New to Grow
I’m a licensed therapist & also a Credentialed Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC L2) who believes that healing begins with feeling seen, heard, and respected. I bring a warm, down-to-earth approach to therapy and meet people where they are, without judgment or pressure to be anyone other than themselves. I work with clients who are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or carrying emotional pain from life experiences, relationships, trauma, or substance use. My role is to help you make sense of what you’re going through, strengthen your coping skills, and reconnect with your inner strengths so you can move forward with more clarity, confidence, and self-compassion.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In our first session, we’ll take time to get to know each other and talk about what brought you to therapy in a relaxed, supportive way. There’s no pressure to share everything at once, we’ll go at your pace and focus on what feels most important to you. By the end of the session, you’ll have a clearer sense of how I work and how therapy can support you moving forward.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
My greatest strengths are my ability to truly listen, create safety quickly, and meet people with compassion rather than judgment. I bring deep experience working with complex life challenges, including trauma, substance use, cultural stressors, and major life transitions, and I approach this work with genuine care and authenticity. What often stands out to clients is that I truly care, I show up as my real self---an imperfect human being, and I balance warmth with honesty to help people gain insight, build practical coping skills, and make meaningful, lasting changes in their lives.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
My clients are people who are ready for support but may feel unsure where to start, especially those who have been carrying stress, emotional pain, or life challenges on their own for a long time. I work best with individuals who want a safe, honest space to talk things through, build healthier coping skills, and make meaningful changes at their own pace. Many of my clients share a desire for understanding, stability, and to be visible, want personal growth, even if they don’t yet have all the answers.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
I use a Person-Centered (Rogerian) approach to create a safe, compassionate, and nonjudgmental space where clients feel truly heard and respected. By leading with empathy and authenticity, I support clients in exploring their experiences at their own pace while helping them reconnect with their strengths, values, and capacity for meaningful change. While I lead with a person-centered approach, I also gently integrate evidence-based tools such as CBT, Motivational Interviewing, and trauma-informed care when it feels supportive and aligned with the client’s readiness. My goal is always to honor the client’s voice, foster self-compassion, and support meaningful, lasting change in a way that feels empowering rather than forced.
Motivational Interviewing
I use Motivational Interviewing to meet clients where they are, especially when they feel unsure, resistant, or pressured to change. In my practice, I use MI to explore ambivalence with compassion, strengthen a client’s own reasons for change, and support motivation in a way that feels respectful rather than forced.
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
I use a culturally sensitive approach that honors each client’s cultural background, lived experiences, and identity, including immigration stress, language preferences, race, gender, religion, and socioeconomic factors. In my practice, I adapt interventions to be culturally responsive, provide services in Spanish when needed, and work to create a space where clients feel seen, respected, and understood within the context of their culture and community.