In our first session together, here's what you can expect

Our first session includes getting information from you and addressing what you may get from me. I am direct, concise and assess what you may need until you are ready to tell me what you need. I check in through out the session by watching body language, facial expressions and pay attention to what is being said. Through out the session, I will remind you this is your time, I want to get to know you. I ask you what would help to ease the tension of the first session. Once we get to the end of the session, I ask how did it go, what do we need to do to make it easier. I recognize the first outreach is the hardest, and you did it! Yes, I am that occasionally corny cheerleader.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

To quote a client "I came with this hot tangled mess, no idea how any of it was linked together, never mind how to handle it. You have untangled it and helped make it manageable. Now I know what I need to do as first steps." A lot of us have gotten overwhelmed by daily living, add on one or two hundred stressors, plus anyone else's stressors and we may lose sight of what the original priority was. Fear may stop us from making pertinent moves such as expressing needs. The way we were raised is the instruction manual for how we cope. What happens when the instruction manual needs an update or simply does not work any more? For example, what if Gen X is struggling with Millennials and Gen Z at work, and raising Gen Alpha and Gen Beta children. Their Silent Generation or Baby Boomer parents are criticizing how Gen X is doing things, rather than being supportive. Yet Gen X has to physically care for their children and parents? Being a child of immigrants offers me an insight into cultural components and being of the sandwich generation (taking care of elder parents and my own children). I am raising my own Gen Alpha children, who are a wealth of information. "Bruh, that's sus." Translation, "mom, that does not sound correct." I was never taught to contradict my parents, and definitely not allowed to use slang. My primary roles are being a working mom, therapist, wife, daughter, daughter in law, and friend. These roles are my greatest strengths as I navigate the ins/outs and add in self care somewhere in the mix. I am Latina and very proud of my heritage. I am a LGBTQ ally. I am spiritual. I am open to conversations about new things and learning about them as well. I laugh at myself which sometimes is the coping skill I need to bring levity to a situation.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

Truth? Plain and simple, be truthful. It is how you see things, through your lenses. I need to look through those lenses and see what you see. We look as deep as you will allow us to go. Clients are concerned about becoming angry or feeling guilty when discussing family dynamics. Clients are fearful of becoming overwhelmed in session, then having to re-enter "real world" afterwards whether it mean work or daily living. Clients are embarrassed and think I will judge them. I can assure anyone reading this, I give time warnings before wrapping up session, give coping or grounding skills, and do check-in follow-ups as needed.