LMFT, 3 years of experience
Welcome, I'm glad to know you are here. In my practice, as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT142790), I will create a safe space for you to heal, explore yourself today and explore your past, create a new path for your future. I strive to provide space that offers compassion and honest reflection, facilitates exploration of your story, promotes natural self-awareness and personal growth. I will be mindful of how your unique story affects your presenting issues and will provide culturally and trauma informed care.
In our first session, we'll start with a brief introduction and I will explain important things to know about therapy, like limits of confidentiality and informed consent. After such formalities, I will be curious to know what brings you in to see me. I will ask questions that will allow me to have a better picture of your present challenges, past times of adversity, your strengths and your unique story. But most importantly, in our first session, we will start laying the foundation for our therapeutic connection.
I believe, that I'm able to create a balanced space that offers compassion and empathy, along with gentle honesty and knowledge.
I particularly enjoy working with those of you who are not only focused on change (which we will of course work towards to), but also those of you who are willing to go on a journey of self-discovery and understanding of self, those of you who are willing to pay attention to things that you might be scared to notice at times, in order to become more whole.
In this form of therapy approach, importance is placed on discovery and understanding oneself. In this approach, I aim to not only improve an outward symptoms but also to help my clients to be more whole, and to live their life more fully and freely. The techniques I use in this therapy are both expressive and supportive. The expressive interventions allow my client to look inside themselves and think about their emotions, behaviors, experiences, and interactions with others, while being understood and supported. This helps the patient to gain insight and develop understanding of self, while taking responsibility for change.
This form of therapy helps you become aware of dysfunctional thinking patterns and negative core beliefs about self and others that influence on your emotions and behaviors, while learning new and more helpful ways of thinking about and responding to the problems.
In my trauma-informed therapy, my emphasis is not on asking, “What is wrong with you?” but instead asking, “What happened to you?”. To me it means, that none of you are broken, or dysfunctional, because I am aware of the survival mechanisms that kept you safe during a time of adversity (abuse, neglect, etc.), but might no longer be useful and keep you stuck. Trauma-informed care is not about a specific intervention but rather tailoring treatment to your trauma history, and specific needs.
2 ratings with written reviews
May 2, 2025
Absolutely incredible therapist and person -- I've had so much personal growth in the past couple years (far more than I could've ever imagined or hoped for) and it's due in VERY large part to Alina.
March 20, 2025
Thanks Alina! This was a great first session.