(She/her)
New to Grow
Dr. La’Shondra da Cruz, LPC, Psy.D specializes in Mental Health and Wellness and has provided compassionate clinical services to individuals and families for over 15 years. With a strong commitment to holistic and integrative care, Dr. da Cruz supports clients in nurturing emotional well-being, strengthening relationships, and achieving long-term mental health wellness. Dr. da Cruz’s expertise includes trauma-informed care, anxiety and depression treatment, play and art therapy, family and relationship healing, burnout and stress recovery, and mindfulness-based practices. She also specializes in mental health, psychology research and whole-health integrative wellness, aligning mind, body, and emotional well-being to promote long-term healing and life satisfaction. Her approach combines evidence-based interventions with holistic wellness practices to support the whole person.
During the first session, we will discuss details regarding what brought you to counseling. In addition, you will receive a compassionate approach that is based on my clinical philosophy, which is rooted in the belief that every individual and family possesses unique strengths and inner resources that can be cultivated to foster healing, resilience, and personal growth. Dr. da Cruz is passionate about empowering clients to recognize these strengths and use them as a foundation for lifelong emotional health and balance.
I am a strength-based and solution-focused practitioner. It's my belief that all clients are capable of meeting their goals with a practitioner who is not problem-focused.
I enjoy working with both men and women who are ready to begin their change, regardless of their stage of change. I enjoy working with clients with trauma concerns, client that struggle with attention deficits, and clients who are exhibiting family discord and generational dynamics. I enjoy working with clients who also desire integrative treatment for health and mental health, working together.
Attachment-based
Assess the client's attachment style and history. Encourage the client to express their feelings and experiences related to attachment. Help the client identify patterns in their relationships and emotional responses. Facilitate the development of healthier attachment behaviors and coping strategies. Use role-playing or guided imagery to practice new relational skills. Monitor progress and adjust therapeutic approaches as needed.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Help clients identify their core values to guide their actions. Encourage mindfulness practices to increase present-moment awareness. Teach clients to accept their thoughts and feelings without judgment. Use metaphors and experiential exercises to illustrate key concepts. Assist clients in setting specific, value-driven goals for change. Foster psychological flexibility by promoting adaptive responses to challenges.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Identify negative thought patterns that contribute to emotional distress. Challenge and reframe these thoughts with evidence-based reasoning. Teach clients relaxation techniques to manage anxiety and stress. Set specific, achievable goals to encourage positive behavior changes. Use behavioral experiments to test the validity of negative beliefs. Encourage journaling to track thoughts, feelings, and progress over time.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Introduce Mindfulness: Teach clients to focus on the present moment to enhance awareness and reduce anxiety. Practice Distress Tolerance: Equip clients with skills to manage crises without resorting to harmful behaviors. Enhance Emotional Regulation: Help clients identify and label their emotions to better manage emotional responses. Develop Interpersonal Effectiveness: Train clients in assertiveness and communication skills to improve relationships. Utilize Validation Techniques: Acknowledge clients' feelings and experiences to foster acceptance and understanding. Encourage Behavioral Chain Analysis: Guide clients in examining the sequence of events leading to problematic behaviors for insight and change.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Identify and acknowledge your different internal parts or voices. Create a safe space for dialogue between your parts. Listen to the concerns and needs of each part without judgment. Validate the feelings of your parts to foster understanding. Facilitate communication between conflicting parties to promote harmony. Work towards unburdening parts from past traumas or negative beliefs. Integrate insights gained from your parts into your daily life. Practice self-compassion and patience throughout the process.