(she/her)
Hi, I’m Adriana, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California with over 16 years of experience supporting individuals and families through life’s most challenging moments. I earned my Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Alliant International University and have worked extensively with clients navigating anxiety, stress, trauma, relationship challenges, and major life transitions such as divorce, career changes, and identity shifts. My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in evidence-based practices. I strive to create a safe, supportive space where you can feel heard, understood, and empowered to explore your thoughts and emotions without judgment. Together, we’ll work to identify patterns that may be keeping you stuck, build practical coping skills, and help you reconnect with your strengths and sense of self. I’m especially passionate about helping overwhelmed professionals and individuals who are used to “holding it all together” finally have a space to focus on themselves. Therapy with me is not just about talking; it’s about gaining insight, creating meaningful change, and developing tools that you can carry into your daily life. I provide services in both English and Spanish and am committed to offering culturally sensitive, individualized care that honors your unique experiences and background. Reaching out for support takes courage, and you don’t have to do it alone. I’d be honored to walk alongside you in your healing and growth.
Your first session is all about creating a comfortable, supportive space where you can begin to share your story at your own pace. We’ll start with brief introductions and go over what brings you to therapy, including any challenges, stressors, or concerns you’d like support with. I may ask questions about your background, current situation, and goals to better understand the full picture of your experiences. This helps me identify patterns, strengths, and areas where we can begin creating meaningful change. There’s no pressure to share everything at once. This is your space, and we will move at a pace that feels right for you. We’ll also talk about what you hope to get out of therapy and begin identifying initial goals. From there, I’ll share how I typically work and what approaches may be most helpful based on your needs. Together, we’ll collaborate on a plan that feels realistic, supportive, and aligned with what matters most to you. You can expect a balance of listening, gentle guidance, and practical tools to help you start gaining clarity and relief, even early on in the process. My goal is for you to leave your first session feeling heard, supported, and with a clearer sense of direction. If you have any questions about the process, I’m always happy to answer them. Starting therapy can feel like a big step, but you don’t have to have everything figured out to begin.
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to build strong, trusting relationships with clients from diverse backgrounds. I create a space where you can feel safe, understood, and supported, while also gently challenging patterns that may be keeping you stuck. My approach is both compassionate and goal-oriented, helping you move beyond insight into meaningful, lasting change. I specialize in working with high-functioning professionals who may appear “put together” on the outside but feel overwhelmed internally. Many of my clients struggle with anxiety, chronic stress, burnout, overthinking, and perfectionism, especially in high-demand careers or during major life transitions. I help clients slow down, gain clarity, and develop healthier ways of coping so they can feel more balanced and in control. I draw from evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and mindfulness-based strategies. These approaches are highly effective for anxiety treatment, stress management, and emotional regulation. Together, we’ll work on identifying unhelpful thought patterns, increasing psychological flexibility, and learning how to respond to difficult emotions in a more grounded, values-driven way. I also integrate a trauma-informed lens, recognizing how past experiences can shape current patterns such as people-pleasing, self-doubt, and difficulty setting boundaries. My work focuses on helping you build self-awareness, strengthen boundaries, and improve relationships, both personally and professionally. Clients often come to me feeling mentally exhausted from “holding it all together.” Through our work, many experience reduced anxiety, improved confidence, better work-life balance, and a stronger connection to themselves. My goal is not only to help you feel better, but to help you function better so you can show up in your life with more clarity, resilience, and intention.
I work best with high-functioning women and professionals who may appear “put together” on the outside but feel overwhelmed internally. Many of my clients struggle with anxiety, stress, overthinking, perfectionism, and burnout while balancing demanding careers, relationships, and major life transitions. I’m especially passionate about supporting Latina women and individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds who may feel pressure to meet family expectations, navigate cultural identity, or carry responsibilities for others. Together, we work on setting healthy boundaries, reducing guilt, and reconnecting with your own needs and values. My ideal clients are motivated for change, open to self-reflection, and ready to feel more grounded, confident, and in control of their emotional well-being and daily life.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients better understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This approach is especially effective for anxiety, stress, overthinking, and negative self-talk. Together, we identify unhelpful thinking patterns such as catastrophizing, perfectionism, or self-criticism, and work to reframe them into more balanced, realistic perspectives. In our work, I also focus on practical strategies you can apply outside of sessions, including coping skills, problem-solving techniques, and behavioral changes that support your goals. CBT is structured and goal-oriented, which helps clients experience relief more quickly while building long-term tools to manage challenges with greater confidence and clarity.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I incorporate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients develop a healthier relationship with their thoughts and emotions rather than feeling controlled by them. ACT is especially helpful for individuals struggling with anxiety, burnout, and feeling stuck despite “doing everything right.” Instead of trying to eliminate difficult thoughts or feelings, we focus on increasing psychological flexibility by learning how to accept what is outside of your control while taking meaningful action aligned with your values. This may include mindfulness practices, identifying core values, and building awareness of patterns like avoidance or overcontrol. ACT helps clients move from feeling overwhelmed or disconnected to living with greater intention, balance, and purpose, even in the presence of stress.
1 rating with written reviews
March 2, 2025
I love Adriana, she is very empathetic, she listens intently, and she gives great advice and homework. I recommend anyone to see her