Viviana Garay

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who believes therapy should be a place where you feel both understood and supported while also being gently challenged to grow. I strive to create a warm, judgment-free space where you can be honest about what you’re experiencing—even when your thoughts, feelings, or relationships feel complicated.

My approach is grounded in the belief that our current struggles often make more sense when we understand the experiences and relationships that shaped us. I enjoy helping clients explore patterns in relationships, self-esteem, boundaries, emotional regulation, attachment, and the ways past experiences can influence how we see ourselves and connect with others.

I work collaboratively with my clients and tailor therapy to their individual needs, goals, and pace. You don’t have to have everything figured out before coming to therapy. We can start exactly where you are and work from there.

My approach to therapy is warm, collaborative, and insight-oriented while remaining practical and focused on your goals. I believe understanding yourself is an important part of creating meaningful change, so I often help clients explore the connection between their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, relationships, and past experiences.

I draw from a relational and trauma-informed perspective and incorporate concepts related to attachment, boundaries, self-esteem, emotional regulation, and family dynamics when they are helpful to the client. I also believe therapy should be more than simply talking about problems—I want clients to leave with greater self-understanding as well as practical tools they can use in their everyday lives.

You are the expert on your own life. My role is to help you slow things down, make sense of what you're experiencing, recognize patterns, develop healthier ways of responding, and move toward the relationships and life you want.

Our first session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another and begin understanding what brought you to therapy. I’ll ask questions about what you’re experiencing, what you would like to change, and what you hope to get out of therapy. We may also talk about relevant history, relationships, and patterns that can help provide context for what you’re going through.

Most importantly, you do not need to arrive with a perfectly organized explanation of your life. It’s completely okay to say, “I don’t know where to start.” We can figure that out together.

I’ll also explain how I work and make space for you to ask questions so that we can determine whether we’re a good fit. My goal is for you to leave the first session feeling heard, understood, and with a clearer sense of where we can go from here.