Hi! I'm Ana, a bilingual/bicultural Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 13 years of combined experience in social services, crisis intervention, individual and group therapy, treatment planning, risk management, case management and assessment. I graduated with my Masters in Social Work from California State University of Northridge in 2018 and have 7 years of experience providing direct mental health clinical therapy services.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
During the first session we typically do introductions, we discuss legal disclosures (boring, but necessary and important), we talk about your goals and expectations for treatment, we develop a treatment plan and a safety plan to be used in case of mental health emergencies. I know there can be a lot of emotions surrounding what will be discussed and how much detail needs to be given so know this, I go at your pace. Whatever you're ready to discuss, whenever you're ready to discuss it, I'm here.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Having worked with individuals from different age groups that are struggling with mental health in different circumstances and different walks of life has shaped my clinical lense into a well rounded one. Aside from my professional training and education, I am someone that engages in life wholeheartedly and this contributes to my open mindedness, empathy and compassionate approach to the services I provide. I look forward to meeting you :)
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
Wether you're just starting, re-starting or continuing your journey towards mental health I hope you take the time to acknowledge what you've had to overcome to be here. It's an honor to be even considered to partner with you and be a part of this journey with you. I'll be honest with you, if you're looking for a stereotypical therapist that is stoic and keeps asking "How do you feel about that" after you just told them how you feel, I am not for you. However, if you're looking to be heard, seen, feel safe and engage in a therapeutic relationship with a therapist that can create a safe space while engaging and connecting with you authentically, I am your gal! I have no problem providing empathetic listening, unconditional positive regard and validation while still holding you accountable and calling you out, of course in the most empathetic, kind and loving way if/when necessary. So, If you're ready to feel empowered, gain insight into who you are and strengthen your relationship with yourself and others then I am ready and equipped to serve you.
About Ana Galvez
Identifies as
Serves ages
Licensed in
Accepts
Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Psychodynamic
I have incorporated this treatment method in services I provide in direct and indirect mental health and case management services. I use a psychodynamic lense in talk therapy to explores the connection between an individual's past experiences – often from childhood – and their current mindset. In other words, I look at the psychological forces that form your current thought processes and who you are today and how they show up in behaviors, thoughts, feelings and emotions.
Child Parent Psychotherapy
Most of my direct clinical experience has been working with youth and families. Depending on the age of the client and treatment goals, I incorporate both the primary caregiver and child to engage in psychotherapy collaboratively to support and strengthen the relationship between a child and their caregiver as a vehicle for restoring the child's cognitive, behavioral, and social functioning.
Christian Counseling
Outside of my practice as an LCSW, I have served Christian churches of different denominations by working with church members that are struggling with mental health barriers and helping them heal and cope utilizing spirituality and their relationship/view of God as their focal point in assessing and addressing stressors that contribute to barriers utilizing a restorative approach and shying away from a punitive/legalistic lense.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I have been trained and continue to receive training in different CBT modalities to assist clients in reaching their treatment goals by engaging in guided discovery to identify core beliefs that affect emotional and behavioral responses. Once core beliefs have been identified, we progress to CBT behavioral activation strategies to assist in cognitive restructuring.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Similar to CBT, I use DBT to assist individuals in reaching their treatment goals by engaging in guided discovery to identify core beliefs that affect emotional and behavioral responses. Throughout treatment process we incorporate mindfulness practices to assist the individual in developing a wise mind and increasing distress tolerance in order to better assess and address stressors.