About Therapy with Me
Seeking help is the right decision.
If you’re reading this, you’ve already taken the first step toward healing and growth. Now, take a moment and envision the following information. After contacting me, we’ll schedule a free 15-minute phone call for you to discuss your situation, determine what you’re looking for in a therapist, and see if I might be a good fit for you.
During our first session, I’ll listen carefully to your life story and what affects you. We will identify the problems that led you to reach out, agree on some goals that will alleviate these problems, and discuss ways we may be able to accomplish your goals.
After our initial session, you’re already a bit lighter. While the work has just begun, you will have greater clarity and feel more hopeful about living a happier and fulfilling life. You may not yet know what will help, but you do know that the things you’ve tried haven’t worked.
Some things have temporarily brought comfort, but you haven’t found solutions that bring long-term, sustainable relief and improvement. I can show you how.
You are not alone.
Our work takes place in an environment that requires trust, collaboration, mutual respect, and authenticity.
Because healing occurs in the context of relationships – with ourselves and others – this environment is essential for finding the power to make great things happen and to grow, heal, and thrive.
Even though you desperately want change, it can sometimes feel overwhelming and scary. Having someone who intently listens and who’s consistently available for you can be life-changing.
You are safe here.
Even though you understand that the work can sometimes be difficult, you’re committed to finding a better way.
It would help to have a warm, empathic, and genuine therapist dedicated to providing a supportive and confidential space where you feel comfortable expressing yourself openly and honestly. You need a space that invites you to be yourself and feel connected safely.
Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, or simply seeking personal growth, I am here to help you uncover insights, develop coping strategies, and cultivate resilience.
Take the first step.
Despite your apprehension about starting therapy, you want to be an active participant in your life, motivated to make a lasting change, and willing to step outside your comfort zone to explore the uncomfortable and unfamiliar.
Reaching out for help can feel daunting, but you’re taking a bold, courageous, and transformational step. Using a holistic and client-centered approach, I tailor my therapeutic techniques to meet your needs and goals.
Together, we can embark on a journey toward healing, self-discovery, and empowerment. If you’re ready to take the next step, I invite you to reach out and request a free 15-minute phone/video consultation.
I look forward to the opportunity to support you on your path to a happier, healthier life.
About Me
Personal experiences influenced my professional interests.
Growing up in a bicultural, bilingual (Spanish-speaking) home in the U.S. profoundly impacted my identity, experiences, and worldview.
While it has helped me adapt to new perspectives and has given me a deep appreciation for diverse worldviews, it also exposed me to the experience of exclusion, marginalization, identity conflict and confusion, group assimilation, and intergenerational conflicts around beliefs, values, and customs.
Unsurprisingly, my interest in psychotherapy began with a deep-seated passion for understanding the human mind and the complexities of human behavior.
My clinical training is diverse.
My education and credentials include a B.A. in Psychology from George Mason University in 1993, an M.A. in Psychology from James Madison University in 1995, a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from St. John’s University in 2003, and a certificate in Psychoanalysis from New York University in 2018.
I have worked with children, adolescents, adults, and couples struggling with trauma, anxiety, and depression in inpatient and outpatient settings. Moreover, the people I have worked with were diverse as far as their ethnicity, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and social class.
Over the years, I have dedicated myself to extensive education and training to become proficient in various therapeutic modalities, including Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and mindfulness-based approaches.
Outside my practice, I am committed to strict ethical guidelines and ongoing professional development to ensure I am well-versed in the latest practices and therapeutic techniques.
When I’m not working…
…you can find me playing a drum set, listening to a wide range of music, watching documentaries and live sports events, taking care of my garden, learning to cook, or reading biographies about people who inspired and changed the world.