If you're experiencing changes in your mental health or simply need a supportive ear to help process your feelings, you’re in the right place. Together, we can work on enhancing your mental health, build coping skills, and achieve your goals. We cannot change the past, but we can take advantage of the present and seek to influence the future. We will confront the issues that have held you back and unlock the door for healing. For over 8 years, I have helped clients increase their self-empowerment. Let's uncover any stressors, fatigue, unhealthy thought patterns, or communication and relationship issues. Together, I will help you make sense of your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, empowering you to make positive changes in your life. You have more strengths than you may realize. Life can sometimes feel overwhelming and it's normal to want change and simplicity. While we might not be able to control everything, we can focus on building the necessary skills. If you're ready to change and want to understand why you do certain things, I invite you to reach out to me today. There is power in slowing things down to help ourselves.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session together, I will conduct a biopsychosocial assessment (intake), approximately 60 minutes, to identify your need for counseling and we will collaboratively develop a comprehensive treatment plan with identifiable goals/objectives. I will listen to your story and we will develop a plan to create change.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Together, we will uncover the pathways to help you regain your balance by addressing the barriers preventing you from reaching your goals, including any unresolved issues from the past. I understand that seeking therapy can be intimidating, but you’re making a courageous choice for yourself. In our sessions, I will approach you with compassion, utilize evidence-based techniques, and holistic strategies tailored to help you move past the habits and obstacles holding you back.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
I specialize in working with and not limited to, anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem, life changes, and decision-making. I enjoy working with adolescents, young adults, working professionals, and individuals who are seeking to address their presenting mental health needs and any inner childhood trauma.
About Cassandra Gonzalez
Identifies as
Specializes in
Licensed in
Accepts
Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I will help you identify how your experience influences your physical body, thoughts, and behaviors. I will help you increase your awareness about of the connection between their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors through psycho-education. The goal is to change your unhelpful thinking styles (e.g. cognitive distortions) and how your behavior (e.g. actions) are linked to your emotional state.
Compassion Focused
I begin by exploring your mind and thought perceptions. We will assess your feelings, emotional learning, motives, body memories, compassion for self and others. We will examine your interactions between different emotion systems: threat system, drive system, and care-giving system. We will incorporate mindfulness and compassion focused imagery work to help foster the development of your compassionate self. The goal is to help you develop a caregiving system to be at peace with your own thoughts.
Narrative
You are in the driver's seat while I am the passenger. I will have you retell their story and find new meanings to your experience. As I find new meaning(s) with you, I will provide you with psycho-education and tools to help you externalize. We will identify areas that you are neglecting yourself (problem) and shift your narrative (re-authorizing). The goal is to separate you from the issue and to externalize rather than internalize.
Trauma Informed Care
I begin by cultivating a safe environment for you in order to build our therapeutic rapport. A safe environment is necessary to help mitigate any feelings of anxiety and avoid re-traumatization. We will assess your triggers, symptoms, and feelings. I will provide you with psycho-education about trauma, functions of a traumatized brain, and trauma responses. We will explore instances of thought suppression and additional coping strategies. At your pace, I will expose you to your past trauma in a controlled and safe manner in order to help you process, recover, and foster resilience.