LMHC, 7 years of experience
New to Grow
My name is Crystal Ortiz, and I’m a passionate mental health therapist licensed in EMDR with over six years of experience supporting individuals through trauma, substance abuse, and emotional healing. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working in diverse settings—from adolescent treatment centers to nonprofit programs like Susan B. Anthony, where I helped homeless women reunite with their children and rebuild their lives. Today, in my private practice, I primarily serve college-aged adults and young professionals navigating anxiety, trauma, PTSD, personality disorders and life transitions. I specialize in trauma-informed approaches, including EMDR, to help clients process their pain and find freedom from past experiences that may still impact their present. My work is grounded in attachment theory, as I believe our relationship with ourselves sets the foundation for how we connect with others. I take pride in creating a safe, compassionate space where clients can explore their emotions, rediscover their strengths, and develop healthier patterns of connection. Having gone through therapy myself as both a person and a therapist, I deeply understand the courage it takes to heal. That personal experience has made me even more empathetic and driven to guide others toward self-awareness and growth. I bring warmth, humor, and genuine care into every session, helping clients feel supported and understood as they navigate their healing journey. Ultimately, my goal is to empower individuals to feel more secure, confident, and at peace with who they are—because when we begin to heal the relationship with ourselves, we open the door to healthier, more meaningful connections with the world around us.
Your first session is all about you feeling seen, heard, and safe. It’s a gentle space where you can share at your own pace, without judgment or pressure. We’ll start by exploring what’s bringing you here and what you hope to get out of therapy, so we can begin shaping a path that feels right for you. This session is the first step toward healing, self-discovery, and feeling more secure in yourself. You’re not alone in this journey—I’ll be here to support, guide, and encourage you as you begin to reconnect with your strengths and your heart. It’s a brave and beautiful step, and you deserve every bit of care and compassion along the way.
I’m fully committed to helping you grow, and I’ll always push myself so I can help push you—kindly, honestly, and with care. I hold you accountable to your words and intentions, while also allowing myself to be human and real with you. My approach is simple: I am authentic, open, and present in every moment we share. I use all the evidence-based methods I’ve trained in, but I also follow my heart when the moment calls for it. I don’t just ask, “How does that make you feel?” Instead, I connect with you in ways that help you feel less alone and truly understood. If I can relate to your experience in a way that helps you move forward, I’ll share it—not to take focus away from you, but to help you feel seen, supported, and empowered to process what’s happening inside you. The results I see with my clients are what inspire me most. Many continue to reach out long after our work together, and when I see them in life, they often thank me—but I always remind them: the work was theirs. They showed up, trusted the process, and let themselves be vulnerable. My role is to guide, support, and walk alongside you, but the transformation is all yours. I’m here to hold space, challenge you when it matters, celebrate your courage, and remind you that you’re never alone in this journey. Together, we can uncover your strengths, navigate your challenges, and help you step fully into your own resilience and confidence
To my dream client — you’re someone who feels deeply, who’s been carrying so much for so long, and who’s finally ready to start healing. You may have been the strong one for everyone else, but inside you’re craving peace, understanding, and a sense of safety within yourself. You’ve been through things that changed you, and even though part of you still feels stuck, another part is ready to grow, to breathe again, and to believe that healing is possible. I see you — the part of you that’s tired of surviving and longs to start truly living. You and I share the belief that we are not defined by our pain, but by our courage to face it. Through trauma-informed and attachment-based therapy, I’ll walk beside you as you rebuild trust with yourself, release old wounds, and rediscover your confidence and joy. You deserve to feel whole, loved, and secure — not just with others, but within your own heart. Healing isn’t just possible for you — it’s waiting for you.
I love using attachment theory in my work because it helps people really understand how their relationships—both past and present—shape the way they see themselves. When we don’t have a healthy connection with ourselves, we tend to reflect that in how we connect with others. Through attachment-based therapy, I help clients build self-compassion and security from within. It’s such a beautiful process watching someone learn to love and trust themselves again!
I use EMDR therapy because it is a powerful approach for those struggling with trauma and PTSD. It helps clients process distressing memories in a way that reduces their emotional intensity and allows healing to take place. By using bilateral stimulation, clients can reprocess painful experiences and create new, healthier associations. This approach supports them in feeling more in control, grounded, and able to move forward without being defined by their past.
I love using mindfulness-based therapy because it helps clients slow down and truly reconnect with the present moment! So many people who struggle with mental health get caught up in worries about the past or future, and mindfulness brings them back to right now—where healing starts. Through breathing, grounding, and self-awareness exercises, clients learn to calm their minds and listen to their bodies. It’s such a beautiful way to help people feel more centered, peaceful, and in control of their emotions!
I love using CBT therapy because it helps clients see how powerful their thoughts truly are! So often, we get stuck in negative thinking patterns that make us feel overwhelmed or discouraged. With CBT, I help clients challenge those unhelpful thoughts and replace them with more balanced, empowering ones. It’s amazing to watch their confidence grow as they realize they can shift their mindset and feel better from the inside out!