LCSW, 3 years of experience
New to Grow
Hi, my name is Rita and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker located in Florida. My career began in the social work field working with adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and supporting them through employment, social skills, strengthening ADL's, and increasing their emotional regulation skills. During this experience, I also facilitated different support groups focused on creating connection for adults with Autism and to parents who needed support working through their complex emotions. I also worked as a Therapist at a residential mental health treatment facility helping those experiencing suicidal ideations, self harming, and more. I have always been someone that has had a passion for supporting others. I understand just how overwhelming even asking for help can be so my goal is to make that first step feel a little easier.
Our first session together will be the opportunity to get to know each other. Some people come in ready to dive into what’s been hard, while others need time to settle in. We will discuss what hasn’t worked in therapy before as well as what has worked. We’ll move at your pace. My role is to listen, understand your story, and start building a foundation of trust that supports real progress over time.
As a social worker, I view healing through the full picture of your life. This includes your background, relationships, environment, and the systems that have shaped your experiences. My work blends compassion with structure, using approaches like Internal Family Systems (IFS), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and mindfulness. I help clients connect the dots between their past and present, so they can understand where patterns come from and begin to change them.
I offer a safe, supportive space for individuals navigating anxiety, depression, life transitions, and trauma. I work with adults who feel overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected from themselves. Many of my clients are navigating trauma, burnout, or long-standing patterns of anxiety and self-doubt. I also specialize in working with neurodivergent teens and adults. This may look like late diagnosed adults understanding their new diagnosis or someone looking for help with daily living and social skills. My clients want more peace, self-awareness, and control over their lives. You don’t need to have it all figured out. We’ll work together to build insight, confidence, and coping tools that make sense for your life.
IFS helps clients understand the different “parts” of themselves. What I love and find inspiring about IFS is that the foundation of it focuses on each part having a positive intention. There is no bad part. For someone navigating trauma, depression, or suicidal thoughts, this approach creates space to understand internal conflict without judgment. It encourages self-compassion and helps clients connect to their core self, which becomes a powerful anchor during distress.
CBT focuses on identifying and reshaping unhelpful thought patterns that influence emotions and behaviors. I find it effective for anxiety, depression, and trauma responses by helping clients challenge self-blame, fear, or hopelessness that may drive distress. I use CBT in a more visual and concrete way, breaking down thoughts and emotions into steps that make sense.
DBT emphasizes emotional regulation, mindfulness, and healthy communication. These skills are essential when emotions feel too intense or unpredictable. This approach helps my clients learn how to stay grounded during crisis, manage urges for self-harm, and build distress tolerance.
Being trauma-informed means understanding that every behavior, reaction, or emotion has a story behind it. I approach therapy with sensitivity to how past experiences, whether big or subtle, can shape present struggles. Safety and trust are at the center of our work together. My role is to create a space where you don’t have to re-live trauma to begin healing, and where your story is treated with care, dignity, and understanding.