Arlene Bagain Rivera, MS

Hi, I’m Arlene!

I’m a compassionate licensed therapist who believes in supporting clients as they create meaningful, lasting change in their lives. I hold a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from San Francisco State University, and I bring over 17 years of experience supporting individuals navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, and complex emotional challenges.

I am trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy. I completed DBT Foundational Training through Marsha Linehan’s Behavioral Tech, LLC, and have used this approach to help clients build skills, manage intense emotions, and improve relationships. I’m also fully trained in EMDR and am currently pursuing EMDRIA certification to further expand my expertise in trauma-focused care.

Over the years, I’ve worked with a wide range of clients, including at-risk youth at Walden House in San Francisco, CA; individuals facing substance use and co-occurring mental health challenges in recovery at Women’s Recovery Association in Burlingame, CA; and I’ve also led clinical teams and managed a court-mandated program at Pyramid Alternatives, Inc. (now StarVista). These experiences inform my collaborative, client-centered approach today.

Since 2017, I’ve been in private practice, offering remote therapy to clients along the Peninsula of the San Francisco Bay Area and across California. I offer a comprehensive Adult DBT Program and EMDR Therapy in my practice. I work with individuals navigating mood disorders, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and complex trauma, and I’m especially passionate about helping people strengthen emotion regulation, self-esteem, and healing from past experiences that involve attachment wounding and chronic relational trauma.

My approach is warm, supportive, energetic, and strength-based, grounded in the belief that everyone has the inner resources to create a life they find fulfilling. I strive to create a safe space where clients feel understood, empowered, and ready to make meaningful change.

Outside of therapy, I love exploring new restaurants, reading, powerlifting, and golf. I also enjoy traveling to warm, sunny destinations by the beach—it’s how I recharge and find balance. Spending time with my husband and our German Shepherd is another favorite part of my life.