Gillermina Alvarado

My name is Gillermina Alvarado and I go by Mina. I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Riverside, CA, working with clients statewide via telehealth. I received my Master's from the University of Phoenix and have been practicing for 9 years.

I work with young children, adolescents, young adults, and adults who are navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, grief and loss, behavioral challenges, and life changes. My communication style is calm, accommodating, and personable — I want my clients to feel comfortable speaking with me about anything and feeling safe, and I pride myself on my ability to listen without judgment.

Above all, I believe that you are the expert of your own story, and that you have many strengths that will help you overcome what's challenging you. It takes courage to take the first steps toward change, and I'm here to support and empower you in that journey.

I've found that my style and approach are a good fit with different age groups who may be dealing with various challenges — whether that's anxiety, depression, trauma, substance abuse, behavioral problems, self-esteem, or daily life stressors. I draw from evidence-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), and I tailor my approach to what best fits each individual client.

At the core of how I work is the belief that therapy is a collaborative process. I don't come in with all the answers — I come in as a partner. My role is to help you identify your own strengths and use them to work through what's holding you back, so you can move toward a more fulfilling and happier life.

Our first session is about getting to know each other and laying the foundation for our work together. I'll ask about what's been challenging for you, what brought you to therapy, and what you're hoping to get out of it. There's no pressure to share everything at once — we go at your pace.

I also spend time in that first session helping you feel comfortable with the process itself. For many people, just showing up is the hardest part. By the end of our conversation, we'll start mapping out goals together, because I believe that defining what you want to accomplish is what makes therapy work. You'll leave with a clearer sense of the direction we're heading and what our sessions will look like going forward.