(she/her)
My name is Judith Lara Torres, and I am a Marriage and Family Therapist/Art Therapist. I have worked primarily as a family therapist in community mental health for the past 17 years, working primarily with children and their families. I have great experience working with trauma victims age 0 to adult aged. My approach is very collaborative as I utilize my expertise to help with managing your mental health problems (anxiety, depression, etc) while also utilizing your feedback in this process as a collaborative process. I utilize a lot of art therapy in my treatment process, especially in helping clients work through traumatic experiences and helping heal your inner child. I prefer to take a modern approach of meeting clients where they are, making them the drivers of their life, and I will be a guide, almost like a map that you take to learn your way through healing and improving your mental health. My primary theories of practice include utilizing evidence-based practices, cognitive behavioral therapy and systemic approach for the younger population.
Out first session will involve us getting to know each other. It will be a chance for you to ask me about my experience and training. It will be an opportunity for me to get to know you as well. Know your culture, your likes, dislikes, and learn about what your struggles have been regarding your mental health. We will collaborate together to help you with your goals for treatment, and we will discuss what this process of therapy will look like.
I have a love and passion for my job as a therapist. I have grown to love and love my work as therapist every day. After 17 years of experience and training, I still look forward to meeting families for the first time because I am a believe that the universe matches me with the right clients. I also believe that I learn something new from everyone I work with and that makes me look forward to my continued work with families in not only helping them heal but also helping myself grow so that I can continue to be better everyday.
My ideal client is someone who wants to help their children manage the problems and conflicts that have led them to seek mental health treatment. This includes parents, their children, and any family member seen as important in this process. I also enjoy working with adults who have never received mental health treatment, or if they had, who would like to continue working on their mental health, who may be hesitant to look at their traumas but are open to learning if that were an area they would like to work on. My ideal client will right away know that this is a collaboration, and my treatment approach will be tailored to the client's own goals.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I utilize an eclectic approach that incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, by looking at clients from a strength-based perspective, help them learn and understand their mental health, and utilize cognitive approaches to manage thought processes that contribute to depression and anxiety, all while learning how to cope in healthier ways.
Attachment-based
Much of the work I do with clients (individuals and families) is to help them understand their interactions with others, look at how they relate to others, and help them attach healthier to their relationships. This include helping them learn about their own patterns in interactions wither others and learn healthier ways to engage, interact, and communicate to strengthen their relationships.
Child Parent Psychotherapy
I am well versed and have good knowledge in the treatment of children 0-5 years old who have experienced trauma. I utilize art therapy, play therapy, puppets, and children's books to aid in the process of recovery for young children and their families.