(she/her)
New to Grow
Welcome! My name is Kimberly, and I am a bilingual Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Los Angeles, CA. I work with clients of various walks of life, spanning from ages 13 through 65 and above. My focus is on helping clients manage symptoms of anxiety and depression in relation to a variety of life stressors. I specialize in helping clients navigate life transitions, low self-esteem, peer relationship issues, adjustment to chronic illness, and grief and loss. I use elements of various therapy modalities in my practice by creating a tailored approach to meet each individual client’s needs. I strive to help my clients build greater self awareness, understand and navigate emotions, and equip them with practical skills they can use in their daily lives. I understand that the first step to finding support can be challenging, so congratulations on being here!
In our first session, you can expect a warm and welcoming space where you can share your story, challenges and strengths. We will then work together to figure out what goals you hope to achieve in therapy.
My approach to therapy is trauma-informed, collaborative, and strengths-based. I strive to create a space where you feel heard, validated, and empowered, no matter the circumstance. Imagine that you are the driver and I am your passenger, using navigation to guide and support you on your journey. Aside from symptom relief, I encourage clients to develop personal insight as well as the confidence in themselves to navigate life’s difficulties.
My ideal client is one who may be feeling stuck, overwhelmed and constantly on edge, or someone experiencing low mood and lack of motivation in response to life stressors. Some examples of client concerns I primarily work with include managing school and family expectations, the physical and emotional toll of a chronic illness, or the emotional process of adapting to a new reality after a loss. I have a vast variety of experience and I am open to working with clients of different backgrounds and needs.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT to help my clients identify patterns of distorted thinking and irrational beliefs that are creating distress and impacting daily functioning. I use techniques such as challenging negative thinking, cognitive restructuring and journaling to help clients challenge these patterns. I assign homework to practice new coping skills in between sessions.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
I use Solution Focused Brief Treatment strategies to help my clients achieve goals by focusing on solutions to problems that arise. I use specific questioning and visualization techniques to highlight existing client strengths and resources, empowering clients to make small, manageable changes.
Somatic
I use somatic techniques in my practice to help clients create awareness of the connection between our minds and bodies. I use techniques such as grounding, breathing exercises, and physical sensation awareness to release pent-up tension, regulate the nervous system, and process emotions stored in the body.
EMDR
I use EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to help my clients process traumatic memories by combining recall of distressing events with bilateral stimulation (guided eye movements, taps, or tones). This process reduces the emotional intensity of memories, helping the brain reprocess them into less distressing, neutral memories.
Motivational Interviewing
I use motivational interviewing to help build a trusting relationship with my clients. Through motivational interviewing techniques I help guide conversations to encourage clients to express their own reasons for change, reinforcing that clients are in control of their own decisions.