Lorraine Cruz

(she/her)

LCSW, 5 years of experience
No reviews yet

New to Grow

VirtualAvailable

Hello, I’m glad you’re here. I’ve been working with transitional-aged youth, adolescents, families, and adults. I approach therapy with cultural sensitivity and, as someone who is first-generation, I bring personal understanding to the experiences many clients face. My communication style is calm, empathetic, and flexible, creating a safe and supportive environment where you can show up as you are. I meet you where you are, whether you need a space to talk things through, process what’s going on, or simply feel heard and understood. Working with me is a collaborative process where you can openly express yourself and move at a pace that feels right for you. My path to becoming a therapist was shaped by a deep desire to offer comfort and support to others. As the oldest daughter of immigrants, I always knew I wanted to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Today, I bring both that lived experience and cultural awareness into my work to support your growth and healing.

Get to know me

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

During our first session, you can expect a welcoming and non-judgmental environment. I understand that meeting with a new therapist can feel intimidating, so I don't expect you to share your most intimate experiences right away. We'll focus on introducing ourselves, discussing what brings you to therapy, and beginning to build trust.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

What stands out about my approach is that I bring cultural understanding, empathy, and a strong foundation in trauma-informed care into my work. I pay close attention to each person’s background, values, and lived experiences, so therapy feels relevant and respectful to who you are. I focus on creating a space where you feel safe, understood, and not judged, while also helping you build practical tools to manage stress, emotions, and life challenges. My goal is to support meaningful change by meeting you where you are and working together in a way that feels grounded, collaborative, and supportive.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

I support teens and adults who are going through big life changes, like starting college, figuring out a career path, or adjusting to new stages of adulthood. This can be a time that brings up questions about identity, relationships, and direction, and I’m here to help you sort through it in a supportive, practical way. I also have a strong understanding of the experiences that come with being first-generation, balancing family responsibilities, expectations, and your own personal goals. That push and pull can feel overwhelming, and you don’t have to navigate it alone. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, stress, depression, or past experiences that still affect you, I provide a space where you can feel heard and supported while building tools to move forward with more clarity and confidence.

Specialties

Top specialties

Anxiety

Trauma and PTSD

Other specialties

ADHD

Depression

I identify as

Licensed in

Accepts

Location

Virtual

My treatment methods

EMDR

I use EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to help people work through difficult experiences in a way that feels more manageable. It uses simple techniques like guided eye movements or tapping while you focus on a memory, which helps your brain “unstick” it so it doesn’t feel as overwhelming. I go at your pace and make sure you feel comfortable and supported the whole time. We also build coping skills first, so you feel ready before working on anything intense. The goal is to help those experiences feel less heavy and have less impact on your day-to-day life.

Dialectical Behavior (DBT)

I use DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) to help people build practical skills for handling tough emotions, stress, and relationships. It focuses on things like staying present in the moment, managing intense feelings, and communicating needs in a healthy way. In our work together, I’ll teach you simple tools you can use in real life, such as ways to calm yourself when emotions feel overwhelming or how to respond rather than react in difficult situations. We practice these skills together so they feel natural over time, to help you feel more in control and confident

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

I use CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) to help you notice how your thoughts, feelings, and actions are connected. Sometimes we get stuck in patterns that make things feel worse, and CBT gives us simple ways to break those cycles. In our sessions, we’ll look at unhelpful thoughts and gently challenge them, and we’ll come up with more balanced ways of thinking. We’ll also focus on small, practical changes you can try in your daily life to help improve your mood and build confidence.

New to Grow
This provider hasn’t received any written reviews yet. We started collecting written reviews January 1, 2025.