About
“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
– Albert Einstein
How do I get out of this pit?
As life continues to prove to be brutal, you wonder if you are the only one struggling.
The answer is NO. We ALL struggle, and lots of people ignore the pain or numb it with food, alcohol, shopping, sleep, excessive exercise, electronics, and social media. And you have even taken these roads, but they have left you at a dead-end: lonely, lost, and very distressed.
You are losing hope. It is frustrating to keep repeating this, day in and day out, with no way to get off this crazy wheel.
Living life on your own is excruciating. Your conversations with friends and even with your spouse help, but your mood and anxiety do not get better. You keep replaying scenes, conversations, and images in your head that leaves you anxious and unhappy without your will.
Therapy is “supposed” to help, and I have tried that, too!
This life of yours has become a waste, a mere existence. Sometimes, you can hardly breathe and go on with your day. Even getting out of bed is a struggle. And venting and talking are good. They serve a purpose, but that is not all.
You need a space where you can talk freely without being judged, questioned, or criticized – a refuge where you can discuss what is going on with you. You need a harbor to safely open your heart and unburden your inner struggles, pain, and suffering.
Therapy provides that space. It is a sacred and confidential haven where you get to escape weekly to unveil and unravel the way out of the pit where you are. Each session, we will uncover the layers covering the pain and get deeper into your healing. It is like peeling off an onion. It is a liberating experience!
As you allow yourself to talk about your struggles and process and heal from the root, you will experience transformation. You will embrace a renewed you, a lighter and cleaner version of you, if you wish. You will live a life free of anxiety, worry, depression, and relationship struggles. You will experience contentment, joy, peace, and happiness at last.
Here’s a sneak view of what can happen in therapy.
I love to see my clients get better. And I get to meet precious and exceptional people every day.
When I met Maria*, she came with a very long history of abuse as a child. She was fragmented and so vulnerable. Not only did she suffer deeply as a child, but she continued to struggle as an adult. She could not keep friendships, and she struggled in her marriage. She could trust no one, understandably so.
I listened to her with lots of compassion and empathy as she told me her story in our first session. Lots of tears were coming down her cheeks and the sorrowful look on her face, telling me, “I do not want to live like this anymore.”
Each time we met, there were fewer tears. Maria was so courageous and determined to get better. She was a high achiever and a joy to see every time.
We did EMDR and Brainspotting. Her brain and mind became so much lighter and balanced, and her emotions turned from anxiety, shame, fear, and resentment to peace, gratitude, joy, and hope! She is now doing so well that soon she will not need therapy anymore.
Helping people get better is my goal.
I love helping people who are trying their best and yet are not seeing results. Every time I start a session with someone, it is like entering a sacred place.
I have listened to almost everything in the 20-something years I have been doing therapy.
Susy* could not find happiness, and something kept triggering fear and depression. John struggled with addiction and pornography. Susan* was very unhappy in her marriage and filled with shame recovering from an affair.
Carlos*, a teen, felt anxiety over friends, grades, and social pressure. Bob* struggled from recovering from a break-up with the woman he thought he would marry after two painful divorces.
I met Linda* as a woman who had been severely abused as a child by her dad; she struggled with so much shame and feelings of low self-worth and never feeling good enough. I had the pleasure to meet little John* whose life changed after his favorite uncle’s tragic death. He struggled with separation anxiety and anger.
And the list goes on.
But each one of these beautiful people found healing, freedom, and peace through therapy. They allowed themselves the opportunity to get better.
Their lives are now completely different from when they started. They have healed. Their brains are balanced and healthy; the terrible thing that happened to them was processed and overcome. And they are out of the hole.
They have the tools to overcome what life throws at them. They are happy and at peace.
I know I can help you.
*Names changed to protect confidentiality.
About Me
The Beginnings
Born and raised in Peru, I learned compassion, love, a strong work ethic, and family values from my parents, whose 51-year marriage exemplified the kind of relationship we all desire.
I had three sisters. When one of them passed away, I experienced a pivotal moment in my life. I realized just how short life is, so I decided not to waste it on fruitless pursuits but to do what I love and enjoy my husband, three kids, and extended family with all I have.
Compassion at Home
My mom was always an exceedingly kind and compassionate woman – always looking for ways to help people in need. She was a caregiver, a nurse by profession.
My dad was an engineer – very analytical – a high achiever, who taught me the importance of respect, the value of going the extra mile, and the power of integrity. My dad was also very compassionate – he always helped his widowed mother and brothers.
Loving What I Do
My parents instilled in me their desire to help. I tell my husband I get a high when I see my clients going on from a state of desperation, loneliness, depression, and fear into a state of gratitude, peace, forgiveness, joy, and love.
I’m thrilled when I see my clients enjoying their lives and relationships. Hearing the progress reports and seeing firsthand the powerful transformations in my clients’ lives keeps me going and continually learning and striving to become the best therapist ever!
Born and raised to be a therapist by heart, of course, I followed my natural inclinations with training and education.
My Professional Background and Training
I chose Social Work because of its core values of dignity and worth of human relationships and competence. I earned my Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin in 1999.
I currently hold two clinical licenses in Texas and Tennessee. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Texas and a Clinical Social Worker in Tennessee.
Also, I have advanced training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Imago, Gottman, EMDR, and Brainspotting, as well as Attachment Theory and Positive Psychology.
When I’m not Doing Therapy…
I’m a busy mom and wife, and I love spending time with my congregation and husband and kids. But no matter how busy I am, I find daily time to exercise (I love dancing and hiking in the great outdoors) and work on my inner self.
I’m really into nutritious plant-based and delicious ethnic food and love to learn about holistic modalities for physical and mental health.
My highest calling in life: being a Torah-observant Israelite and sharing kindness, compassion, and love.