My name is Fatima and I am a Spanish speaking bilingual. I have been in the field of public service for over a decade. I worked as a teacher, domestic violence advocate, juvenile youth advocate and a therapist in community mental health, private practice, substance abuse and mental health inpatient and out patient centers. My trauma-informed care approach integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), client centered approaches and expressive art therapy techniques. I am passionate about creating a nurturing, compassionate, and challenging space for all individuals that I work with. This approach allows individuals the space to heal and transform into the best version of themselves.
During our first session we will start with introductions. I will learn about your needs, challenges and how I can best support you in creating a road map to your healing process.
My greatest strength as a provider is my ability to create a comfortable and welcoming environment. I focus on initially building trust and open communication, which ultimately allows you to open up and identify triggers and patterns. I also draw from a broad range of evidence-based therapeutic modalities. I tailor my approach based on the unique needs and goals of each client, ensuring that the interventions that I use are aligned with their individual preferences and therapeutic requirements, rather than adhering to a single preferred modality. This allows for a more personalized and effective treatment experience.
Trauma-informed approaches allow me to meet you where you are at in your healing journey. By adopting a trauma-informed perspective, I am able to create a safe, supportive, and compassionate space that fosters insight, empowerment, and healing.
As a clinician, I am deeply committed to ongoing learning and understanding of my clients and their unique backgrounds. I prioritize the importance of recognizing and supporting different cultures, belief systems, races, sexual orientations, and gender identities, as this enables me to build a strong, empathetic connection. By fostering an environment where you feel seen, heard, and understood, I can provide more effective and personalized care. I have had the privilege of working with individuals from diverse cultural and personal backgrounds, which has enriched my ability to support clients with varied experiences and perspectives.
I have extensive experience with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). I have applied this therapeutic modality across various settings, including private practice, substance abuse treatment centers and mental health inpatient centers. I teach clients how to utilize DBT skills to help support their distress tolerance, emotional regulation, challenging and reframing negative experiences and distorted perceptions. This approach empowers clients to build resilience, regulate emotions, and foster healthier patterns of thinking and behavior.
Polyvagal Therapy allows me to assess and understand my clients autonomic nervous system responses, providing valuable insight into how their trauma manifests in their bodies. By recognizing and addressing the physiological reactions associated with the fight, flight, or freeze responses, I am able to support clients in regulating these responses and developing healthier ways to manage and process trauma. I also teach my client's about Polyvagal theory and how to apply specific coping skills to help support their overall mental health.
Psychoeducation allows me the ability to teach clients the skills and knowledge they need in the present moment to facilitate their growth and healing. I provide psychoeducation on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to coping strategies, grounding techniques, boundary-setting, mindfulness practices, and an understanding of family dynamics and systems theory. This approach empowers clients to make informed decisions, develop practical tools, and gain deeper insights into themselves and their relationships.