LCSW, 7 years of experience
Hello and welcome - I'm so glad you're here My name is Liliana Ponce, and I am a bilingual Spanish-speaking Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Southern California. I was born in the United States and raised in Mexico, and I bring a culturally sensitive, trauma-informed approach to my practice. I hold Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) and a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). With over fifteen years of experience, I specialize in supporting children, teens, young adults, and families through life's transitions and challenges. For the past seven years, I have provided direct mental health services using evidence-based practices that empower folks to grow, heal, and become the best versions of themselves.
In our first sessions together, we will start with brief introductions to get to know each other. Then, we will identify the specific challenges you are facing and create a plan based on your identified needs and work through them in follow-up sessions.
I pride myself on being able to work with people from different cultural, socioeconomic backgrounds, and life circumstances. I have a background on child welfare where I have been a social worker in different settings such as day treatment for foster children and for teens who were in the juvenile justice system. I also have been an in-home family consultant, hospital social worker, and have served as a school-based therapist providing direct practice to youth. My broad knowledge in different settings has helped me be more equipped as a clinician. As a Latinx mental health provider and knowing how culture plays an essential role in the person's life, I am here to also help you and be your cheerleader as you embark on this journey of healing.
I am passionate about working with children, teens, young adults, and families who are feeling overwhelmed or impacted by emotional or behavioral challenges. My clients are curious, motivated, and open to learning new tools that support healthier relationships, greater self-awareness, and long-term well-being.
I’ve been using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in my practice for the past five years. We’ll use CBT to recognize how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors influence each other. We'll then implement that understanding to change your thinking patterns to challenge the negative thinking.
I implement a trauma-informed care framework to support individuals who have experienced traumatic event(s). Through psychoeducation and a safe and supportive environment. I foster growth by helping individuals incorporate healthy coping mechanisms.
I utilize culturally sensitive therapy to accommodate each individual's unique cultural background by exploring cultural factors and differences. I consider the values and attitudes that play a significant role in their daily lives, ensuring that therapeutic interventions are respectful, relevant, and effective.