Carolina Robledo

Hello! Welcome to my practice! My name is Carolina Robledo, but I go by "Cuquis" (pronounced "cookies" like the dessert). I received my Masters of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of St. Thomas - Houston in 2022, and a B.A. from Duke University in Psychology in 2017. I also have a passion for using Latin dance as therapeutic tool for to help individuals with their wellness. Prior to my work as a counselor, I was a disability rights advocate at a disability non-profit in Washington. I am an advocate at heart and believe in the importance of guiding others to be their own self-advocate.

I primarily specialize in trauma (including medical trauma), but I enjoy working with individuals to find their life's purpose, to explore their different identities and values values, as well as those dealing with anxiety and obsessive compulsive related symptoms. In addition, I enjoy working with working professionals dealing with stress, burnout and fatigue and helping them find new meaning in their life.

I also work with people with disabilities (chronic pain/chronic illness/physical disabilities) - as I am a disabled counselor myself - to empower them to live the life they deserve.

I always tell my clients that not everyone is the same. Everyone has a different story they bring to session, which means that my approach will change depending on who I am working with. However, I do like to explore my clients values while incorporating mindfulness techniques in session as a way to help my clients be present in the moment. I also am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), which is a type of therapy that helps individuals work through traumatic events so they are not being bothered by them in the present. I also believe in collaborating with my clients on what they need and letting them guide me through their process. This is where I like to explore the different parts of my clients (such as feelings, emotions, sensations) that come up and work with my clients to help them understand and acknowledge what comes up for them in certain moments and how to have compassion towards different aspects of themselves.

I also like to be creative in session, such as incorporating the arts, movement-based therapy techniques, and even role-playing to help my clients visualize what it is they want to portray or rehearse how they want to advocate for themselves. I'll even bring some humor when appropriate into session as sometimes we need a bit of lightness in the hard moments in our lives.

My hope is that my clients leave my sessions feeling more empowered with themselves and have a deeper understanding about who they are in their multitude of identities. To be able to love the different aspects of themselves, to have grace if things are challenging in the present moment, and to be able to advocate for their needs to ensure the quality of life my clients deserve.