Hi! I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Southern California. I earned my Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Southern California (USC) and have been in the field for 7.5 years now. During this time, I have worked with the adult population (ages 18-64), primarily those facing chronic health issues, significant life adjustments, interpersonal conflict, and issues of grief/loss. As humans, we aren’t meant to live in chronic states of anxiety and/or depression. Not only can this have negative effects on our physical and mental health, but it also tends to impact the relationships we have with those around us. Fortunately, therapy is a way to help us with this! Now as much as I’d like to say there’s a magic recipe to fix all your problems, I can’t. The goal of therapy is to not only learn more adaptive ways to respond to life’s stressors, but also to learn more about ourselves. In doing so, you’ll find that difficult emotions and happiness can still simultaneously occur— it’s just a matter of putting conscious effort into taking care of ourselves in a way that will allow us to find peace and acceptance.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session together, we’ll start with brief introductions, review what to expect while working with me, and then dive into your reasons for seeking therapy. Don’t worry! I recognize this may be your first time in therapy (or maybe it isn’t). Either way, we’ll start at a healthy pace and together will develop a treatment plan unique to your goals and preferences.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Having worked with clients in acute crisis for most of my career, I have come to appreciate the importance of providing a nonjudgmental and calming space in order to nurture a strong therapeutic relationship. Rather than inserting my personal opinion on matters, I will help you unpack your own emotions while reinforcing the importance of our shared work towards your treatment goals.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
I find it most rewarding to work with clients who are eager to learn more about themselves and are willing to be challenged in a way that encourages continued growth and healing.
About Stephanie Aguirre
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Interpersonal
As social beings, the relationships we have with those around us can have significant impacts on our mental health—both good and bad. Within my practice, I use the core principles of interpersonal psychotherapy to help my clients explore how they relate to others in their lives. This includes gradually challenging them to help improve their ability to manage distress tolerance when facing interpersonal conflict with others.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I incorporate the use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques in therapy to help take an honest look at how your thoughts and emotions impact not only your actions, but also your patterns of thinking. Although many of us are guilty of negative self-talk, CBT can aid in bringing awareness to these thoughts/patterns while helping you learn healthier habits.
Grief Therapy
Without it needing to be said, the concept of grief can feel so overwhelming that we find ourselves frustrated with our inability to “get over it.” I am a firm believer that grief can be considered the price of love, but it does not need to be all-consuming. Together, we can help you realize that happiness and grief can certainly co-exist.