Angel Saiz

Hello, I'm Angel, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) with bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in social work. I believe everyone deserves a space where they feel heard, understood, and supported as they work toward the life they want to create. I specialize in helping individuals navigate trauma, anxiety, depression, ADHD, addiction, attachment challenges, and the effects of oppression and discrimination on mental health and relationships. My professional experience includes child welfare, addiction treatment, school social work, and higher education, giving me a broad perspective on the many challenges people face throughout life. My goal is to provide a compassionate, culturally responsive, and affirming environment where healing, growth, and lasting change can begin.

My approach to therapy is collaborative, strengths-based, and practical. I believe people are incredibly resilient and already possess many of the strengths they need to navigate life's challenges. Sometimes those strengths become buried beneath trauma, anxiety, depression, stress, or self-doubt, and my role is to help you reconnect with them—not to tell you who you should be or what decisions you should make.

I don't believe therapy is about the therapist having all the answers. You are the expert on your own life, experiences, and values. My role is to provide support, perspective, education, and sometimes the affirmation needed to help you trust yourself, recognize your strengths, and move toward the life you want to create.

One of the things clients often tell me they appreciate most is the psychoeducation I provide throughout our work. I believe knowledge is empowering. When you understand how your experiences have shaped your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, you gain the ability to make intentional choices instead of feeling controlled by old patterns. My goal is for you to leave each session with greater clarity, confidence, and practical tools you can begin using right away.

I also take a solution-focused approach to therapy. While processing difficult experiences is an important part of healing, I believe lasting change happens when insight is paired with action. Together, we'll identify realistic goals, develop strategies that fit your life, and create a plan that reflects your values and strengths. Therapy is a partnership, and my hope is that over time you leave needing me less because you feel more confident in yourself.

Your first session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another and begin building a strong foundation for our work together. I'll complete a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment to better understand your life experiences, relationships, strengths, current challenges, and the factors that have shaped your journey. This helps me understand you as a whole person, not just the concerns that brought you to therapy.

We'll also begin creating your treatment plan together. I believe therapy works best when your goals reflect what is most important to you, so we'll collaborate to identify what you hope to achieve and develop a plan that feels meaningful and realistic. Your treatment plan is flexible and will evolve as you do—we can celebrate goals you've achieved, adjust existing goals, or shift our focus as your needs change.

I also encourage you to ask me questions during our first session. Choosing a therapist is an important decision, and I believe you should have the opportunity to learn about my approach, experience, and style so you can decide whether I feel like the right fit for you. My hope is that you'll leave our first session feeling heard, informed, and empowered to take the next step in your journey.