California-licensed marriage and family therapist (MFC 29210) Pilar Placone has run a referral-based private practice from 3356 Second Avenue in Hillcrest since 1993. Her clinical training under Dr. Michael Yapko in mood disorders and Dr. Dan Siegel in interpersonal neurobiology shapes an integrative model drawing from cognitive-behavioral, positive psychology, and meditation traditions, a depth-oriented approach distinct from the protocol-driven anxiety work at Anxiety Therapy SD. Placone treats clinical bipolar disorder, depression, and substance dependency in individuals, teens, couples, and executives, declining insurance to preserve full session confidentiality. She has also published on Positive Aging and the clinical effects of internalized ageism on adults over 65, a longevity-and-mood specialty distinct from the trauma and active-duty PTSD work conducted by Carlos Alarid. Her most demanding cases pair complex bipolar diagnostic evaluation with concurrent treatment of co-occurring substance use, executive-level career stressors, and intergenerational family dynamics inside a single long-arc therapy plan.