LP, 11 years of experience
I am m Dr. Claudia Nuñez, PsyD, MSW, a licensed psychologist with over a decade of experience helping clients navigate anxiety, depression, trauma, and life transitions. My approach draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS), integrating mindfulness, somatic awareness, and narrative reflection. Yet beneath all techniques, my work begins with presence, listening for what your felt experience is trying to express. I understand symptoms not as flaws, but as adaptations, creative attempts to protect and make sense of pain. Through a trauma-informed and culturally responsive lens, I help you bring compassion and understanding to these parts of yourself, so that healing can unfold where it once felt impossible. Together, we’ll work to restore balance, honor the journey that brings you here, and reconnect with the wholeness that has always lived beneath the survival.
In our first session, my focus is on getting to know you, your concerns, strengths, values, and the experiences that have shaped who you are. My hope is that you leave our time together feeling understood, a bit more grounded in your body, and with a clearer sense of what therapy with me might look like moving forward.
The quality of presence I bring into to work; grounded, curious, and attuned to what’s alive in the moment. I blend evidence-based interventions with intuition, bridging science and heart to help clients make meaning of their stories and reconnect with the parts of themselves that remember how to heal. Therapy, to me, is a shared act of honesty, culture, and courage, a space where growth becomes both safe and real.
I work with adults who feel caught in cycles of anxiety, self-doubt, or repetitive patterns that encumber their lives. My ideal clients are those who not only seek relief from distress, but also long for greater clarity, connection, and meaning in everyday life. I especially support those open to releasing what's not working, unlearning old patterns, and meeting themselves with acceptance and curiosity.
I often incorporate ACT in my work because it offers both compassion and practicality when life feels overwhelming. ACT helps us notice unhelpful thoughts without getting stuck in them, learn how to make space for difficult emotions instead of fighting them, and stay more present with what matters most. In sessions, I may guide a client through mindfulness exercises, grounding strategies, or values-based reflections that support living more fully in the present moment, even in the midst of stress/pain, anxiety, or self-doubt. Together, we focus less on controlling or eliminating every uncomfortable experience and more on building a meaningful life aligned with meaning, values, and purpose.
Mindfulness is a core part of how I support clients in therapy. My experience with mindfulness-based approaches includes guiding individuals to develop awareness of their thoughts, emotions, and body sensations in the present moment without judgment. This practice helps clients create space between themselves and their distress, so they can respond with greater clarity and choice instead of reacting automatically. In sessions, I often weave in breathing techniques, grounding practices, body awareness, and mindful reflection to help regulate the nervous system and bring a sense of calm. Mindfulness also supports trauma recovery, stress management, and emotional resilience by helping clients stay anchored in the present, even when facing painful experiences. For many clients, mindfulness becomes a practical tool they can use outside of therapy in daily life, relationships, and moments of difficulty. By learning to pause, notice, and gently redirect attention, clients begin to feel more connected to themselves, less overwhelmed by stress, and more able to engage with life in a grounded and meaningful way.
I find that CBT in my practice provides clients with practical tools to better understand and shift unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. My experience with CBT has focused on helping clients recognize the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and actions and how small, intentional changes can create meaningful improvements in daily life. In sessions of I often guide clients to identify negative or distorted thinking patterns, challenge them with real/ evidence-based strategies, and practice healthier ways of responding. I also like to incorporate structured exercises such as thought records, coping skills training, and behavioral experiments to build confidence and resilience, when appropriate. I find CBT especially helpful for clients dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma recovery, and life transitions, because it balances insight with concrete, actionable steps. Clients often appreciate that CBT gives them both awareness and practical tools they can apply outside of therapy whether it’s managing stress, improving relationships, or building self-esteem.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a respectful, collaborative approach that helps clients move through ambivalence and reconnect with their inner drive for change. It’s about creating space for reflection and choice, not pushing or convincing. In essence, allowing change to comes from within. In our sessions, I use MI to help identify what truly matters to each, strengthen self-trust, and take steps that feel aligned with client's values and readiness.
Adlerian Therapy is a holistic, insight-oriented approach that helps clients understand the “story” they've been living ; the beliefs and early experiences that shape how we move through the world. It’s about reclaiming agency, fostering self-compassion, and cultivating the courage to live in alignment with our values. Adlerian work emphasizes connection, purpose, and true belonging.