Rachel Perez

Hi! I have a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from UCF. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and am EMDR trained.

I specialize in working with Complex Trauma including childhood trauma/neglect, attachment wounds and relational issues, intergenerational trauma (family system issues), and self-esteem struggles. I am a proud Latina and also speak Spanish. Working with other minorities and the BIPOC population is a passion of mine and I am LGTBQ+ affirming.

My previous professional experiences including working at the Veterans Administration Hospital, Medically Assisted Treatment Center for substance use, and our local Community Counseling and Resource Center at UCF.

I believe in the strength of the therapeutic relationship therefore I offer a genuine, authentic, and nonjudgemental space where people can show up exactly as they are. I take an inquisitive approach to help increase self-awareness and assist in identifying and naming our emotions. I often center around a mindfulness based approach while also integrating cognitive and somatic therapy.

During our first session we will get to know each other, review your intake forms together, and answer any questions you may have about the therapeutic process. I complete a formal history gathering interview over the first few sessions to better understand your past and current experiences and struggles that are contributing to your present concerns and assess for a trauma history. The rest depends on our agreed upon goals that we will discuss collaboratively.