I am a bilingual therapist with nearly three decades of experience in providing compassionate and effective counseling. I specialize in individual therapy and couples counseling, working with clients to address a variety of challenges such as anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, life transitions, and self-esteem issues. My approach is holistic and personalized, using a combination of evidence-based techniques such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and other methods tailored to the unique needs of each individual or couple. In my practice, I prioritize creating a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can explore their concerns, gain insight, and work toward meaningful change. I understand the importance of addressing both the emotional and practical aspects of healing and growth, which is why I incorporate tools and strategies that are not only helpful in the moment but also provide lasting benefits. I offer bilingual sessions in English and Spanish, making my services accessible to a wider range of clients. Whether you are facing challenges in your personal life, experiencing difficulties in your relationships, or navigating a life transition, I’m here to help you understand your emotions, develop healthy coping skills, and build a more fulfilling life. My ultimate goal is to empower you to achieve emotional well-being, strengthen your relationships, and foster resilience in the face of life’s challenges.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Starting therapy can feel like a big step, and I want you to feel as comfortable and supported as possible. Your first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and lay the foundation for your therapeutic journey. Here’s What You Can Expect: ✅ A Warm Welcome & Safe Space – My priority is to create a nonjudgmental and welcoming environment where you feel safe to share at your own pace. ✅ Getting to Know You – I’ll ask about what brings you to therapy, your personal history, and any specific concerns or challenges you’re facing. If you’re seeking couples counseling, we’ll explore the dynamics of your relationship and what you both hope to achieve. ✅ Clarifying Your Goals – We’ll discuss what you’d like to gain from therapy, whether it’s reducing anxiety, improving communication, healing from past trauma, or another goal that’s important to you. ✅ Explaining the Therapy Process – I’ll walk you through my approach, what to expect in future sessions, and how we can work together to create meaningful change. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask any questions about the process. ✅ Establishing a Plan Moving Forward – By the end of the session, we’ll outline a path forward, including how often we’ll meet and any initial strategies or insights to begin working on. Most importantly, there’s no pressure to share everything all at once. The first session is about building trust, exploring your needs, and ensuring you feel comfortable and supported. I look forward to working with you on your journey toward healing and growth!
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I have a strong foundation in various treatment approaches & a wide range of expertise. Some areas that I consider to be my biggest strengths include: Mental Health: including but not limited to depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, schizoaffective, Bipolar, loss & grieving Family dynamics: I have a strong background in family therapy & enjoy working with individuals & families to improve communication & strengthen relationships. Active listening: I strive to be an empathetic & non-judgmental listener & use my active listening skills to help clients feel heard and supported. Substance abuse: I have extensive experience working with individuals struggling with substance use disorders, co-occuring Practical solutions: balance a focus on long-term growth while make positive changes
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
With 29 years of experience in individual and couples counseling, I specialize in helping clients who are seeking meaningful change in their personal lives and relationships. The clients I am best positioned to serve include: Individuals Seeking Personal Growth & Emotional Healing ✅ Adults struggling with anxiety, depression, or stress who want to develop healthier coping strategies. ✅ Individuals navigating life transitions such as career changes, divorce, or personal loss. ✅ People working through trauma or past emotional wounds who need a safe space to heal. ✅ Those feeling stuck in negative thought patterns and looking for ways to build confidence, self-awareness, and resilience. Couples Seeking to Strengthen Their Relationship ✅ Partners experiencing communication breakdowns, frequent conflicts, or emotional distance. ✅ Couples working through trust issues, infidelity, or major life adjustments. ✅ Those wanting to deepen intimacy, rebuild connection, and create a healthier partnership. ✅ Premarital couples who want to establish a strong foundation for a lasting relationship. Spanish-Speaking & Bilingual Clients ✅ I provide therapy in both English and Spanish, ensuring a culturally sensitive and inclusive experience. ✅ I help clients navigate cultural identity, acculturation challenges, and family dynamics influenced by cultural values. I work best with clients who are open to self-reflection, committed to personal growth, and ready to take steps—big or small—toward a healthier and more fulfilling life. If this sounds like you, I’d be honored to support you on your journey.
