Carol Leiva

I focus on three areas I have come to know deeply, both clinically and personally: complex and generational trauma, adult children of narcissistic or emotionally immature parents, and prenatal/postpartum mental health. I can appreciate and understand the feeling of the rug being pulled out from under you and having to create a new identity after these experiences.

Together, we explore how inherited patterns shape identity, relationships, and self-worth.

Because I know how painful it can be to live with patterns you did not choose, I offer therapy that is both compassionate and practical, a space where you can feel understood, make sense of your experiences, and begin moving forward with more clarity, self-trust, and intention with you as the lead expert of your experience.

On a personal note, I am happily married and a new mom. I am a lifelong learner and am committed to personal and professional growth through ongoing education, supervision, and therapy.

My approach to therapy is collaborative, client-led, and culturally grounded. Together, we look beneath current struggles to understand the deeper patterns shaping your experiences, so healing can feel more meaningful and lasting.

I draw from evidence-based approaches, including CBT, ACT, Attachment-Based Family Therapy, mindfulness, and self-compassion. I am also currently pursuing Somatic Experiencing professional training and have partial training in EMDR, which informs my work with trauma, stress, and nervous system regulation. I am a lifelong student of how systemic oppression shapes the adaptive behaviors we carry into adulthood, and I am committed to dismantling its impact, both personally and professionally. Therapy is one of the most powerful ways I know to do that work, one person, one family, one generation at a time.

In our first session, you can expect a supportive space where we begin getting to know each other and clarifying what brings you to therapy. I’ll review the information you completed beforehand so we can focus more quickly on what feels most important and begin identifying where you want relief, insight, or change.

Sessions may be about a specific concern or offer space to process what is happening in your daily life. My goal is to create a collaborative environment where you feel heard, supported, and empowered.

I am currently only accepting clients seeking support with EMDR-focused therapy, healing from narcissistic maternal dynamics, CPTSD, and prenatal/postpartum mental health.