“I felt strengthened and more connected to myself and those around me after I went to therapy and I wanted to do that for others.”
What was your path to becoming a therapist?
I found my way to therapy from my own therapy. It wasn’t until my late twenties that I began my training in clinical practice. I felt strengthened and more connected to myself and those around me after I went to therapy and I wanted to do that for others. I am Latino and a child of immigrants and having a mixed origin was the impetus for me to begin navigating my cultural and ethnic identity. I love helping people become more cohesive and connected to self.
What should someone know about working with you?
I have worked with artists, veterans, healthcare workers, and corporate workers. I believe to heal we must sometimes face things that frighten us so it’s important to use humor. I believe that reflecting on your history can be incredibly helpful in the process of seeking a greater understanding of yourself. I have a background in the creative arts and have a penchant for literature, film, and philosophy.
How do your core values shape your approach to therapy?
My work as a psychotherapist is deeply rooted in radical empathy, compassion, and acceptance. My belief is that the quality of the therapeutic relationship is the foundation of the healing experience. This unique relationship is where you will cultivate feelings of acceptance and self-love as well as develop a nonjudgmental curiosity about what your feelings, thoughts, and senses are trying to tell you. Our work is based on my empathic attunement toward your feelings and needs. From this mutuality, the possibility of liberation from toxic self-narratives and toxic relationships can emerge.
Can you tell us one of your favorite quotes?
"Just remember that your real job is that if you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else." - Toni Morrison
“I believe that reflecting on your history can be incredibly helpful in the process of seeking a greater understanding of yourself.”