What was your path to becoming a therapist? What inspired you to choose this profession?
I grew up in a dysfunctional poor family. I loved helping people since I was a teenager, tutoring younger children, working afterschool program/summer camp, assisting adults who just came to the USA and needed direction/language translation with social services in the Hispanic community. I always stood by those who were different/disadvantaged/had a disability/had no friends/who were made fun of in school since elementary school age.
What excites you most about the evolving mental health landscape?
I am very excited about telehealth mental health therapy which I believe will provide more mental health assistance to individuals/families/couples and will be more convenient for those who want it.
What does success look like in therapy? How will a client know that they are making progress?
Success in therapy is when the client, family, couples can cope/come up with solutions to their issues in a healthy manner/can take care of themselves/develop a support system in life.
Specialties
Anxiety
Anxiety can mean nervousness, worry, or self-doubt. Anxiety disorder is a mental health disorder that entails excessive, repeated bouts of worry, anxiety, and/or fear.
Abuse/Survivors of abuse
Abuse includes any significant mistreatment along the lines of psychical, emotional, sexual, verbal, and neglect. Survivors of abuse may experience negative thoughts and feelings, flashbacks, distrust of others, social withdrawal, self-harm, and increased likelihood of developing mental health and substance abuse issues.
Adolescent mental health
Adolescent mental health focuses on adolescent-specific experiences including physical and cognitive development, social and environmental factors, sex, sexual identification and orientation, emotional processing, and substance use. Given the influence that parents/guardians have on adolescents, home life is a particularly important consideration.
Caregiver stress & support
Caring for a friend or family member (paid or unpaid) includes emotional support, housework, help with finances, medication management, and shopping. Can be stressful, making caregivers more vulnerable to things like anxiety, isolation, and fatigue.
General Expertise
Depression
Depression often causes people to feel sad, empty, or hopeless, and can cause a lack of interest in life. It can also affect a person's thinking patterns and physical health.
Work Stress
Workplace issues are a common source of stress and can include interpersonal conflict, communication problems, gossip, harassment, discrimination, low motivation and job satisfaction, performance issues, and poor job fit.
Relationship Issues
Refers relationship issues with a partner or spouse. Can include issues related to relationship distress, relationship satisfaction, communication, intimacy, etc.
Loss/Grief
Grief is a reaction to an emotionally significant loss and often comes with symptoms of depression or anxiety. These symptoms can remain intense and last for a long time after a loss, making it difficult to move forward with a healthy lifestyle.
Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is the degree to which a person feels confident, valuable, and worthy of respect. Feeling low self-esteem can influence overall well-being and be linked to anxiety and/or depression.
Fees
$100
First Session
$150
Family Therapy
$100
Couples Therapy
$100
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Family Session
Couples Session
Individual Session
Clientele
Parents
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Seniors (65+)
Adolescents (13-17)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Strength Based Therapy
Coaching
Cognitive Processing Therapy
Compassion-Focused Therapy
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
Eclectic Therapy
Feminist Therapy
Forensic Therapy
Interpersonal Psychotherapy
Marriage and Family Therapy
Motivational Interviewing
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
Person-Centered Therapy
Positive Psychology
Reality Therapy
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Structural Family Therapy
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Licensure
NY, LCSW, 089546
Education
MSW In Practice with Individuals/family treatment BA with Major; Sociolgy Minors; Psychology and Spanish
Work History
25+ years full time working as a Agency/Private Mental Health Therapist with individuals/families/couples in Orange County, NY Special Assistance Trauma Unit on trauma, victimization, loss/bereavement, parenting/couple/family issues, custody issues, learning disability school advocacy, low self-esteem, behavioral issues, also providing support and referral to community resources.5 years part-time working as a Mental Health Therapist for two Psychology Mental Health Provider of services to individuals ranging from 25-90 years old living in assisted living facilities coping with role transitions, change/adjustment to the facility, their limitations, chronic pain/medical issues, chronic mental health issues, loss/bereavement, relational/family issues, depression/anxiety, sleep issue, physical disabilities, short term/long term memory issues.6 years part-time working as a Medical Social Worker for Orange County NY Nursing Division, Health Department in the community, assisting Seniors/Disabled individuals/caretakers/family cope with the patient's medical issues, limitations, anxieties/depression, loss/bereavement, caretaker issues, advocating/referral to community resources.8 years full time as a Mental Health Therapist for a Substance Abuse treatment facility, working with individuals/teenagers also, assistance them with anxieties, depression, sleep issues, women's issues in groups, PTSD/trauma work, loss/bereavement, relationship issues.1 year internship as a Mental Health Therapist/2 years as residential worker in a residential adolescent school with teenagers placed by the courts, assisting with impulsive behaviors, anxieties, depression, relationship/family issues, mental health issues, learning disability, self esteem issues.1 year internship as a Medical Social worker in a rehabilitation hospital floor assisting individuals/family cope with patient's disabilities/limitations, discharge planning for return to home, advocate/referral to community resources.