LMFT, 8 years of experience
Are you feeling lost? Stuck in a rut? Need to untangle your thoughts? Hi, I'm Dr. Alfaro Vela and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. For 8 years, I have been working with clients in private practice to help them navigate the struggles of their daily lives. I strive to meet clients where they're at, and explore possible solutions to their problems. I am a firm believer that every client has specific strengths that we can work to uncover together.
In our first session together, I typically explore a bit of my client's background, any previous experience in therapy, and what brings them to therapy at this time. By the end of the session, we will discuss short-term and long-term goals, or generally what the client would like to see different in their lives. At the end of some sessions, I offer homework that may be tangible or thoughtful.
My greatest strength as a provider is in my collaborative nature. My ability to meet clients where they're at allows me to offer guidance at my client's pace--not too fast or too slow. My interest in clients strengths and resources also offer clients a sense of hope for their futures.
I have a strong calling to work with clients who are at the end of their rope and in need of some hope. My goal is to not only inspire hope, but empower both individuals and couples to live their best lives.
As a Solution-Focused therapist, I seek to understand the strengths and resources my clients inherently have. I work with clients to discover what solutions would best fit their lives.
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to explore how thoughts, feelings, and emotions are connected. Using CBT, I work with clients to identify and challenge negative thought patterns that may serve as barriers in their lives.
As a therapist previously trained in the Gottman method, I love to explore relationships through the Gottman lens. I often utilize many of the Gottman method tools when working with couples or individuals facing relationship challenges.