TN Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, #2576
CA Registered Associate Marriage & Family Therapist, #165941
Supervised in CA by Danielle Palomares

The people who tend to find their way to me are often overthinkers, perfectionists, and people-pleasers. Some look like they have it all together on the outside, while privately struggling on the inside. They’re thoughtful, conscientious, and care deeply about the people in their lives, sometimes carrying more worry or responsibility than their share. They may find themselves overfunctioning and preoccupied with trying to make a relationship feel safe and good again, feeling that if they stopped trying so hard, everything would fall apart. I often see couples where one person may shut down, feeling like they’re not “good enough,” while the other protests, feeling like they’re “too much” or simply alone in it all. 

I’m Ciara Caneega, a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Tennessee and a Registered Associate Marriage & Family Therapist in California. I am trained in and am pursuing certification in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy. I specialize in working with individuals and couples navigating relationship challenges, patterns of disconnection, and the complexities of creating and maintaining healthy relationships.

I’m fascinated by people and relationships, especially what happens beneath the surface of what everyone else sees. I’m interested in the things we long for but struggle to ask for, the patterns we find ourselves repeating, and how our experiences shape the way we see ourselves and connect with others. I believe we’re all shaped by the relationships, families, cultures, and communities we’ve been part of, and I approach this work with humility and openness.

Sitting with me, you can expect warmth, compassionate curiosity, and presence. I’m a therapist who pays attention not only to the story you’re telling, but to what’s happening as you’re telling it. I’ll notice the shifts in emotion, the moments of hesitation, what gets brushed over, and the ways you talk about yourself. I care deeply about the people I work with, and I want you to feel that I’m in your corner. If you happen to be your own worst critic, I’ll help you join your own team. You’ll have room to show up just as you are, without worrying about being judged or defined by the things you’re struggling with.

My approach is collaborative but intentional, informed by Attachment Theory and grounded in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). We won’t go somewhere you’re not ready to go, but I also won’t shy away from the places that might be hardest to face (but you won’t be alone in it). I’ll help us stay connected to what brought you to therapy, invite you to look a little deeper, and stay with moments that feel important, even when they’re hard. If you have an ADHD brain and find yourself taking us on all kinds of journeys, I’ll help guide us back when needed, while making room for the important detours along the way!

Whether I’m working with an individual or with people navigating a relationship together, I’m not here to choose sides, assign blame, or point fingers. I’m interested in understanding your pain, what you’re longing for, and putting a voice to how the protective strategies you’ve developed (often for good reason!) kept you safe. In individual work, this can also mean getting curious about the different parts of yourself: the parts that want different things, the parts that hold you back, and the parts that have learned to protect you. For you, this will feel mostly like “talk therapy”, with a powerful experiential component. We won’t just talk about your feelings or experiences from a distant, intellectual place; we’ll make room to actually feel and explore them and listen to what they might be telling you. Understanding yourself and the “why” is important, but there’s something transformative about allowing yourself to experience things in a new way in a safe place. 

My hope is that our work together helps you love and understand yourself better, to feel more fulfilled and connected in your relationships, and to make the most of this important life you’re living.

Outside of the therapy room, I’m happiest balancing a little adventure with the simple pleasures of everyday life. I love a slow morning at home drinking pour-over coffee and doing crosswords with my partner but I also love getting outside, bringing people together, and traveling. Whether exploring new cities, appreciating artfully curated spaces, finding great restaurants, or simply sitting around a campfire with a hot dog, I love a change of scenery and the chance to be present wherever I am, whoever I’m with. I’m always trying to convince people to come to the desert with me for the sunsets, landscapes, and dark skies perfect for stargazing. I also spent 20 years working front of house in the restaurant industry, so hospitality, people, and food are big loves of mine. I enjoy trying new restaurants, hosting & cooking, and I spend an unreasonable amount of time reading menus. I love butter and salt, and eat popcorn every single day. I get genuinely excited about a good skincare routine and enjoy hiking, yoga, strength training, and meditation. Music is a constant in my life, especially indie rock, dream pop, alternative folk and Americana, and neo-psychedelia. I love psychological thrillers and murder mysteries, and firmly believe adults should have regular, full-blown slumber parties with their friends, preferably with face masks and pizza.

Therapy often flourishes when you trust that you’re in the presence of a therapist who can hear you, accept you, and lead you where you want to go. If something about Ciara’s approach resonates with you, we invite you to connect for a consultation!