About Carmen Gomez-Abreu
Identifies as
Specializes in
Licensed in
Accepts
Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been a cornerstone of my practice for many years, and I have seen firsthand how effective it can be for helping clients break free from negative thought patterns and behaviors. My approach to CBT is client-centered, meaning I tailor the techniques to each individual’s needs, goals, and pace. ✅ Identifying Negative Thought Patterns – Together, we’ll explore how certain thoughts or beliefs may be contributing to emotional distress, anxiety, depression, or relationship issues. We focus on understanding these patterns and how they shape your experiences. ✅ Challenging Unhelpful Thoughts – I’ll guide you through the process of questioning and reframing unproductive thoughts. This helps create a shift in perspective, making it easier to respond to challenges in a more balanced and constructive way. ✅ Building Practical Skills – CBT is action-oriented, so I’ll help you develop coping strategies to deal with stress, anxiety, and emotional difficulties. These might include relaxation techniques, problem-solving skills, and healthier communication tools. ✅ Behavioral Interventions – CBT also involves making small, manageable changes in behavior. For example, if you’re struggling with avoidance or procrastination, I’ll help you break tasks into smaller steps and increase your confidence in taking action. ✅ Promoting Lasting Change – The ultimate goal of CBT is to empower you to manage your thoughts and behaviors independently, creating lasting change in your life. We work together to build new, healthier patterns that you can apply long after therapy ends. I’ve found that CBT is particularly effective for clients dealing with anxiety, depression, stress management, and relationship difficulties. It provides practical tools that foster both immediate relief and long-term growth.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a strengths-based, goal-oriented approach that focuses on finding practical solutions to current problems rather than dwelling on past issues. I’ve found SFBT to be incredibly effective for clients who are looking for a more direct and action-oriented approach to therapy. ✅ Goal Setting – From the very first session, we’ll identify clear, realistic goals that you want to work toward. These could be related to personal growth, improving relationships, or overcoming specific challenges. We’ll keep these goals in mind as we develop our approach to therapy. ✅ Building on Strengths – I believe everyone has the resources and strengths to make positive changes. SFBT focuses on identifying these strengths and previous successes to help you build confidence in your ability to create solutions. ✅ Exploring Solutions, Not Problems – Instead of focusing on the origins of the problem, I’ll encourage you to think about what’s already working in your life and how we can expand on these positive aspects. We look for small, achievable steps that you can take to move closer to your goals. ✅ The "Miracle Question" – One of the hallmark techniques of SFBT is the "miracle question," which helps you envision what life would look like if your problem were solved. This exercise encourages you to identify practical changes and solutions that can make that vision a reality. ✅ Short-Term Focus, Long-Term Benefits – SFBT is often a brief therapy approach, but its impact can be long-lasting. By focusing on solutions and helping you develop effective coping strategies, clients often experience rapid progress and feel empowered to continue moving forward independently. I use SFBT to help clients gain clarity on what they want to achieve and provide them with the tools to begin taking action. This method works particularly well for clients seeking short-term therapy, those who are ready to make change, or anyone looking to quickly build coping strategies for current challenges.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a client-centered, collaborative approach that focuses on helping individuals resolve ambivalence and enhance their intrinsic motivation for change. Over the years, I’ve found MI to be especially effective for clients who may feel uncertain or resistant about making changes, whether in their personal lives, relationships, or behaviors. ✅ Building Rapport & Trust – MI is rooted in creating a strong, nonjudgmental, and empathetic relationship with clients. In our sessions, I prioritize listening actively and validating your feelings and concerns, which helps foster trust and openness. ✅ Exploring Ambivalence – Often, people want to change but feel torn between the desire to improve and the fear or hesitation about taking action. I use MI techniques to explore these conflicting feelings and help you understand the reasons for both wanting and resisting change. ✅ Eliciting Change Talk – One of the core techniques in MI is helping clients articulate their reasons for change. I’ll ask open-ended questions to encourage you to reflect on your values, goals, and the potential benefits of making changes, which helps to increase your motivation. ✅ Highlighting Discrepancies – We’ll work together to examine the difference between your current situation and where you want to be. By exploring the gap, you may gain clearer insight into what’s holding you back and feel more compelled to take action. ✅ Fostering Self-Efficacy – MI is strengths-based, so I focus on building your confidence and belief in your ability to make changes. I help you identify past successes and strengths that you can use to move forward. ✅ Affirming Progress & Autonomy – In MI, the client is seen as the expert in their own life. I affirm the steps you take, no matter how small, and encourage you to take ownership of the changes you want to make. This autonomy often leads to more sustainable results. Motivational Interviewing is especially effective for clients dealing with issues like addiction, behavioral changes, or when they feel stuck in making decisions or taking action. It provides a gentle yet powerful way to unlock motivation, address ambivalence, and empower you to move toward meaningful change at your own pace.
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is a cognitive-behavioral approach that focuses on helping individuals identify and change irrational beliefs that contribute to emotional distress. Over the years, I’ve found REBT to be highly effective for clients who are struggling with negative emotions, self-doubt, and unhelpful thinking patterns. ✅ Identifying Irrational Beliefs – The first step in REBT is to identify the irrational beliefs that are driving negative emotions and behaviors. These could include unrealistic expectations, all-or-nothing thinking, or rigid rules that limit your potential. Together, we’ll explore these beliefs and understand how they impact your feelings and actions. ✅ Challenging and Disputing Irrational Thoughts – Once we’ve pinpointed these beliefs, I’ll guide you through a process of challenging them. REBT involves disputing irrational thoughts by asking questions that help you examine their validity and usefulness. For example, “Is this belief really true?” or “What evidence do I have to support or contradict this thought?” ✅ Developing Rational Alternatives – After identifying and challenging irrational beliefs, I help clients replace them with more rational, flexible, and balanced thoughts. This shift leads to healthier emotions and more constructive behaviors. For example, instead of thinking, “I must always succeed,” we work toward adopting a belief like, “It’s okay to fail sometimes. I can learn from my mistakes and improve.” ✅ Emphasizing Self-Acceptance – A core principle of REBT is promoting unconditional self-acceptance. I help clients accept themselves fully, despite their flaws or mistakes, which reduces self-criticism and fosters greater emotional resilience. ✅ Behavioral Changes – REBT is not only about changing thoughts but also about taking action. I encourage clients to apply the new, more rational beliefs in real-life situations, which often results in healthier behavior patterns and better emotional outcomes. ✅ Empowerment and Long-Term Change – REBT empowers clients to take responsibility for their thoughts and behaviors, helping them recognize that they have the ability to change how they respond to life’s challenges. This leads to lasting change and greater emotional well-being. REBT is particularly effective for clients dealing with anxiety, depression, anger issues, and self-esteem concerns. It offers a structured, practical way to break free from self-defeating thought patterns and create lasting change in both mindset and behavior.