · Anxiety & Depression · Family & Generational Patterns · Latine & Spanish-Speaking Clients

Credentials & Training

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #152063
Certified in Grief 
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) 
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) 
English · Spanish

Memberships

California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)

Leela Mental Health Services