Who do I work with?

Being a human is hard, I get that.

Ready to make deep lasting change? Tired of living life on autopilot, barely surviving? Ready to create a life worth living, a life where you thrive? I work with people who understand the need to unpack the messages they have acquired over their lifetime, so that they can throw out what is no longer serving them, and make space for stuff that does, just like I had to and continue to do.

Knowing is only half the battle.

I know how scary it can be to choose to be “different” and boundaries probably send your stomach in knots. Trauma gets deep into our nervous systems, that’s why deeper therapies can help when other types of therapy haven’t.

Trust me, you can have the life you have been dreaming about.

Working with me can help you heal that generational line, gain awareness, and help you create the life you deserve. I am a fellow first-generation who understands how important culture is when in therapy. I approach culture in a way that honors instead of shames. 

I am not a therapist who is a jack of all trades and a master of none, click below to ensure I am the right therapist for you.

Specialty areas of focus

Couples Therapy is My Passion

Tired of the constant arguments, you just want to be understood…

Does it seem like things go from zero to ten in a blink of an eye? Do you want a relationship that doesn’t feel like work all the time? Instead you want a more loving and easier relationship where you can feel understood.

Mindfully Minding Me?

The name of my practice is a little funny since I mainly work with couples and people trying to improve their relationships, but hear me out. To be good for others, we have to be good to ourselves first. Change starts from within us so that we can be better partners, parents, family members, friends…just better humans.

Let’s talk about race and culture, it’s important.

As a mixed-race Latina therapist in an interracial marriage, this is special passion of mine. In couples therapy, I often work with folks of marginalized backgrounds, BIPOC, including mixed race, LGBTQIA+, or those that may have had childhood trauma. They are willing to consider just how impactful their family origin is to how they show up in the world today.

What would it be like to go to therapy with your parent or sibling?

I help family pairs understand and make sense of what happened and how it impacts them. Whether it is jointly addressing the past to gain more awareness, or learning to be close again, I’ve got you.

Background & Beliefs 

I am the founder of Mindfully Minding Me, where I believe our own work and having healthy relationships can help us heal, and break cycles.

I am awkward at times and bring my humanness into sessions.

As someone who was raised in a small California farm town, comes from an immigrant family, and is married to someone of a different race, I have lived experience that informs my care with my clients. I don’t claim to know everything, and I know everyone ones story is different. I am not culturally “competent” I am culturally humble.

Race, ethnicity, and culture in the therapy room.

One of my areas of focus is working with Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC), particularly first- and second-generations. Our culture and upbringing can have huge impacts on how we view and navigate this world, from imposter syndrome, perfectionism, to deep identity struggles.

Do you live in the intersections of identities, me too!

I am a mixed-race Latina therapist practicing in Arizona and California, and I am the first born here in the states. I also happen to be married to someone who is Asian American. I understand the importance of race, class, culture, and practice humility when having hard conversations. Because of my own experience, I am really passionate about interracial marriages and partnerships.

An inclusive therapy practice.

I am LGBTQIA+ affirming and believe in providing a safe space to discuss race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or political issues. Everyone deserves high quality care with a non judgmental therapist.

Education & Training 

Qualifications at a glance

• Master’s degree in Clinical Counseling with a focus in Marriage and Family Therapy

• Certified Perinatal Mental Health Therapist

• Emotionally Focused Therapy Externship

• EMDR (Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) 5 Day Intensive Basic Training

• 7 Month Certificate Program in Advanced Trauma, PTSD & Dissociation: featuring Dr Ruth Lanius and today's leading trauma innovators

• IFS (Internal Family Systems) Online Circle 6 Month Program

• DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) 3 Day Advanced Training

• ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) 3 day Advanced Training

The road to becoming an independently licensed therapist.

• Earn a bachelor’s degree in a related field (mine was criminology focusing on behavioral science)

• Earn a master’s degree in counseling (I focused on marriage and family therapy)

• Get your own therapy, at least 20 hours (IMO awareness is a lifelong process)

• Gain 3000 hours of supervised therapy experience

• Pass a law and ethics exam & clinical state board exam

• Yearly continuing education to keep the license active

Watch my intro video

(It is not hi-tech but I gave it a honest shot!)

Get a feel for my personality and see if you can picture us working together.