Dr. Adriana Pombo

"Humans are like intricate tapestries, woven together by the multicolored threads of our experiences, identities, and relationships." This resonates with how I view and approach therapy. A tapestry cannot be understood by examining a single thread, and similarly, a person cannot be fully understood by focusing on only one symptom. Our identities, attachment patterns, cultural dynamics, relationships, strengths, challenges, and experiences are woven together, shaping how we see ourselves and relate to others. I specialize in helping individuals explore their identity, relational patterns, and the impact of past trauma, while honoring the cultural and social contexts that have shaped their lives. I also work with anxiety, depression, grief, and trauma, not only looking at symptom management, but also understanding responses to our life experiences.

It's an honor to be a psychologist and support people as they develop an understanding of their unique threads of thoughts, emotions, motivations, and behaviors that are intricately woven to form the tapestry of their experiences. I value this work and the courage it takes to begin. I walk alongside individuals with curiosity, care, and support as they navigate through life, holding onto aspects of their past that align with their future goals.

Outside of therapy, I am reading, crafting, doing Pilates or yoga, or spending time exploring new trails or restaurants with my friends, family, and miniature dachshund.

My approach is individualized rather than formulaic, as each person has different needs. I approach my work through a psychodynamic and relational lens that is insightful, reflective, and exploratory. This means that I tend to explore an individual's inner world beyond just symptoms to uncover and understand deeper patterns that someone is noticing in themselves, their relationships, or work, and look at where these patterns originated, what keeps them going, and together build insight into the function they serve and support you in deciding how they might shift. I see these patterns in the context of the whole person, recognizing how culture, family history, and lived experiences shape the lens through which we see ourselves, our relationships, and the world. As a first-generation Iranian and Peruvian woman, I deeply value culture and collaborate with clients to explore how their own cultural background and experiences have influenced their sense of self I also work to explore different parts of the self to gain a deeper understanding of the unconscious feelings and experiences, and how these are affecting the ways you think, act, react, think, feel, and relate. I also recognize that these unconscious experiences are felt and sometimes it’s hard to put these feelings into words, so together we slow down to find an experiential way to give language to these emotions and experiences.

We would first begin with a consultation call if you're interested in working together. If we decide to schedule a first session, it will include reviewing pertinent intake paperwork and discussing logistics that set the expectations and frame of our work. This first session is also an opportunity to further discuss the reason for seeking therapy and what you are hoping to work towards throughout therapy. Instead of rushing to assess or label, in the first session I listen attentively to what your needs are and ask clarifying questions to begin to understand deeper patterns and experiences that have shaped who you are. Because I value the therapeutic relationship, the first session is also an opportunity for you to get a sense of how I work, what it's like to share space together, and decide if my approach aligns with your needs and continuing together feels like the right fit.