Alicia Cadiz
Hi, I’m Alicia Cadiz, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and the founder of Healing With Alicia. I provide 100% virtual, holistic psychotherapy for individuals navigating trauma, relationship challenges, life transitions, anxiety, self-confidence, and personal growth.
I believe in a holistic approach to healing, where every part of you — mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual— plays an essential role in your growth.
My approach integrates psychodynamic therapy with trauma-informed, somatic, attachment-based, and nervous-system-focused perspectives to help clients understand themselves on a deeper level. I believe healing involves the whole person, mind, body, and soul, and my goal is to create a safe, compassionate space where clients can reconnect with themselves, break unhealthy patterns, and build a life that feels authentic and aligned.
First session
During the first session, clients can expect a warm, supportive, and judgment-free space to begin telling their story. We will explore what brought you to therapy, what you are currently experiencing, and what you hope to gain from the therapeutic process. I also use the first session to begin understanding the bigger picture, including your relationships, life experiences, emotional patterns, strengths, and the ways you currently cope with challenges. Rather than simply focusing on symptoms, I want to understand you as a whole person. Clients will leave their first session with a clearer sense of what they would like to work toward and how we can approach therapy together. My goal is for you to feel heard, understood, and comfortable knowing that you do not have to navigate everything on your own. Therapy is a collaborative process, so your first session is also an opportunity to determine whether we are a good therapeutic fit. There is no expectation that you have everything figured out or know exactly what to say. We can start wherever you are and work from there.
Strengths
One of the greatest strengths I bring into the therapy room is my ability to create a space where clients feel genuinely seen, heard, and accepted. I believe that meaningful therapy begins with a strong therapeutic relationship, and I strive to create an environment where clients can be vulnerable without fear of judgment. I bring curiosity, warmth, and authenticity into each session. Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, I want to understand the person behind them, their experiences, relationships, beliefs, patterns, and the ways they have learned to navigate the world. I often help clients connect the dots between their past and present so they can develop a deeper understanding of themselves and begin creating meaningful change. I also bring a holistic perspective to therapy. I believe emotional well-being is deeply connected to the mind, body, and nervous system, and I incorporate perspectives related to trauma, attachment, nervous system regulation, mindfulness, and somatic awareness when appropriate. My goal is to help clients understand not only what they are feeling, but why they may be feeling it and what their body may be communicating. Another strength I bring is the ability to gently challenge clients while maintaining compassion and emotional safety. I believe therapy should provide both validation and opportunities for growth. Sometimes healing requires us to look at uncomfortable patterns, beliefs, or relationships, and I strive to help clients do that with curiosity rather than shame. Most importantly, I bring a genuine belief in my clients' capacity for healing and change. I see my role as walking alongside each person as they process their experiences, rediscover their strengths, rebuild their confidence, and develop a deeper connection with themselves. I want every client to leave therapy feeling more empowered, self-aware, and capable of moving forward.
Ideal clients
My ideal client is someone who is ready to better understand themselves and create meaningful change in their life. They may be navigating anxiety, trauma, relationship difficulties, grief, low self-confidence, life transitions, or patterns that seem to repeat despite their best efforts. Many of my clients are high-functioning individuals who are accustomed to being strong for others but are beginning to recognize that they need support, too. I particularly enjoy working with individuals who are curious about the deeper “why” behind their emotions, behaviors, and relationships and want to move beyond simply managing symptoms. My clients are often seeking greater self-awareness, healthier relationships, stronger boundaries, and a deeper sense of confidence and connection with themselves. I also have a passion for working with veterans, first responders, healthcare professionals, and therapists who may carry unique experiences and responsibilities that can be difficult to process. Whether someone is healing from trauma, rebuilding after a difficult relationship, or simply feeling disconnected from the person they once were, I strive to provide a space where they can slow down, explore their experiences, and feel genuinely understood. Most importantly, my ideal client does not need to have everything figured out before beginning therapy. They simply need to be willing to be curious about themselves and open to the possibility that healing can look different than they once imagined.
