Andrea Pla

I am a bilingual mental health clinician and a mother who understands both personally and professionally the emotional complexity, invisible labor, and deep care involved in raising a child. My work is rooted in years of experience supporting children and parents through emotional challenges, developmental transitions, and relational stress, with a strong focus on autistic and neurodivergent-affirming care. I believe meaningful growth happens through connection, not perfection, and I approach therapy from a trauma-informed, attachment-focused, and developmentally grounded lens that prioritizes emotional safety, trust, and attunement. Whether working with children, parents, or families together, I aim to honor each individual’s strengths while helping caregivers feel more confident, regulated, and supported in their roles.

My philosophy is shaped by relationship-based models such as DIR® Floortime, play therapy, humanism, attachment-based and family-centered care, emphasizing understanding behavior through connection rather than compliance. With clinical experience in both the U.S. and Mexico. I bring a culturally responsive, bilingual perspective to my work. Above all, I strive to create a supportive and collaborative space where children and parents feel seen, understood, and empowered to grow with intention and compassion.

The primary goal of the first session is to establish emotional safety and begin building a trusting therapeutic relationship. I aim to create a warm, nonjudgmental space where the parent, child, or family feels seen, heard, and understood. This includes gently exploring what brings them to therapy while honoring their strengths, resilience, and cultural context. we collaboratively clarify goals, discuss expectations, and outline next steps. My intention is for clients to leave feeling supported, understood, and hopeful, with a sense that therapy will be a partnership grounded in compassion, respect, and meaningful growth.