Dr. Spencer Palache

I work with people who feel stuck, whether in their emotions, their relationships, their attention, or a major life transition. Some come in wanting to change a specific behavior or pattern. Others are facing bigger questions about who they are, what matters to them, and where they fit in the world. Both are good reasons to start therapy, and often they turn out to be connected.

My approach integrates CBT, relational psychodynamic therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and existential philosophy, and I tailor treatment to each person. Psychoeducation is central to my work. I draw on both psychological and biological science to help clients understand their experiences, recognize patterns, and build a greater sense of agency. I believe that understanding why we think, feel, and act as we do matters as much as learning how to change it.

I have clinical experience in community mental health, forensic, and hospital settings, where I’ve worked with individuals and families across the lifespan. That range taught me to look past any single explanation for what someone is going through and to consider the biological, psychological, relational, and existential dimensions of their life.

My perspective is shaped by a background that bridges philosophy, psychology, and biology. I’m interested in how our biology, evolutionary history, relationships, and life experiences combine to shape who we become, and I don’t think we can fully understand ourselves apart from the people and world we live in. Science can explain a great deal, but it can’t capture all of what an experience means to the person living it. Through curiosity, collaboration, and a genuine therapeutic relationship, I help clients address immediate concerns as well as deeper questions of identity, meaning, and purpose.