I was born in Managua, Nicaragua but moved to the United States at a young age. I can say that I’ve learned to appreciate, value, and grow from every experience given in life. Good or bad experiences can potentially shape who we are. They can impact our view and perspective about life, and make us stronger to overcome challenges we face throughout our journey or disable us temporarily, making the journey less enjoyable and pleasing. I found in Psychology and Therapy a good option to provide others the needed tools to move forward, so they can find within them the strength to push toward a better and more productive lifestyle. I view therapy as a safe place to explore relationships, whether those relationships are with people (family, co-workers, partner) or things (food, money, alcohol). I also feel an important part of therapy is addressing the social, economic, and cultural influences on a person and that the process of therapy should be a collaborative one, with the client seen as the “expert” on their life. I received my Masters in Psychology with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy from Chapman University and my BA in Interdisciplinary Studies- Psychology from the University of Washington. My career as a therapist has included working in diverse range of settings: elementary, middle and high schools, community mental health centers, sexual assault agency and private practice as well. These places offered me the opportunity to gain experience working with a variety of issues including abuse, depression, anxiety, anger, low self-esteem, adjustment and acculturation issues. I have a strong interest and passion for Perinatal and Postpartum mood disorders. I continue to expand my knowledge in this specific field because I feel it is one that our society is just recently getting more comfortable talking about and I continue to meet many “mamas” who struggle or have struggled with feelings of shame and guilt around pregnancy, prenatal grief and loss and/or postpartum depression/anxiety. I believe that a combination of a committed, cooperative, non-judgmental and compassionate approach alongside the use of psychotherapeutic methods that can be individualized to fit the client’s specific goals, feelings, behavior and experiences, can be very successful during the healing process. It’s such a great honor to be part of your healing journey. You deserve a chance to make your future better. It’s never too late to start.
