LCSW, 12 years of experience
New to Grow
Hello! My name is Robin Aquino, a licensed LCSW in California. I am passionate about helping individuals navigate life's challenges with compassion and confidence. Whether you are facing anxiety, struggling with depression, or simply feeling stuck, I am here to support you in moving toward meaningful change. I believe in authenticity, and I am real with my clients. Together we can create a safe space where you can bring in vulnerability without feeling judged.
We will start by getting to know each other. I will establish a safe, non-judgmental space for us to introduce ourselves and break the ice. I will explain the limits of confidentiality and how emergencies are handled. We will talk about what brought you to therapy, your personal history and the current support systems in your life. We will also focus on what you hope yo gain from therapy and how we will set goals for our time together. At the end of our session, you will get a sense of weather I am a good fit for you and what you are looking for. If not, we can talk about what you are hoping for in therapy and I will do my best to help you find someone whose style might work better for you.
Here are the qualities and strengths that make me unique as a therapist. - empathy and compassion: the ability to understand someone's experience and feel alongside them. - active listening and attunement: noticing not just the words you are saying but nonverbal cues and emotional undercurrents. - openness and flexibility: being willing to adjust methods, trying different therapeutic modalities and being responsive to a client's needs. - cultural humility and inclusivity: being aware of my own biases, respectful and understanding a client's cultural, religious, gender, and socioeconomic background.
My ideal clients and those who are open and willing to engage. This makes our work together more collaborative and effective. Ideal clients will be open minded, curious and willing to look at new perspectives. Ideal clients are honest and transparent. Therapy can be safe and more productive when we can both speak openly. I have experience helping clients with anxiety, life transitions and trauma. I especially resonate with those who are seeking balance in their life, self awareness and a deeper connections with themselves and others.
In sessions, I work collaboratively with clients to challenge negative thought patterns, identify specific problems, and develop healthy coping behaviors. We do this together by using cognitive restructuring, behavior strategies, and homework in between sessions.