I have over 25 years of combined experience in treating individuals, couples, children and families. The core of experience has been providing life skills therapeutic intervention, implementation of counseling- mental health programs in the public schools in El Paso, Texas and the border communities. I have been a private practice Practitioner for the past 15 years in El Paso, San Antonio and surrounding communities. Fully bilingual Spanish and bicultural, trained and certified through Grief Recovery Institute and the Search Institute, EMDR trained and trained with ASL communication , play and sand therapist has widened my scope of experience significantly allowing to work with a large cross-section of the population. I am a true life-long learner and seek out new challenges and professional opportunities .Hablo espanol y puedo comunicarme con las personas que prefieren comunicarse en espanol.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
I always like to inform clients of my role as their therapist. I want to make sure they are aware that I am here to help and I take a geniune interest in their particular life situation and the challenges they are facing. The first session is the most crucial in that from there goals are developed, expectations are laid out and a working commitment on the client's and therapist's side. This is a good time to get those questions answered and those concerns addressed , a beginning for what is to be a joint-venture therapeutic experience between client and therapist. La primera sesiion esa sumamente importante. En esa sesion llego a conocer al cliente un poco mas, y puedo llegar a concluir que tipo de terapia seria favorable para el/ella/ ellos
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I work with individuals who are adapting to a new surroundings, language and cultural challenges, working with immigrant Spanish speaking clients. I have been a school Counselor, Grant Coordinator for school with high social, emotional need for intervention. I also have worked with language challenged individuals and knowledgeable of American Sign Language (ASL). Trauma-informed approaches are also availlable for those who have been victims of violence, abuse, negelct or major loss.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
Available for individuals and families ranging in age from 6 to seniors. I have worked with parents and caretakers of children 3 years old up to pre school informing effective behavior modification plans and strategies. First time parents, parents of teens, adoptive parents all need support and guidance on how to raise their children, not one size fits all, therefore each particular case needs a treatment plan that will fit their specific needs. "I rely on the premise that your feelings and thoughts create your environment. Nobody makes change until they change their environment" . Me enfoco en dos puntos de vista muy importante cuando trato con el paciente y son los siguentes: Tu ambiente en el que estas es formado por tus emociones y tus pensamientos. Nadie cambia hasta que cambie su ambiente."
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I use ACT model in combination with CBT and have found it to be extremely useful and powerful for clients of all ages facing difficult situations, new experiences or going through hard times. ACT is based on the belief that one must" accept and expect", certain emotions, feelings, that if processed and prepared for ahead of time acknowledging that these feelings are expected and the client is prepared for them the less difficult it will be for the client to reach their goal and realize that difficult times are part of the process of reaching happiness or life satisfaction.
EMDR
Once the client is knowledgeable basic Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approaches and has basic mechanisms to deal with traumatic events I will incorporate EMDR for those clients that have some difficulty in expressing their thoughts, fears or have trauma that is difficult to speak about. EMDR is not for everyone, however it is most effective with clients who have been diagnosed with PTSD and those clients who are less likely to verbally describe their inner feelings and thoughts.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
SFBT is a practical time based approach to viewing a situation or problem in a person's life. Many times we have the response to our own issue or rather the solution however we tend to discount the positive in our daily day lives by something simple as using self-defeating words which often leads to thoughts and finally to self-destructive behaviors .Something is simple as being aware of the use of words such as, but not limited to, "always," "never,"" I am not capable, etc. With SFBT clients realized that a one point or another they had the solution or circumstances work in their favor. Once they examine the time and place where things were working out they discover they have the answer to their problem. SFBT focuses on clients strengths and build on them rather than their weaknesses.
Family Therapy
Every individual comes with a Family whether it be biologically related or not, families are defined in different ways. they are as unique as the individual. Family systems, roles are all unique in each family. Understanding family dynamics roles and unspoken rules are the fundamentals of working effectively with families of all shapes and sizes. The key to successful Family Counseling is understanding how the Family communicates, the role of each member and setting limits and boundaries for effective communication leading to more loving and understanding relationships.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Exploring our thinking patterns which are based on life experience is the framework of many, if not all treatment plans. If we have limited life experiences, difficult ones or traumatic life experiences , the choices we make, our view of our world , our relationships, and the many choices we make throughout our lifetime. Re-examining our thought processes, identifying the mental mistakes, or the irrational thought based on the stored body of knowledge is essential.