Lauren Palazuelos

Dr. Lauren-Rachelle Palazuelos is a licensed clinical psychologist with over a decade of experience. At Variations Psychology, she specializes in psychological and educational evaluations, mental health assessments, and placement assessments. Her passion lies in helping diverse populations thrive by accessing appropriate services and accommodations in school, home, and community settings. Dr. Palazuelos embraces an integrative, trauma-informed approach, tailoring assessments to meet each patient's unique needs. She is skilled in conducting assessments related to trauma, co-occurring diagnoses, psychosis, and mood disorders, as well as educational assessments for students with special education needs. Her collaborative work with multidisciplinary teams in educational and medical environments ensures the effective translation of medical diagnoses into educational planning recommendations. Dr. Palazuelos approaches her work with enthusiasm and personal attention, dedicated to making a meaningful difference through her expertise in psychological and educational evaluations. She earned her BA in Psychology from California State University, Fullerton, and both her Master’s and PsyD in Clinical Psychology from the American School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Palazuelos completed an APA-accredited predoctoral internship focused on trauma-informed assessment and recently enhanced her expertise with a master's program in psychopharmacology. Committed to professional growth, she also provides clinical supervision and psychoeducational training, emphasizing the importance of accurate and comprehensive evaluations.

Our first conversation is a consultation — typically 45 to 60 minutes — to understand what brought you in, what you're hoping to learn or change, and whether a formal assessment, ongoing therapy, or a referral to a colleague would serve you best. I won't recommend testing or treatment you don't need. If we proceed with assessment, I'll walk you through the battery and timeline. If we proceed with therapy, we'll outline a working frame and revisit it as we go.

My practice integrates evidence-based assessment with collaborative treatment planning. Whether the work begins with diagnostic clarification or moves directly into therapy, I take seriously that what we measure shapes what we treat — and that no test result is a substitute for the conversation that surrounds it. For longer-term care, I draw on cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, and acceptance-based approaches, matched to what fits the person in front of me rather than the framework I was trained in most recently.