Diana Ilarraza

Hi, I'm Diana — a bilingual (English/Spanish) Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I work with individuals and families, including older adults, navigating anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, grief and loss, and life transitions. My background spans schools, foster care, supportive housing for youth, and outpatient mental health across New York and Florida. I know how hard it can be to find a therapist who truly understands your culture, your language, and the pressures you carry — whether that's family expectations, being the one everyone else leans on, health changes, caregiving, or figuring out who you are apart from everyone else's needs. Many of the people I work with are holding it together for everyone around them while quietly running on empty. My goal is to create a space where you can show up exactly as you are and feel understood, in whichever language feels most like home.

My approach is trauma-informed and integrative, blending talk therapy with body-based (somatic) techniques, mindfulness, and — for clients who want it — a faith-integrated lens. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Trauma-Focused CBT as a foundation, working through unhelpful thought patterns while building coping skills you can use between sessions. I draw on Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) to ease anxiety and racing thoughts, Motivational Interviewing when you feel stuck, and Narrative and Psychodynamic work to make sense of the patterns that shape how you cope. For couples and families, I integrate family-focused and strength-based approaches. Healing happens at your own pace, so I tailor each session to what you need — whether that's processing pain, learning a skill, or having space to be heard in your own language. My style is warm, grounded, and collaborative.

In our first session, we'll get to know each other — what brought you to therapy, a little about your history, and what you're hoping for. It's also your chance to ask questions and feel whether we're a good fit. No pressure to share everything at once; we'll go at a comfortable pace and start mapping a plan toward your goals. Over time, the people I work with often notice real shifts: anxiety that feels manageable instead of constant, steadier moods, better sleep, and more room to breathe. Many describe setting boundaries without guilt, reconnecting with their values, and finally feeling understood — often for the first time in their own language. If you're ready to feel like yourself again, I'd be honored to take the next step with you.