Ana De La Cruz, LMFT

Ana De La Cruz, LMFT

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
  • Video Therapy starting at $180
  • Specializing in: Abuse/Survivors of abuse, Family issues, Loss/Grief, Marriage issues, Relationship Issues
  • Years of Experience: 6
  • Additional Language: Spanish
"I will help you discover the pieces that you need to complete your puzzle. Some pieces might have to be created in the process but I will be here to guide you, to listen and to go through the process with you. I am one click away."

How do you determine therapy goals with clients? What does that process look like?

Setting goals is my priority. Nonetheless, it is the client that sets their own goals. My job is to find out how are we going reach those goals. At the beginning of therapy, many clients do not know what exactly they want from therapy and that's okay, I would guide them by asking them several questions to create a picture of how the future would look like when therapy is over. What would tell them that therapy has been successful?

What does a first session with you look like?

A first session with me would be focus on building rapport with my client. I would focus on getting to know their story, getting to know who they are, their family, their work, their daily struggle, and what they would like to accomplish in therapy in a conversational style. I understand how difficult it could be to tell a complete stranger your whole life story on the first session, I would ask simple questions to help my client feel comfortable to open up and share their story with me.

What do you think is the biggest barrier today for people seeking care?

One of the biggest barrier today for people seeking care is time. We live very busy lives, with hectic schedules that selfcare is the last item on our to-do list. Usually, when people seek the help of a professional is when their lives are crumbling and they don't know how to keep it together anymore. Similar, to going to the doctor for a physical illness. I've known people that complain about headaches often, yet they don't seek the help of a doctor until the headache is unbearable. It is important to keep in mind that the longest we wait to ask for help the more difficult it will be to address the issue. Time is of the essence. Making time to take care of ourselves its critical to be productive on everything else that we do, and actually enjoy our lives to the fullest.

Specialties

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.

Family issues

Familial relationships can be the source of stress and emotional pain, even in the healthiest of situations. Painful interactions can range from irritation to resentment and lead to feelings of guilt, disappointment, and anger.

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.

Marriage issues

Issues within a marriage. Can include issues related to trust, intimacy, communication, infidelity, parenting, or conflict. Can also include discussion related to separation or divorce.

Relationship Issues

Refers relationship issues with a partner or spouse. Can include issues related to relationship distress, relationship satisfaction, communication, intimacy, etc.

General Expertise

  • Anxiety
  • Behavioral Issues
  • Caregiver stress & support
  • College & graduate student issues
  • Coping Skills
  • Domestic violence
  • Life transitions
  • Parenting issues
  • Pregnancy, perinatal, & postpartum issues
  • Postpartum depression
  • Race & Cultural Identity
  • Relationship Issues
  • Self-Esteem
  • Spirituality & religion based issues
  • Stress
  • Step-family/Blended Family Issues
  • Transition to new parenthood
  • Work Stress
  • Couples
  • Families

Treatment Approaches / Modalities

  • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
  • Marriage and Family Therapy
  • Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
  • Strength Based Therapy
  • The Gottman Method

Fees

  • $180
    Couples Session
  • $180
    Family Session
  • $180
    First Session / Assessment
  • $180
    Individual Session
$180 Couples Session
$180 Family Session
$180 First Session / Assessment
$ Group Session
$180 Individual Session

Education

  • Master In Marriage and Family Therapy

Training / Certifications

  • Crisis intervention and Suicide prevention Certificate

Work History

In 2010 after graduating from the University of Florida, I completed an internship at the Alachua County Crisis center. After the internship, I became a phone crisis counselor. As a crisis counselor, I was able to speak to hundreds of people who were going through heart breaking, clouded, unending conflicts and life-threating situations. I am humble to say that I was able to shine light on several people who were on the edge of suicide. I was able to help them find that missing puzzle that created hope for the future. In 2011, I moved to south Florida and began my master’s degree in Marriage and Family therapy. I specifically chose Marriage and Family therapy. After my experience at the crisis center, I realized that the onset of several conflicts in my client's life had begun way before they reached 10 years of age. The constant struggle with anxiety, depression, feelings of loneliness, inadequacy, and inability to set goals and follow through came from a broken family. I concluded that if I could intervene at the formation of families, I could save future generations from struggling with mental illness. In 2013, after I graduated, I worked for M.U.J.E.R, an nonprofit organization that works with victims of Domestic violence, mostly females. I was able to gain firsthand experience into the life's of completely broken families. I was blessed to be able to be part of such dark times in the lives of many people. I was able to highlight the strength they had to pick up the pieces left to start all over again. My journey continued as a support counselor at the UHealth NICU, providing support to parents who's premature babies where on the verge of death. My role as a support therapist, was to create strong stress management skills, planning for the unforeseen future, and teaching partners (marriages) how to provide support to each other during difficult times and through the process of grief. I continued to gain experience in the field of Behavioral Analysis, working with parents who have children with several developmental delays and in the spectrum of Autism, I have seen their pain, felt their vulnerability, feelings of hopelessness and celebrated their growth. As a therapist, in the last 10 years I have been able to be part of people's darkest moments in life, a time that no one knows how to be present. And although not all stories are success stories, I have to say that I have been blessed to be able to see the light at the end of many tunnels. I would be thrilled to walk with you in your Journey.

Licensure

  • FL, LMFT, MT3342

Location

19200 SW 344th ST, Homestead, FL, 33034