About Us

I’m Rene Gallardo, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and trauma therapist based in Brea, California, serving clients throughout California. My work is grounded in nervous system regulation, attachment healing, and trauma-informed care—integrating EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, and parts work to help you feel more connected, present, and at home in yourself.

I earned my Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California with an emphasis in mental health. My clinical background includes community mental health, school-based services, and prison reform programs. Across these settings, I witnessed trauma show up in many forms—through lived experiences, systemic stress, and the internal burdens people carry quietly for years.

I’m the son of Salvadoran immigrants who fled war and carried the weight of survival, sacrifice, and responsibility. Growing up, I learned early how to be strong, achieve, and keep moving forward—even when I didn’t always have the language or space to process what I was feeling. Over time, I realized that many of the patterns that helped me succeed were also protective survival strategies shaped by pressure, responsibility, and fear.

Today, I have a special passion for supporting men and first-generation individuals who have spent years holding it together—especially those navigating fatherhood, relationships, emotional shutdown, chronic stress, anxiety, and the pressure to always be strong. I believe therapy should feel less like confrontation and more like a safe return—where we build trust with the nervous system, understand protective parts, and create space for real healing.

I’m a husband and father to a young daughter, and becoming a parent has deepened my commitment to this work. I’m a believer in movement as medicine and love running—the kind of quiet that helps you come back to yourself.

If you’re here for the first time, thank you for taking that step. And if you’re returning to the work again, thank you for coming back. There is space for you here.