Dr. Claudia Nunez
I'm a licensed clinical psychologist with over a decade of experience across private practice, hospital, academic, and community settings. Many of the people I work with are thoughtful, capable, and accustomed to being the ones others depend on. Yet privately, they may feel anxious, overwhelmed, or disconnected from their own needs. Sometimes there's a sense that something needs to change, even when it's hard to name what that is.
Clients often describe feeling understood in ways they haven't experienced before. They feel safe enough to be vulnerable, supported enough to explore difficult truths, and empowered to make meaningful changes without feeling pressured to become someone they're not.
You may recognize different parts of yourself pulling in different directions. A part that wants to speak up and another that worries about disappointing someone. A part that longs for closeness and another that has learned, for good reason, to stay guarded. Or a part that's tired of carrying so much, alongside another that doesn't know how to stop. These patterns have a history worth understanding. The ways we've learned to keep the peace, anticipate others' needs, or hold ourselves to certain expectations are shaped by our relationships, families, cultures, and the environments we've had to navigate. What once helped us feel safe or accepted can eventually leave us feeling stuck or far from ourselves. In therapy, I'm interested in understanding these different parts of you, including those you've learned to hide or criticize. Together, we can explore what they've been carrying, what they're trying to protect, and how they continue to shape your life. My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in curiosity rather than judgment. I earned my doctorate from the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, completed predoctoral and postdoctoral research training at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine, and hold a Master of Social Work from USC.
First session
In our first session, we will slow things down and get oriented. I’ll invite you to share what is bringing you in, what you have been carrying, and what you hope might feel different with support. I may ask about your history, current stressors, relationships, sleep, mood, and coping so I can understand the fuller picture, but we will not force details you are not ready to share.
Strengths
I think one of my strengths is being able to notice and hold the different, sometimes conflicting parts of a person's experience without rushing to make sense of them or push for change. I tend to be curious about what's beneath the surface, especially the things people have learned to minimize, question, or carry on their own. I also bring an awareness of how our relationships, identities, and the larger world shape what we struggle with and how we come to understand ourselves. I value being thoughtful and honest in my work, and I think there's something important about being able to sit with people in the harder, less certain places while also helping them see possibilities they may not have considered before.
Ideal clients
My ideal client is someone willing to arrive as they are, with curiosity toward the parts of themselves that have learned to navigate life in the best ways they could. They are open to exploring how personal, cultural, and systemic experiences have shaped their inner world, while creating space for greater clarity, self-trust, and wholeness. The work begins by showing up and reconnecting with the wisdom, and inner resources that can support the freedom to live more fully as oneself.
Treatment methods
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
ACT helps us notice unhelpful thoughts without getting stuck in them, learn how to make space for difficult emotions instead of fighting them, and stay more present with what matters most.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Mindfulness is a core part of how I support clients in therapy. My experience with mindfulness-based approaches includes guiding individuals to develop awareness of their thoughts, emotions, and body sensations in the present moment without judgment. This practice helps clients create space between themselves and their distress, so they can respond with greater clarity and choice instead of reacting automatically. In sessions, I often weave in breathing techniques, grounding practices, body awareness, and mindful reflection to help regulate the nervous system and bring a sense of calm. Mindfulness also supports trauma recovery, stress management, and emotional resilience by helping clients stay anchored in the present, even when facing painful experiences. For many clients, mindfulness becomes a practical tool they can use outside of therapy in daily life, relationships, and moments of difficulty. By learning to pause, notice, and gently redirect attention.
Adlerian
Adlerian Therapy is a holistic, insight-oriented approach that helps clients understand the “story” they've been living ; the beliefs and early experiences that shape how we move through the world. It’s about reclaiming agency, fostering self-compassion, and cultivating the courage to live in alignment with our values. Adlerian work emphasizes connection, purpose, and true belonging.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Through an IFS-informed lens, we explore the different parts of you with curiosity and compassion, including the parts that protect, criticize, avoid, or carry pain. Rather than trying to eliminate these parts, we work to understand their purpose, strengthen self-trust, and create balance.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Hispanic / Latinx
Woman
Top specialties
Anxiety
Depression
Trauma and PTSD
Other specialties
ADHD
Dissociative Disorders
Eating Disorders
Life Transitions
Physical Health Condition
Women's Issues
Serves
Adults (18 to 64)
Elders (65 and above)
Individual Therapy
Doesn't specialize in
Child or Adolescent
Couples Counseling
Foster Care/Adoption
Licensed in
CaliforniaLicense 35966