Shelly J Gonzalez

LCSW

People come in with preconceived notions about what therapy is and what happens in the session. I tell my patients that it is their session and whatever they want to talk about is what we talk about. I believe all therapists want to help each individual be the best that they can be. My wish is that each person who may be hesitant to try it would give it a chance and invest in themselves because they deserve it.

One thing I learned in grad school was that you have to be yourself as a therapist. I can’t pretend to be someone I am not. What you see is what you get, and the more open I am the more comfortable my patients feel to be themselves. I’m often told I am real and down to earth. Being genuine and honest is necessary to develop a strong alliance.

I grew up in an abusive and neglectful home. I witnessed and experienced unspeakable things. I knew it wasn’t healthy even as a child. My brother committed suicide, and my goals have been to prevent others from suffering his fate. I know the pain of being a survivor, and this has given me passion for helping others. I know from personal experience that therapy works and am dedicated to showing others this and giving them hope and a safe space to talk about private things. I’m often told things that my patients have never shared with anyone, and I feel honored to hear their stories.