Hola! Just pause for a moment and give yourself credit for taking the first step toward bettering your mental health. I know it can feel empowering, confusing, and maybe even a little scary all at once, but you're here, and that's a huge step in itself. I'm a bilingual Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Southern California. I have been practicing for about 4 years and my clinical experience includes collaborative work with children, adolescents, adults, and families who have high-intensity needs—whether they are dealing with complex trauma, significant emotional dysregulation, cultural and societal pressures, or severe mental health conditions. My work with clients involves building trust, providing a safe space, and utilizing interventions that are designed to help clients manage their emotional distress, regulate their behavior, and work toward long-term change. I use the strengths-based approach not only to foster hope and self-efficacy but also encourage a collaborative, non-judgmental therapeutic relationship where you will feel seen for who you are, rather than just your challenges. I will be patient with you to allow you to make change at your own pace. At the same time, challenging you gently and with respect can push you beyond your comfort zones and help you confront limiting beliefs or behaviors that may be holding you back. It would be both an honor and a privilege to accompany you on this part of your journey. "The human race has only one effective weapon, and that is laughter." – Mark Twain
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
During our first session, we'll start by introducing ourselves, and I'll ask about your expectations for therapy so I can understand what you're hoping to achieve. I'll also review the assessments you completed before our first session and ask a few more questions to gather additional information. Then, we will collaboratively create a plan that’s tailored to your needs, so we can make the most of our time together in the sessions that follow.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
One of my biggest strengths is that I truly believe clients are the experts in their own lives. I don’t come from a place of judgment, but rather from a mindset of wanting to learn from you and your unique experiences. Another strength is my ability to build strong rapport and create a safe, trusting relationship. I also draw on creative interventions tailored to your interests, hobbies, and skills, which helps make the therapeutic process more engaging and relevant to you. Finally, I value open communication and feedback, because I want you to feel comfortable expressing how you'd like your treatment to unfold and what works best for you.
About Angelica Ortega
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Trauma-Focused CBT
TF-CBT helps clients gain mastery over their trauma-related symptoms, restore a sense of safety, and develop healthy coping mechanisms for managing distress. While TF-CBT is a structured model, it’s also flexible and can be tailored to individual needs and strengths. For example, with children, I might incorporate play therapy techniques to make the process less intimidating. With adults, I may encourage their creative writing skills during the narrative aspect. Measuring the frequency of trauma-related symptoms and behaviors over time is a critical part of assessing a client’s progress in therapy; therefore, an instrument that I utilize is the UCLA Reaction Index.
Psychodynamic
I utilize psychodynamic approaches to help clients explore the root causes of psychological distress, focusing on unresolved issues and the emotional dynamics that influence current patterns of behavior. When using this approach, I integrate Attachment and Family Systems Theories. For example, if a client has difficulties in intimate relationships (e.g., fear of abandonment, emotional distance), I may explore how early attachment dynamics with caregivers contributed to these patterns and ways family dynamics reinforce the attachment style. I have assisted clients increase insight on internalized family roles (e.g., the “scapegoat” or the “peacemaker”) that are unconscious but still shape their behavior.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
My role as a therapist is to guide the client through the process of clarifying their goals, identifying solutions, and building on their existing strengths to make incremental progress toward those goals. By maintaining a future-focused, solution-oriented perspective and working collaboratively with the client, SFBT fosters hope, motivation, and a sense of empowerment.