Hello. I am a bilingual (English/ Spanish) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in California. I received my MS in Counseling with and specialization in Latino Communities from California Lutheran University. I have been practicing for the past eight years. I utilize evidenced-based therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Trauma Focus-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I offer support to teenagers and adults to address their concerns such as life stressors, life transitions, relationship issues, survivors find healing from past traumatic experiences, provide communications tools, among other skills, where together we explore their strengths to create a foundation that is tailored to their life. We collaborate to identify and develop tools that would help guide them to a greater sense of self and wellbeing.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

As your mental health therapist, I offer you a safe space where you will feel comfortable enough to be able to disclose anything from a daily trouble to trauma. In our first session, you can expect a brief introduction, as well as explain the challenges you have been facing that have brought you to make this courageous step. Consent and creating treatment goals will be done here to be able to generate the best therapeutic alliance and achieve the most desirable results possible. My expectations of what I will provide to you as your therapist will also be explained in this session and what your responsibilities and expectations as a patient will be. Lastly, everything that is said in session is confidential unless I have concerns about you harming self or others, abuse, neglect of a minor or elder will be reported to the appropriate authorities.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

Are you looking to learn how to navigate the complexities of life? I know life can be very difficult to manage; however, I am here to empower you to learn various interventions to adapt to you and improve your overall quality of life. Our goal together should be, with these skills you could be able to reduce your symptoms and be resilient with the curve balls life throws. Together we would work on self-exploration and discovering personal growth such as self-reflection, values, and strengths, that you poses to have a greater self-awareness and fulfillment. I would also assist on developing effective communication skills, establishing healthy boundaries, and cultivating deeper connections with others. I specialize in treating common mental health conditions prevalent among individuals, such as anxiety, depression, stress-related issues, communication skills, life transitions, and trauma. Through integrative evidence-based interventions, such as CBT, family systems approach, TFCBT, among others; treatment plans will be personalized to empower clients to manage symptoms and enhance their overall well-being. I am proud to say I enjoy supporting adolescents in identity development, self-awareness, and most of all self-acceptance. The modalities I would use with you as a teen would be role playing, social skills to empower you to create positive relationships, healthier boundaries and have better commination skills you can continue to enforce as you get closer to adulthood. When working with you (adolescent) I will try, if I find it appropriate, to collaborate not only with you, but with your family as well. All of you, are a whole that needs to be addressed to ensure growth and resiliency to promote healthier and stronger family dynamics. As a bilingual (English/ Spanish) clinician I believe it is crucial to effectively communicate with you as the client and provide a culturally sensitive environment where you feel safe and accepted to share your distresses in your own language, if possible, without the worry of not feeling understood. I have worked with diverse backgrounds where I emphasize compassion and empathy. I am a true believer that working together to identify, clarify, and communicate clients’ concerns, emotions, and thoughts we could have a better prospect. Through collaboration and the development of a strong foundation, we can identify strengths you never thought you had and adapt them to your daily life to be able to find solutions to these challe

About Denise Montano

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