WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THERAPY?
Bob: “Therapy is for weak people. I am not weak.”
- Actually, therapy is for the courageous. It’s an empowering process in which you will be able to honor, understand, and accept what you feel, physically and emotionally, so you can create room for change.
Mary: “I am not crazy. I just have some problems, but I can handle it.”
- Going through the ups and downs of life is challenging. It is okay to have “bad” days, but it doesn’t have to be like that all the time.
Laura: “I am taking some medication to deal with my depression, but it’s not helping; I don’t feel okay. Shouldn’t the medication be enough?”
- Medication could be helpful in many situations, but your feelings and thoughts are unique. What you do about them is very powerful and can change your life.
Paul: “Therapy is too expensive. I don’t think I can afford it.”
- You deserve happiness, fulfillment, and love. Believing in yourself is the first step to realizing that you are worth it. If you commit to therapy, you will get better faster. Never allow finances to prevent you from getting the help you need. “Where there is a will, there is a way.” If you haven’t gone to therapy before, know that it is an invaluable investment in yourself.
Jack: “If we go to therapy, people will think that we are having problems.”
- Couples have a hard time going to therapy because, regardless of the reason, it acknowledges that things aren’t right. If they don’t go to therapy, it gives into the fantasy that everything is fine, even when it isn’t. Most couples start therapy because someone brought up the idea of divorce. All that pain and suffering could have been avoided if intervention came earlier. Many people don’t realize that if your partner won’t go to therapy, you can go by yourself.
ARE YOU READY TO KNOW WHAT IT’S REALLY LIKE TO TAKE PART IN THERAPY?
It’s starting a new chapter in your life.
It is a journey of growth in which being “okay” doesn’t mean always being happy; it means understanding that uncomfortable feelings like sadness or fear are equally valid as being happy or excited.
Going to therapy is freeing yourself from a difficult time or experience, to acknowledge how strong you are and that there is nothing wrong with asking for help. It shows you care about yourself.
THERE IS NO WRONG TIME TO START THERAPY.
Don’t wait for a crisis to get help!
When people are in denial for so long – denial about their relationships or the need for therapy – the problems build up and eventually lead to crisis.
But that shouldn’t stop you from reaching out to a therapist during a crisis. Seeking help – at any point – is courageous.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?
The main goal during the first session is for you to know that you are not alone and that, by asking for help, you have covered 51% of the road toward reaching your main goal in therapy.
I will ask you some questions and listen.
I will listen to you with care, professionalism, and respect. Then, I will ask more questions and listen again.
You will be asked questions like:
- How long have you been feeling this way and when did this feeling start?
- Do you think this is a pattern?
- Do you feel like this all the time or just in certain places and/or around certain people?
- How would you like to see yourself instead?
You will be very comfortable, seated, looking at beautiful trees through the window next to me. If you are cold in the room – I have blankets; if you are thirsty – I will give you a bottle of water; and if you need coffee – I have that, too!
You will be invited to assess your problem from a physical and emotional point of view. For some people, anger feels like something is boiling inside them, sadness is like a “dark day,” and worry feels like a sharp stomachache.
The goal by listening and asking all these questions is not to “solve” the problem. It is for you to recognize that just by making the decision to ask for help you have taken a giant step toward changing what is not working for you so that you can begin to heal.
WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN SESSIONS?
When you leave my office the first time, you will have a clearer idea of how you want to feel.
Over time, and with additional therapy sessions, you will begin to feel okay, happy, satisfied, secure, and lovable – and know that you deserve it.
Therapy is a journey.
In a symbolic way, at the beginning, I am holding your hand to give you extra support.
As we build a relationship and you are learning and recognizing your strengths, we continue to walk together without “holding hands.”
Then, as you are mastering your emotional growth, you will walk on your own with the knowledge you have in me a source of guidance as support as needed.
About Me
It is my belief that counseling is a process of change and empowerment. There is no “right” or “wrong” reason to engage in therapy. I won’t tell you what to do, but I will be a source of support and guidance.
I started my practice in 2012 to reach others who are ready to make a change. At the beginning, we may not know how we came to feel the way we do and what can be done to change it.
By making the decision to go to therapy, we regain control of our lives and show we are ready to take charge of how we feel.
Going through the ups and downs of life is challenging. It is okay to have “bad” days. But as you will always hear me say, “It doesn’t have to be like that all the time.”
Through my personal and professional life, I have gone through many changes – some of them I wanted; others caught me by surprise.
I had the privilege to be surrounded by amazing sources of support, professionally and personally.
To appreciate what it means to heal and honor that process is one of the most amazing gifts we can give to ourselves. I believe everyone should have the opportunity to experience this kind of support.
Born and raised in Lima, Peru, I am a bilingual psychotherapist and am proud to serve men and women in Palm Beach County. As a woman, mother, and professional, one of my strengths is to use my clinical training in combination with my own life experience to empower those who seek change and healing in their lives.
It is not an easy process, but it is definitely a fulfilling one. You are not alone!
Credentials:
Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida. MH14612
Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health in Delaware. PC 618
Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Pennsylvania. PC 6378
Education:
Master of Arts in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling, May 2010, University of South Florida, Tampa
Graduate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy, May 2010, University of South Florida, Tampa
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, August 2005, University of South Florida, Tampa
Training and Certification:
Certified Therapist in EMDR, EMDRIA (EMDR International Association)
EMDRIA Approved Consultant
Gottman Method Couples Training – Level 1 clinical Training
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
National Anger Management Association Specialist Certification
EMDR Consultation Qualifications
Languages:
English and Spanish