LCSW, 23 years of experience
New to Grow
My name is Beatris, though many know me as Betty. I am a Doctor of Social Work and a bilingual, bicultural Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New Jersey, fluent in both Spanish and English. For over 23 years, I have dedicated my career to supporting children, adolescents, and families through some of life’s most challenging moments. I believe in partnering with my clients and meeting them where they are, always honoring that they are the true experts in their own lives. My role is to provide guidance, balance, and support as they work toward living their most authentic and fulfilling lives.
In your first session with me, you can expect a welcoming and nonjudgmental space where we begin by getting to know each other. I’ll ask about what brings you to therapy, your goals, and any concerns you’d like to address, while also sharing how I work as a therapist. Together, we’ll explore what feels most important for you right now and start creating a plan that supports your unique needs. My goal is for you to leave the session feeling heard, supported, and hopeful about the path ahead.
What stands out about my therapeutic approach is my commitment to being authentic and bringing my whole self into the room. I believe that while I am a therapist, I am also a human being first—and I strive to connect with clients on that level. I use humor when it’s appropriate, because laughter can create connection, ease tension, and remind us that healing doesn’t always have to feel heavy. Clients often share that my approach helps them feel comfortable, seen, and supported as we do the deeper work together.
I am best positioned to serve clients who are seeking a supportive partner in their healing journey. Whether they are navigating life transitions, relationship challenges, or the weight of stress and anxiety, I meet clients where they are with compassion and respect. I honor that they are the true experts in their own lives, and my role is to provide guidance, balance, and encouragement as they work toward living with greater authenticity, peace, and fulfillment.
In my practice, I frequently use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients recognize the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. I guide clients in identifying unhelpful thought patterns and replacing them with healthier, more balanced perspectives. Through structured exercises, reflection, and real-life application, CBT provides the skills so that clients can learn to build coping strategies, manage anxiety, and make lasting changes that support their overall well-being.
In my practice, I use Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) to support clients in working through trauma and its lasting impact. CPT provides a structured way to examine and challenge unhelpful beliefs that often emerge after traumatic experiences, such as guilt, blame, or mistrust. By guiding clients to reframe these thoughts and develop more balanced perspectives, CPT helps them reduce distress, improve daily functioning, and reclaim a sense of safety and empowerment in their lives.
In my role as a cultural therapist, I use Cultural Sensitivity Therapy to honor and integrate clients’ cultural identities, values, and lived experiences into the healing process. I recognize that culture shapes how individuals understand themselves, their relationships, and their challenges. By creating space for clients to explore the impact of race, ethnicity, language, spirituality, and traditions, I help them connect personal experiences to larger cultural and systemic contexts. This approach not only validates their identity but also builds resilience, strengthens self-advocacy, and promotes healing that is both clinically effective and culturally grounded.
In my practice, I use Grief Therapy to support clients as they navigate the pain of loss and the complex emotions that come with it. I provide a compassionate and safe space for clients to express their grief, honor their loss, and find meaning in their experiences. Through this process, clients learn coping strategies, explore the personal impact of grief, and gradually work toward healing and adjustment while still maintaining a connection to what they have lost.
In my practice, I incorporate Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy to help clients explore and heal the different “parts” of themselves. IFS recognizes that within each of us are distinct inner parts—such as protectors, managers, and exiles—that develop in response to life experiences. By guiding clients to connect with their core Self, IFS helps them build compassion for their parts, reduce inner conflict, and integration. This approach supports deep healing, emotional balance, and greater self-understanding.