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I specialize in Relational Distress and Developmental Trauma.

I am a first-generation Latina, fluent in Spanish, and having grown up on the Texas border, not only am I culturally sensitive but I deeply understand the cultural differences many first-gen folks face. I specialize in working with developmental trauma and relationships.

While yes, I am a kink-friendly therapist who thoroughly enjoys relationship, couples, and/or marriage therapy, I see relational distress as something larger than discomfort within intimate relationships only. In reality, where I shine is in supporting clients to establish boundaries and learn to listen to themselves so that all of their relationships benefit — and most importantly, their relationship to self.

How I got here

Around 2007 — Took an undergraduate Human Sexuality class that piqued my interest in relationships and trauma.

2009 — Started clinical journey in the MFT program at St. Mary’s University where I trained in Narrative Therapy.
2010-2014 — My clinical foundation was based on working with domestic violence and sexual assault victims and survivors. With a desire to better equip my clients with tools for how to achieve a healthy relationship, I received my Levels 1 & 2 training in The Gottman Method.
2014 — Moved to Austin and worked with high-conflict, immigrant families. During this time I gained a deeper appreciation and understanding of cultural, religious, and sexual differences and learned how to work with intercultural, interracial, and interreligious clients.
2017 — Opened my private practice, and since then have become trained in Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR). I am EMDR certified.

My approach to therapy

I work from a trauma-informed perspective and integrate a lot of attachment theory. However, I prefer to use a multi-lens approach and pull from my various trainings, certification, and specialties to ensure that I am creating an environment for healing that is best suited for each individual client.

Throughout the years, I began making the connection between trauma and relationships. I started noticing the lack of understanding regarding the influence of trauma in relationships. I noticed how the distress of childhood injuries surfaced in the conflicts with my clients’ partners. Understanding attachment theory gave me a greater understanding of the meaning of the connection between couples and how to bring understanding and healing to ongoing conflicts. I found that the training I had in couple’s work was directly applicable to individual clients who were experiencing relational distress in interpersonal relationships. Therefore, I found ways to incorporate my couple’s work training to individuals who were experiencing relational distress.

When implementing EMDR into sessions, I use parts work and attachment theory combined to integrate all parts of self with each other. I incorporate the Gottman Method and EFT in my work with individuals and couples who are experiencing relational distress. The use of both theoretical models has allowed clients to fully understand their experience and their patterns while also learning how to create new positive cycles of engagement.

I also integrate breathing techniques, mindfulness, and imagery to aid in physiological self-soothing and grounding. I gravitate towards Dan Siegel’s techniques in mindfulness and interpersonal neurobiology and incorporate his work often. Incorporating techniques to increase a client’s window of tolerance, and stress resiliency is usually one of the first steps that I integrate in our therapeutic relationship.