I am Diana Cruz, a first generation Latina Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in California. I earned my Masters Degree in 2012 from the University of Southern California (USC). I have worked with a wide range of clients over the past 10 years, ranging from infants to adults. My goal in treatment is to provide a safe and non-judgmental space for my client to grow and heal at their own pace.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Our first session will be an opportunity for us to get to know each other. My two goals for an intake session is rapport building and ensuring that I am a good fit for my clients (which is okay if I am not). In the first session I want to get to know what brought my client into treatment. I will gather relevant information that will help us in identifying treatment goals and a treatment plan. I provide clients with information on what they can expect from me as their therapist. I will also answer any relevant questions that clients may have about me and my work experience.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
After 11 years of practice and many certifications, I find that what makes me a great clinician is the empathy I have and my ability to connect to my clients as a human above all. Before being a therapist, I am a person. A person who has flaws, insecurities, and traumas of my own. I won't pretend to have all the answers. Rather my goal is work with my clients to combine both our expertise. I have the book knowledge, but my clients have the knowledge of their own life and their experiences. And if we work together we can make magic happen in treatment.
About Diana Cruz
Appointments
Virtual
My treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I have used CBT interventions in my practice for the past 11 years when treating symptoms of trauma, depression and anxiety. CBT interventions allow us to identify ways in which your thoughts, feelings and behaviors interact with one another. Clients learn to identify unhealthy patterns of thinking and behaving, as well as skills to help change those patterns. With these skills, client are able to improve their relationships with self and others.
Interpersonal
I have used IPT interventions in my practice for the past 9 years to help client struggling with interpersonal functioning, including grief and loss, life transitions (i.e. change in jobs/careers, marriage, parenthood, etc), and interpersonal disputes (i.e. parent-child conflict, martial conflict, etc). With the use of IPT clients are able to improve their communication skills, identify and grow healthy support systems, and improve social relationships.
Motivational Interviewing
I have used motivational interviewing in my practice for the past 10 years to help clients evoke intrinsic motivation to make positive changes when they are feeling stuck. By providing an empathic and non judgmental environment, clients are able to explore pros and cons to making changes, potential barriers and challenges to making changes, and identify steps needed to make desired changes.
Trauma-Focused CBT
I have used TF-CBT interventions in my practice for over 11 years to help client process and heal with traumatic experiences. Traumatic experience can alter out functioning in various ways as they impact our sense of safety and trust. Through TF-CBT, clients are able to explore ways in which their thoughts, feelings and behaviors were altered by the trauma. And by processing their trauma through the use of narrative, clients are able to learn ways to change the way they respond to trauma triggers.
