Yesenia Aguilar

I'm a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker specializing in adolescents and young adults, drawn especially to that phase of life where someone begins questioning what's been expected of them and starts to find their own sense of ownership over their life and identity. My background spans schools, crisis response with youth and families impacted by community violence, and child welfare work within the court system, sitting closely with young people navigating decisions about their future. That range has shown me how much young people are asked to hold, expectations pulling from every direction, while rarely given the space to sit with their own uncertainty. I'm comfortable being present in that questioning, in the inward looking work of sorting out what's truly theirs versus what's been placed on them. I like sitting in that unknown alongside young people, and I especially love the spark that comes when something starts to click, when they land on what genuinely excites them, what feels right, or a boundary they want to hold. Being part of helping someone find their way back to that spark brings me real joy.

This work is shaped just as much by lived experience as it is by training. As the daughter of an immigrant father and an eldest daughter, I bring a systems level lens to this work and a real curiosity about how cultural expectations, shaped by gender, background, or upbringing, show up in someone's identity, layers that haven't always had space to be unpacked. Grief also shows up often in this work, and I've come to appreciate how many ways there are to respond to loss that we're rarely taught, an exploration I genuinely enjoy bringing into the room as we work through it together. I think of myself as a creative at heart, and I value connection and community, both the ones we're born into and the ones we build.

This space exists for you, and however we use it is just as valid as anything else. You don't need an agenda, a summary of your week, or the "right" thing to talk about. Some sessions may be more focused on working through something specific. Others may call for sitting with a feeling or pattern that keeps showing up and giving it room to be explored. Wherever you're at is enough, and I'll follow from there, staying attuned to what you need and welcoming your feedback along the way.

I believe the relationship we build together is the most important part of this work, and I want it to feel trustworthy and authentic. Nothing you bring is too big or too small. Some things may feel riskier or scarier to say out loud, and there's room here for all of it. My background in crisis response and supporting young people through trauma means I'm comfortable sitting with higher stakes concerns, and I'll always be upfront about what to expect, so you're never caught off guard. You can keep asking questions, challenge me, and push back, because I'm here to support you. What matters most is what's right for you, while honoring the boundaries in place to keep you safe.

Showing up every week takes real strength, even when it doesn't feel like you have things figured out, and I want you to feel celebrated for that, not just supported through it. I see my role as more than just a therapist. I'm also here to help build out real, practical skills tied to your goals, whether that's prepping for a job interview, learning to advocate for yourself at school or work, or figuring out a task that feels overwhelming or personal to bring up anywhere else. If it matters to you, it belongs in our sessions too. I like to think of myself as part of your toolbox, offering tangible resources and connections, digital or in your community, that you can actually use and take with you beyond our sessions, whether that's a tool, a program to join, or a trusted provider.

My hope for a first session is that it feels like a space to breathe, not a decision that has to be made right away. Choosing to start therapy is one of the most vulnerable steps someone can take, and I want there to be real room to sit with whether this feels like the right fit, without pressure to commit before that's clear. I welcome any questions or concerns that come up, about the process, about me, about what to expect, so there's enough information to make a genuinely informed choice about moving forward.

More than anything, I hold real gratitude for anyone who takes that first step. Opening up, or inviting someone into your story, takes courage, and I don't take that lightly. I hope that comes through in how I show up in that first conversation.