Couples therapists in Irvine, CA

I've found that building a strong relationship is the foundation of any successful therapy. My grounding philosophy is to meet people where they are at and to tailor my knowledge and experience to help them get to where they want to be. My ideal clients are those motivated, committed, and open to exploring various parts of the inner self and how these parts motivate, protect, grieve, and organize us for action.

Through therapy, clients develop new skills, discover new insights, and strengthen their resilience for whatever life brings.

Ready to feel more connected, confident, and in control of your life? Whether you’re facing relationship struggles, overwhelming emotions, or challenges around identity, you deserve a space where you feel truly seen and supported.

I’m Rocio Vaca, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 17+ years of experience helping couples, individuals, children, and teens create meaningful, lasting change.

For couples, I help turn conflict and disconnection into stronger communication, deeper friendship, and emotional intimacy.

I provide an affirming, judgment-free space for those exploring identity, preparing to come out, building self-acceptance, or navigating gender-affirming care. Together, we can strengthen resilience and address anxiety, depression, and stress.

I’m a licensed therapist with a background in supporting adults and teens through anxiety, trauma, life transitions, and relationship stress. I earned my graduate degree in counseling and have worked in both community-based and private practice settings, which has helped me understand the real-life pressures people carry—work, family, finances, identity, and burnout.

My style is practical and compassionate: we look at patterns, the stories you’ve learned to live by, and what it would feel like to respond differently—more grounded, more empowered, and more like “you.” I often integrate inner child work, trauma-informed care, and skills for emotional regulation and ADHD/executive functioning.

I primarily work with adults who want to improve communication, rebuild trust, and create more secure connection.

I strive to provide a warm, safe, and non-judgmental environment for my clients. I am passionate about helping clients find support and tools to navigate life's challenges, release emotional burdens, and reconnect with their own strengths and values. My goal is to provide a space where you feel heard, understood, respected, and empowered to move forward through life's challenges.

I did my training with adoptees, foster care, and attachment trauma. I specialize in trauma and how early childhood trauma continues to effect us into adulthood. Since becoming a therapist, I have continued my training with trauma and have extensive experience with positive parenting, managing work/life balance, managing life's challenging transitions, managing trauma reminders, and anxiety.

Welcome. I'm a licensed psychotherapist dedicated to supporting people who are going through a tough life transition, whether it’s a diagnosis, relationship loss, other loss, or it’s you who have changed. You may be stressed, burnt out, depressed, anxious, and/or traumatized by what you are going through and carrying. You don’t have to do this alone. You can find your spark again. I have specialized training in somatic psychotherapy and evidence-based mindfulness therapies. As a person living with T1D, I love working with others in the diabetes community, and I understand the mental load and energy it takes, every single day.