New to Grow
Kristyan Cortez-Gutierrez is a licensed clinical social worker with an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Human Development from UC Davis whom also graduated from the USC School of Social Work with her masters in 2019. She went on to work in the Alzheimer's and Dementia field with patients and caregivers and then worked with patients and caregivers in the hospice setting before moving into private practice. She has been working with individuals and families for 6 years as they navigate through difficult life transitions.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
During our first session we will be laying the ground work for our time together. We will discuss what brought you into session, identifying areas of support, and figuring out how we can work together in bringing you some peace.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I have often been complimented by my colleagues, patients, and clients on my ability to make them feel safe and comfortable to share their thoughts and feelings. I am empathetic and warm to the people I work with while also being able to lay out the facts and reality of the situation in order to best work through it together.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
The type of client I will best be of use to is someone who is going through a life transition, loss, or death and needs support working through the task of grieving. Their loss or social situation is impacting them in a way that their previous coping is not sufficiently helping them and they are needing new tools to cope.
Grief Therapy
I am a certified grief counselor by the American Institute of Healthcare Professionals. I have worked with different forms of grief, loss, and bereavement throughout my career, starting with caregivers of people with Alzheimer's and Dementia and then moving into hospice.
Motivational Interviewing
Trained in motivational interviewing and have used it for 6 years. I use it to work with resistance to change and promote long lasting change.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
Trained in motivational interviewing and have used it for 6 years. I use this to bring forward practical solutions that will help in the short term in order to create a safe space for deeper therapy techniques to work in the long run.
Interpersonal
Trained in interpersonal therapy to assist in managing interpersonal relationships that impact mood.