Otilia Mendoza-Chavez

Hello! My name is Otilia Chavez and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist with nearly 20 years of experience in the mental health field. I work with children, adolescents, adults, and families facing a wide range of concerns, including stress, life transitions, grief, trauma, relational conflict, and emotional or behavioral challenges. I believe healing is a deeply personal process, and I remain committed to ongoing training so I can offer thoughtful, compassionate, and informed care.

I value mental health both personally and professionally, and I believe caring for my own well-being allows me to show up grounded and fully present for my clients. Staying connected to supportive family, friends, and mentors helps me remain reflective, balanced, and committed to integrity in my work.

My approach to therapy is client-centered and collaborative — not something done to you, but a process we build together. I strive to create a safe, welcoming, and nonjudgmental space where individuals, children, and families feel heard, respected, and understood.

I utilize evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), to help clients explore the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and identify patterns that may be contributing to distress. With children and adolescents, I often integrate play therapy and expressive techniques, recognizing that play, creativity, and movement can communicate what words alone may not.

When working with trauma, painful experiences, or relational stress, I take a trauma-informed approach and may incorporate EMDR when appropriate, always pacing the work to support safety, comfort, and healing.

Our first session is an open, supportive conversation. We’ll begin with what led you here — what feels challenging, what you hope might shift. I’ll explain how I work and together we’ll develop a plan that feels safe and supportive.