Julia Saenz, Psy.D.
Hey there! Congratulations on taking the first step to finding a therapist. It tends to be the hardest - acknowledging that things aren't going so well requires honesty, self-awareness, and humility. Or an "admittance of failure" as some might describe it. At least that's what it feels like. I assure you that you didn't fail and you're not a failure, no matter how strong those feelings might be. It's the system that's flawed; it drowns us in unrealistic expectations and superficial comparisons, causing us to feel overwhelmed, irritable, disconnected, lonely, and unfulfilled. I help folx identify and understand challenges related to self, sexual and gender identity, food, and pregnancy and motherhood, just as I hold space for those suffering from chronic mood and anxiety disorders. I think of health holistically and aim to integrate mind, body, and spirit by incorporating mindfulness and meditation. Similarly, I prioritize casting a support network that consists of both meaningful social connections and a collaborative team of various health care providers (i.e. psychiatry and dietetics). Under your guidance and my expertise, we embark on your journey to self-discovery. Along the way, you'll learn to decipher your needs and develop skills that empower you to change the narrative of your life story. You'll use pragmatic strategies, concrete behaviors, as well as symbolic and spiritual rituals and somatic experiences. Most importantly, you'll foster curiosity and compassion for yourself and others.
First session
Sessions are approximately 50 minutes in duration and usually focus on what you bring to the table. I believe that you're the expert on you, which means that you intuitively know best what it is that you need. My intention is not to push a predetermined agenda. Instead, my goal is to meet you where you're at and make space for what's weighing on your mind, while holding on to the red thread that ties your life together to ultimately help connect the dots, foster awareness, and promote growth and healing. This approach requires a certain level of comfortability and a lot of trust. To get a better sense of who I am and determine whether I'm a good fit for you, we'll get on a complimentary 15-min consultation call before meeting for an initial session.
Strengths
Being a therapist is as tremendous an honor as it is an intimate endeavor. The trust people have in my guiding them through troubled waters is humbling; it deserves to be treated with the utmost respect and care. This ethos informs my therapeutic stance and guides me to be as authentic and genuine a therapist as my ethical values permit, allowing me to forge deep connections with those I have the privilege of working with. These connections turn into the soil on which new seedlings are planted, where they grow, where they thrive. These connections become the foundation of a new path ahead.
Location
Virtual sessions
In-person sessions5175 East Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, CA 90804