About Me

Education & Licensure
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California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (Rachel Marie Alexandra Costella, LMFT#132716)
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Master of Arts, Counseling Psychology, Corrections Emphasis -- Santa Clara University
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Bachelor of Science, Psychology and Social Action -- Palo Alto University
Clinical Experience
My clinical journey began in community mental health over a decade ago, where I had the privilege of working closely with adolescents, parents, and families navigating some of life's most challenging moments. Those years taught me how to meet people where they are — learning to understand the layers of complex family systems and offering support that honors both the individual and the family as a whole. I also spent time as a program supervisor, mentoring and coaching developing clinicians in their work with children and adolescents.
Prior to opening my practice, I deepened my clinical roots at the Wise Mind Institute where I dedicated myself to specialized training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Radically Open DBT (RO-DBT). These approaches strengthened my ability to support adolescents and adults facing challenges with emotion regulation, high-risk behaviors, and treatment-resistant depression and anxiety.
Though my clinical foundation includes extensive evidence-based training, I find that my work today is most alive in the relational space — in the genuine, moment-to-moment connection between therapist and client.
Professional Affiliations
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Director of Membership on the Board of Directors for the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of CAMFT, 2024
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Member of the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of CAMFT since 2022
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Member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) since 2016