Hello! My name is Natalia Lopez and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW #76095) with over 13 years of clinical experience. I earned two bachelor's degrees in Sociology and Chican@ studies from the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) and earned my Master's in Social Welfare from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). I am the daughter of immigrant parents from Mexico and was born and raised in Boyle Heights, CA. My therapeutic approach is inspired by the notion that by establishing a safe and trusting therapeutic partnership with my clients, I will carefully work towards creating space for any underlying hurt, stress, or pain someone may be experiencing. Together, developing greater insight into strengths and unresolved conflicts. I believe everything we need to live the life we want is already within us and we are the experts on our struggles and past hurt. The benefit of therapy is to provide the support, education, techniques, and coping strategies that can enhance our life circumstances and empower us to attain our personal goals.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

They should expect me to be present and engaged, thoughtful and curious about them. I don't believe in opening discussions about difficult topics unless clients are comfortable sharing them. I don't ever want to go into discussions about trauma or difficult things before we have been able to establish a trusting relationship and you have some level of coping and managing strategies to regulate and ground yourself. So the first session is really about getting to know each other and what has inspired you to seek therapy; and what are the people, places, and experiences that have built you as a person.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

I am no different from the clients I see in my practice. I believe that to be on this planet you have had to experience challenges, unexpected twists of fate, loss and grief, and trauma just by taking up space in this lifetime. I myself have experienced trauma, loss and wondered how I will ever move on from the difficult challenges that life has placed on my path. It is my lived experience of resilience, self-reflection, and the community that holds me up that has allowed me to grow and thrive. I have had so many wonderful people in my life that have created safe places to heal and rest. And as a therapist, I can now be that same support to you on your path. What drives me to do the work I do is to create connections, and witness people's hurt and also their growth. I have always been curious about people and what informs their life views and what we can learn from one another if we share our respective stories. Your story is the most valuable thing you can share with the world as it can mean someone else's beacon of hope.

About Natalia Lopez

Appointments