Cassandra Irizarry

Know that I've spent nine years as a Licensed Professional Counselor in addiction and mental health, and that I ask "what is your story?" because the values and skills you already have are the real starting material for this work. Expect a therapist who treats substance use, anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship or family strain as connected, not separate problems. Trust that your cultural background is part of the clinical picture — as a Hispanic woman, I pay close attention to the pressures facing marginalized clients, including the weight of holding a family together while carrying your own pain.

Expect cognitive behavioral and motivational interviewing methods with a person-centered, culturally sensitive lens. Count on me to challenge the thought patterns that keep guilt and shame in place, not just the behaviors underneath them. Trust that family sessions are available alongside individual work when substance use, identity, or relationship issues touch the people around you. Expect stress management, PTSD, and identity work to come up alongside addiction recovery, since in practice they rarely show up alone.

Expect a warm, casual first conversation focused on what you want from our time together, not a clinical intake interrogation. Bring whatever you're carrying, including guilt and shame around addiction, family conflict, or cultural disconnection. Expect sessions by video only, scheduled around evenings and weekends to fit work and family obligations. Know that recognizing you need support is already the hard part, and the next step is simply showing up to talk. I look forward to accompanying you on the next chapter of your journey!