I am a bilingual psychotherapist, providing health-focused, trauma- informed psychotherapy and immigration evaluations in the Houston area. My specialty is working with immigrant individuals and families who are seeking immigration psychosocial evaluations for their legal proceedings. I also specialize in working with children and adolescents struggling with various mental health issues. My goal is to provide compassionate, affordable, and quality care to the underserved community. 

Therapy

The teenage years can come with new freedoms and more autonomy. Yet, they also bring new challenges. Often times, those challenges can become too overwhelming causing an array of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, academic difficulties, parent-child conflict, self-injurious behavior, and suicidal thinking. These conditions are painful, impairing, and frightening for both teens and their families. When teens and their caregivers first come to me, they are usually distressed and have a considerable sense of hopelessness about their current predicament. 

My professional experience with children and adolescents provides me the ability to connect with teens, provide a safe environment, build rapport and trust, and provide trauma informed and evidence-based interventions that are proven and effective. It is important to me to provide my clients with a space free of judgment and to allow them to be their authentic self to successfully take action-oriented steps to improve their well-being.  

Healing does not look the same for everyone. My approach to therapy is to provide therapy tailored to the clients’ specific needs. My goal is to cultivate positive growth in your teen. I truly believe that with compassion and the most effective therapeutic techniques, your teen can begin to see improvements in their symptoms. With professional support, your teen can gain the support in making long-lasting changes toward a healthier, more peaceful, and more meaningful life that will prepare them to thrive as they transition into their young adulthood. 

 Immigration Evaluations

Immigration proceedings can be stressful, causing anxiety, worry, and strain in your life. As someone who was formally undocumented, I know what it’s like to live in constant uncertainty and understand the unique perspective that clients seeking lawful presence in the U.S. are experiencing. Providing immigration evaluations is some of the most meaningful work I’ve ever been a part of in my counseling career. 

I have a decade of experience completing immigration evaluations, have worked collaboratively with over a dozen immigration attorneys, and have completed over 1,000 evaluations throughout the course of my career. My vast experience has resulted in expertise in the immigration process which allows me to complete a comprehensive evaluation with a strong and detailed clinical report for the best results for client’s immigration cases. Helping immigrants is my passion and it is my goal to provide you a quality and affordable evaluation and report that will play a key component in the success of your immigration case.

Education

I hold a Masters of Science (MS) in Counseling from the University of Houston-Clearlake. I attained a Bachelors of Arts (BA) in Psychology with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Houston. I am licensed as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Texas.

I have dedicated a considerable time to my education and have training around various specialized approaches to best help my clients. One of my greatest values is my dedication to continued education to stay up to date with the most recent research surrounding treatment approaches. Different therapeutic approaches are vital and although I consider myself an eclectic therapist, my primary forms of therapy are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Solution Focused Brief Therapy. I am also a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) which gives me the skills to have improved treatment outcomes for clients who have experienced trauma. Moreover, as a therapist, I think it’s imperative we understand how mental health intersects with our identity and culture. That’s why I approach therapy from a culturally sensitive lens in order to understand my client’s background and the life experiences that have shaped their lives.

Experience

In my undergraduate years I worked as a research assistant for various graduate students completing their doctorate dissertation. My graduate practicum and internship sites included providing therapy to children and adolescents in a school setting. My 3,000 postgraduate clinical hours were completed in private practices where I worked with adults, children, families, and couples. In my early career, my primary clinical work was completed at a residential treatment center where I provided individual, group, and family therapy to migrant children and adolescents facing an array of severe comorbid mental health diagnoses. I have been in private practice since 2017, providing psychosocial evaluations for immigrants seeking lawful status within the U.S. Most recently, I became a school-based psychotherapist, providing individual and group therapy to middle school children in the Houston area. 

Personal Life

I strive for emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual wellness. In my free time, I enjoy spending time connecting with my family and friends, traveling, volunteering with marginalized communities, reading, or listening to thought provoking podcasts. I have a passion for a healthy lifestyle and thus I enjoy movement for improved mental health. Some of my favorite hobbies include roller skating, road cycling, salsa dancing, and lifting weights. Prioritizing self-care and my mental health ensures I can provide better client care and avoid professional impairment and burn out.