LCSW, 27 years of experience
As a bilingual (Spanish-speaking) Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience, I provide compassionate, culturally sensitive care tailored to your unique needs. My approach is warm, interactive, and reflective designed to create a safe space where you feel truly heard and supported. I believe that healing happens through connection and creativity. I incorporate cinematherapy into sessions which can be a dynamic, engaging method that uses film as a tool for insight, self-awareness, and growth. This not only makes the therapeutic process more relatable and enjoyable but also helps you explore your own story in new and meaningful ways. I honor each client’s individuality, adapting my approach to your personal learning style to guide you toward deeper understanding and lasting change. Whether you're facing a specific challenge or seeking personal growth, I’m here to walk alongside you with respect, sensitivity, and genuine care.
In our first session, we'll begin with a relaxed conversation to get to know each other and help you feel comfortable. I'll guide us through a brief assessment to better understand your unique story, strengths, and current challenges. This helps me create a personalized treatment plan that truly aligns with your goals and needs. From there, we’ll start exploring the specific issues you’d like to work on. I believe that therapy is most effective when it’s interactive and engaging, so I often suggest a meaningful activity between sessions this could be journaling, watching a film, reading a book, or trying a simple reflective exercise. These tools are designed to help you stay connected to your goals and make meaningful progress between our time together. My goal is to support you in a way that feels both empowering and personally relevant starting from day one.
One of my greatest strengths is my ability to stay fully present and engaged with each client. I approach therapy as a true partnership walking alongside you with empathy, compassion, and genuine care. Together, we create a space where you can feel safe to explore even the most difficult topics, knowing you’re not alone. I offer gentle, supportive guidance tailored to your unique needs and pace. My style is authentic and collaborative, grounded in the belief that healing is a shared journey. Your growth and success are deeply meaningful to me and every step forward is something we’ll celebrate together.
I feel most connected in my work when supporting young adults who are in the process of discovering who they are and what they want out of life. These individuals may still be figuring out their goals and direction, often navigating anxiety, self-doubt, or uncertainty about how to express their needs and advocate for themselves in the world. I especially enjoy working with those who are introspective, motivated to grow, and open to exploring their inner world even if they don’t yet have all the answers. I also work well with thoughtful, intelligent individuals who are seeking meaningful relationships but find themselves held back by past experiences, trauma, or low self-esteem. Helping clients uncover their personal worth and develop the confidence to engage more authentically with others is deeply rewarding to me. In addition, I truly enjoy working with couples who are facing challenges in communication or struggling to stay connected amid the demands of everyday life. I help partners develop the tools to listen, understand, and relate to one another in more constructive and compassionate ways laying the foundation for a stronger, more fulfilling relationship.
I often use mindfulness therapy when working with anxious and depressed clients. I try to help them stay focused on the present moment and help them established a more stable reality that is focused on a gentle more neutral environment that is less stressful and more aware focused. I like my client to notice those things that give sensory pleasure and engage in the present. This has been a very healing method to help clients engage more with their external environments and be more engaged socially with the world around them. Helping clients ease their tension and stay present has greatly benefitted the anxious and depressed client.
Since starting my private practice, I have specialized in couple's therapy. I focused on building communication and establishing positive way to problem solve and engage with each other so as to creates bonding and understanding and ultimately the connection that is needed to establish a healthy relationship.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is the corner stone of how I practice, and it is part of most of my treatment plans. I use cognitive reframing to help establish new ways of thinking which helps with how to feel about situations and ultimately change behaviors. I help clients see how their thoughts influences their feelings and behaviors. I also help client see how their negative thoughts can lead to negative behavioral patterns in their lives.
When working with families I try to see the family as a whole. They are a unit working together to function and live life together. Part of family therapy is establishing the norms and culture of the family, then understanding how the family communicates and fine tuning how better to communicate so that everyone who needs to be heard can be heard. Establishing respect and understanding roles within the family is also vital in working within the family unit and also imperative when trying to reestablish or redefine how the family can better function if roles need to be redefined. Patiences and a return to love and connection is always the foundation of my practice. Overall, family therapy involves a lot of love, patience and guidance from me as the therapist to help the family heal and create a better functioning environment for everyone to live.
This modality is one of my favorites when dealing with my more oppositional clients. I use motivational interviewing to help my clients really understand what they are gaining from holding onto their point of view or their beliefs or their way of thinking. They often need to have me as their therapist be the mirror to help them see that they are often holding onto past trauma or negative thought patterns or fear as a way of maintaining control over their life or the lives of others. When exploring their why we often can tap into their more primal fear and explore their true needs in their life.
2 ratings with written reviews
April 17, 2025
Since day 1 me and my partner felt very comfortable with her. You can tell that she loves what she does and truly cares about helping her clients. I love that she gives us homework assignments each week because it helps us stay on track. We have seen a huge improvement in our relationship in such a short amount of time thanks to Vivian :) We look forward to every session with her.
February 7, 2025
Always a pleasure to get together...truly a blessing.