It takes a great deal of strength to consider psychotherapy. Whether it’s for yourself, your child, or your family, choosing to get started involves risk as you confront painful realities and wrestle with powerful emotions. However, I believe nothing worthwhile is ever easy. I also believe not going it alone has unparalleled merits.
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I help adolescents and adults who are discontent and battle worry, sadness, or fear become more secure in who they are and their next steps in life.
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I am an active and collaborative therapist who is committed to energizing your personal growth and healing, no matter the specific challenges you’re facing. I help you cultivate a deeper sense of purpose that can accompany you as you brave your way through the mysteries of living in the world today.
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I am trained in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness, and Self-Compassion which form the backbone of my therapeutic interventions. Additionally, I have experience incorporating faith and spirituality into therapy if this is a valuable resource in your life.
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Theoretically, I work from an attachment perspective, which in a nutshell means that I believe how we relate to ourselves, others, and the world is profoundly influenced by our earliest relationships with our caregivers. In line with research on what is most curative in therapy, I also view the therapeutic relationship between us as the platform on which you best heal, grow, and reach your goals. Finally, I am interested in helping you develop a more accurate understanding of your inner world, which, ideally brings a greater capacity for healthy relationships and a confidence that comes from living each day with more skill, clarity, and purpose.
A Little More Background
My great grandmother's family immigrated from Spain and put down roots in Laredo, Texas where I spent a lot of time in my childhood. That’s how I first encountered and fell in love with the Spanish language, which I spoke at any opportunity, and the varied cultures of Spanish-speaking communities and countries. In high school, I participated in a service trip in Puerto Maldonado, Peru. I studied abroad in Sevilla, Spain in college. In graduate school, I co-facilitated a weekly Managing Emotions support group for Spanish-speaking women seeking asylum through the YWCA of Greater Austin. And after graduate school, I co-authored a research paper on a culturally-adapted parent training program for Mexican-origin caregivers. I am interested in cultural issues as they present through language, intersectional identity formation, layered oppressions, religion and spirituality, and parent-child relationships.
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I also have a life-long curiosity about what makes people tick. I credit this to being a Montessori student where I was taught to be inquisitive about the world, delight in the perspectives of others, and set limits and boundaries with love and respect. These lessons still actively guide me, both personally and professionally. Looking back, it’s a big part of why I chose the college I did and what I ended up studying ... and of course, why I became a clinical social worker.
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I went to the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains where I had my first hiking experience at Humpback Rocks and solidified my love for the great outdoors. I majored in Global Development Studies and minored in Social Entrepreneurship, which married my dual interests in global stewardship and empowering marginalized groups.
After graduation, I embarked on a 170 mile-long expedition across Northern Spain, walking el Camino de Santiago. It was a pilgrimage that put me in touch with myself in a new way and awakened the wisdom of slowing down and living simply. I still observe the daily practice of drinking zumo de naranja (freshly squeezed orange juice) and café con leche (coffee with milk).
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On the heels of this trek, I pivoted my career path from working at the societal (macro) level to the interpersonal (micro) level. This meant finding the right professional degree to prepare me and, truly, there was only one choice - social work. I returned to Texas, where I grew up, to go to graduate school at The University of Texas at Austin. I’m proud to have received my Masters in Social Work (MSSW) there, with a concentration in clinical work. During my time at UT, I interned with Communities-in-Schools, counseling at-risk middle school students dealing with anxiety, depression, behavioral and academic issues, and family conflict. My final internship was with Hospice Austin where I provided end-of-life support and therapy for grief, death, and life transitions.
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After I graduated, I was hired by Hospice Austin and continued my work there before accepting a job at Ascension Seton Shoal Creek Psychiatric Hospital as a Behavioral Health Clinician. I worked in their PHP (Partial Hospitalization Program) for adults with acute psychiatric symptoms where I facilitated didactic and clinical groups and performed case management. Becoming a psychiatric social worker was instrumental in developing my skills assessing, diagnosing, and treating a vast array of mental health problems. Both of these professional experiences deepened my understanding of all those who struggle with grief, mental illness, the interplay between the two, and the various social forces that can hinder or help recovery.
And, when I'm not working, I'm usually found with my husband and dog relaxing at home, cooking, reading and journaling, practicing yoga, hiking and adventuring outside, trying new restaurants, traveling, or spending time with friends and family.