Tania Vargas Psychotherapy, LCSW

I have always had a passion for helping others; all through my childhood, I was the person supporting those around me. Like many other therapists, I went through my own experiences of trauma and saw a therapist in high school. This was the first official experience I had with therapy and I noticed how it transformed my relationship with my parents, brothers, and friends. In college, I came to a crossroads of what to choose as my major. I sat in on a social work class and knew it was the major I wanted to pursue. I graduated with my BSW from Florida State and then received my MSW from NYU. While getting my bachelor’s degree, I knew that I wanted to eventually start my own private practice and help those living in my community. I am looking forward to helping others find their voice and find clarity in the difficulties of life.

I am a true believer in a person’s right to self-determination; outside pressures can impact what people say and do, so having a space where a person is able to feel, talk, and make their own decisions without fear of judgment is incredibly important. I always ask the client what their own goals and ambitions are and what changes they would like to see. I work with the client toward realistic timeframes, goals, and expectations. Depending on the underlying issues, I may recommend outside work like journaling or creating a tracking system.

Everyone’s life experiences and culture changes their perception of the world and how they navigate their life. I am a first-generation woman of color, which has shown me some of the uglier parts of the US and empowered me toward providing culturally-competent therapy. I understand that everyone has their own cognitive and implicit biases, including me. I work toward understanding my own biases and where they stem from by attending trainings and workshops. My first goal is to ensure that the people I am working with feel safe and heard. It is not the place of a therapist to impose their values or morals on a client.