Have you lived through an event or series of events that impact your daily living? The human spirit can survive some of the most tragic and heartbreaking experiences. These experiences can leave us feeling guilty, confused, frustrated, and hopeless. I specialize in treating trauma in adolescents, young adults, and families by empowering clients to redefine these events and allow themselves to practice self-compassion. I also treat the co-occurring disorders that often accompany trauma, such as anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, and grief and loss. I primarily use a trauma-informed perspective and knowledge from cognitive neuroscience to deliver holistic mental health services. My hope is that clients gain insight into normal trauma responses to help reframe the guilt and shame that may arise. I want to collaborate with clients to discover where their inner critic thoughts and feelings originate from and decipher whether they are based on reality or are a result of your brain and body being trapped in survival mode. If you have stumbled upon this page, this should signal to you that your body and mind already recognize the need for change and acceptance. You have been built for resiliency! Let’s uncover it together.

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

As a licensed clinical social worker, I specialize in treating trauma. I have extensive experience working with youth, adults, and families and incorporate the latest research in neuroscience in our work. We will be learning about attachment and relationship patterns and how these patterns have both consciously and unconsciously repeated unwanted cycles of trauma. We will also learn how grief and loss is a normal part of our human development and can appear beyond “losing someone” to losing a part or parts of you during traumatic experiences and major life transitions. By providing you with a non-judgmental safe space, my hope is that you will discover the strengths you have had all along and learn new ways of coping.

What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?

I use the following approaches and methods in our sessions: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS).

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

I see humans as having multiple identities that make up their lives and experiences. I respond in a culturally responsive and racially conscious way to address clients’ stories and instill hope.

About Luz Guevara