Origin story
My journey to becoming a therapist began with a deep curiosity about people, their stories, their relationships, their experiences, and the reasons behind the ways we think, feel, and behave. I have always been drawn to understanding what exists beneath the surface, and that curiosity eventually became a passion for helping others better understand themselves. I believe many of us move through life carrying experiences that shape the way we see ourselves and the world around us. Trauma, relationships, loss, family dynamics, and life transitions can influence our confidence, our behaviors, and even the relationships we have with ourselves. What inspired me to become a therapist was the realization that people deserve a safe space to explore those experiences without judgment and begin making sense of their story. My work with veterans and first responders further deepened this calling. Hearing the stories of individuals who have experienced profound trauma, sacrifice, and adversity showed me the incredible resilience people possess, even when they may not recognize it within themselves. It reinforced my belief that therapy is not simply about “fixing” what is wrong, it is about creating space for healing, growth, self-discovery, and reconnection. Today, my approach is rooted in seeing the whole person. I believe true healing involves the connection between the mind, body, and soul. I integrate psychodynamic and psychoanalytic perspectives with approaches that explore attachment, trauma, nervous system regulation, and the patterns that influence our lives. Ultimately, I became a therapist because I believe people are capable of change. I feel incredibly honored to walk alongside my clients as they unpack their past, understand their present, and build a future that feels more authentic, intentional, and aligned with who they are becoming.
Ongoing work together
Our ongoing work together will be collaborative, individualized, and guided by your goals. As we build our therapeutic relationship, we will explore the patterns, experiences, relationships, and beliefs that may be influencing how you navigate your life today. Depending on your needs, sessions may include deeper psychodynamic exploration, processing of trauma and past experiences, attachment work, nervous system regulation, mindfulness, somatic awareness, and practical tools from evidence-based approaches such as CBT, DBT, and ACT. We may also incorporate reflection, journaling, mindfulness practices, or other therapeutic exercises between sessions when they can support your growth. I believe therapy should provide both a space to understand yourself and a place to practice new ways of responding. Together, we will identify patterns that may no longer be serving you, develop healthier coping strategies and boundaries, strengthen your relationship with yourself and others, and work toward greater emotional regulation and self-confidence. As therapy progresses, our focus may naturally evolve. Some sessions may involve processing difficult emotions or experiences, while others may focus on relationships, decision-making, personal growth, or building the life you want. My role is to walk alongside you, offer perspective and support, and gently challenge you when it can help you move forward. The ultimate goal is not simply to feel better in the moment, but to develop a deeper understanding of yourself and create lasting changes that allow you to live with greater authenticity, confidence, and connection.
Treatment methods
Psychoanalytic
I use a holistic, psychodynamic approach to help clients explore the deeper experiences, relationships, and patterns that influence how they think, feel, and respond in their everyday lives. In session, I work collaboratively with clients to connect past experiences with present-day challenges while creating awareness around attachment patterns, emotional responses, and behaviors that may no longer be serving them. I also incorporate trauma-informed and somatic techniques, including mindfulness, nervous system regulation, and body awareness, to help clients develop a stronger connection between their thoughts, emotions, and physical experiences. Depending on each client's needs, I integrate evidence-based approaches such as CBT, DBT, and ACT to provide practical tools for managing symptoms and creating meaningful change. My goal is not simply to help clients cope with what they are experiencing, but to help them understand themselves on a deeper level, develop greater self-awareness, and create healthier patterns that support long-term healing and personal growth.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Hispanic / Latinx
White
Woman
Top specialties
Life Transitions
Military/Veterans
Self Esteem
Other specialties
Anxiety
Career Counseling
Coping Skills
LGBTQ
Peer Relationships
Trauma and PTSD
Women's Issues
Serves
Adults (18 to 64)
Licensed in
FloridaLicense MH22610
MaineLicense CC7793
New JerseyLicense 37PC01189700
VirginiaLicense 0701015256
Accepted insurance
Harvard Pilgrim
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare