My Approach
My approach to therapy is relational, thoughtful, and collaborative. I believe meaningful change happens when clients feel safe, respected, and genuinely understood. A core part of my work includes understanding how culture, family systems, and lived experiences shape the way people view themselves, express emotions, and navigate relationships.
I strive to create a space where clients can explore their experiences honestly. Especially those that may be influenced by cultural expectations, generational patterns, or unspoken family roles. All while developing practical tools for growth that feel authentic and culturally aligned.
My Client focus
I am most passionate about working with college students and young adults, particularly those navigating identity, purpose, and major life transitions. Many of the clients I work with come from bicultural, bilingual, or first-generation backgrounds and often carry the tension of balancing personal goals with family, cultural, and societal expectations.
I enjoy helping clients unpack how culture, upbringing, and family dynamics influence their emotional health, decision-making, and sense of responsibility. Together, we work to create clarity, establish healthier boundaries, and move toward growth without losing connection to what matters most to them.
My Communication Style
My communication style is warm, grounded, and direct. I prioritize listening carefully while also offering thoughtful feedback and guidance. I am attentive to how cultural norms around communication, respect, and authority can shape how clients show up in therapy, and I work to meet each client with curiosity and humility.
Clients often describe sessions as supportive, honest, and culturally attuned spaces where they feel understood not only as individuals, but within the broader context of their family and cultural story.
How I Help Clients Reach Goals
I help clients reach their goals by collaboratively identifying patterns, emotional responses, and cultural or familial influences that may be impacting their well-being. Therapy is both reflective and practical. We focus on building awareness, strengthening coping skills, and developing strategies that respect each client’s cultural values while supporting emotional growth and personal agency.
Goals are revisited regularly to ensure the work remains intentional, relevant, and aligned with the client’s evolving needs.
My Journey To Becoming a Provider
I have worked in a variety of clinical settings and have had the privilege of supporting children, adolescents, and adults from diverse cultural backgrounds. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Psychology and my master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Hope International University and am licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist.
As a bilingual therapist, I provide services in both English and Spanish and have extensive experience working with multigenerational families and individuals navigating cultural and language differences. I am especially mindful of how culture, immigration history, and generational expectations can shape emotional expression, mental health stigma, and help-seeking behaviors.
In addition to my clinical work, I am an ordained pastor and enjoy speaking at churches and organizations to increase mental health awareness and reduce stigma around seeking support. I do not hold a preference for working with religious or non-religious clients, but many clients with spiritual backgrounds appreciate working with a therapist who understands and respects the role faith may play in their lives. When desired, faith and spirituality can be thoughtfully integrated into therapy in a clinically appropriate way.
My First Session With Clients
The first session is an opportunity to begin building trust and understanding. We will discuss what brought you to therapy, what you are hoping to work on, and how your background, culture, and lived experiences may be influencing your current challenges. My goal is for you to leave the first session feeling heard, informed, and clear about next steps.
Therapy is a collaborative process, and the first session marks the beginning of that partnership