Dr. Arlene Unger

Dr. Arlene Unger uses practical, evidence-informed approaches to help people cope with life’s hard moments. She combines Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with relationship-focused tools to address stress, anxiety, grief, addictions, and feelings of loneliness. Dr. Unger presents a calm, direct style and focuses on concrete steps people can try between sessions.

She draws on 30 years of clinical experience and a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Her work includes attention to mood concerns such as depression and bipolar struggles, panic and social anxiety, and issues around intimacy and self-esteem. She also helps people dealing with parenting strain, career stress, compassion fatigue, and substance-related concerns.

Sessions often include skill building, guided mindfulness practices, and conversational work aimed at clearer communication and problem solving. She also supports people wrestling with guilt, shame, forgiveness, control issues, and finding life purpose. Her approach emphasizes values, behavior change, and noticing what matters most.

Dr. Unger has written mindfulness visualization exercises and articles that reflect a practical, workbook-style approach to daily life. Her training background includes work in nutrition, wellness, mindfulness, life coaching, and substance abuse approaches, which she brings into broader treatment planning when relevant.

People who reach out can expect a collaborative process. She helps identify goals, track small changes, and adapt tools to fit everyday routines. Her practice is based in California and sessions are conducted in English.

How therapy approaches fit into online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages people to clarify what matters to them and take small actions toward those values while learning to let difficult thoughts move through. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and practicing different behaviors to change mood and functioning. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) centers on improving emotional connection and communication in relationships and can be useful when intimacy or attachment issues are a concern.

Deciding which approach to use is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, life context, and what feels most useful, then try strategies together and adjust based on what helps. Clients and the therapist work as a team to find the best mix of tools for each person.

The practical benefits of online therapy include easier fitting of sessions into busy schedules and being able to attend from wherever you are located in California. The original biography does not list specific session formats, so please confirm the current session options before booking. Online work can make it simpler to practice skills between sessions, check in briefly on progress, and use guided mindfulness or visualization exercises during appointments.