Prenatal and postpartum therapists & psychiatrists in Atascadero, CA

Hello,

I'm a licensed marriage and family therapist in California. My goal as a therapist is to support you in your journey to regain trust in your unique strengths and overcome life's challenging situations, and help you make your life happier and more meaningful. My style is warm, collaborative, and culturally sensitive.

I have been in practice for over a decade, and work with a wide range of conditions including trauma, depression and complex life transitions.

I am a Latina EMDR therapist who uses compassion to guide my patients through healing areas in their lives where they are feeling stuck. My patients are often working through trauma, grief, or unhelpful beliefs about self, others, or the world that can manifest into anxiety, depression, interpersonal conflicts, and/or PTSD. I also offer Individual and Group EMDR Consultations to clinicians looking to become Certified in EMDR Therapy. Se habla español.

Sometimes the hardest part is not what happened. It is finding someone you can finally say it to. I offer therapy in both English and Spanish, and I work with people across all stages of life, from children and teenagers to adults and seniors. I specialize in supporting people navigating trauma, domestic violence, anxiety, depression, and the unique challenges that come with new and expecting parenthood. Wherever you are in your story, you do not have to carry it alone.

I work with individuals, couples, and families navigating trauma, grief, anxiety, and relationship challenges. If you're seeking more short-term coping, we can explore the patterns shaping your experiences to support lasting, meaningful change. My approach is trauma-informed and attachment focused - always guided by your goals. Therapy is a warm, collaborative space where we process experiences, strengthen communication, and build more secure, fulfilling relationships.

What patterns keep repeating in your life, even when part of you wants something different? I work with infants, children, adolescents, adults, and seniors, with a particular focus on experiences that are hard to put into words: the quiet accumulation of feeling disconnected or unseen, questions around adoption and family origins, infertility, the emotional weight of becoming a parent, and the grief that comes when life takes an unexpected shape. A lot of what brings people to therapy is not a single event. It builds. I trained at UCLA and bring both clinical depth and genuine warmth to this work.

I have lived in the Truckee Tahoe area off an on for over 30 years, I have an AA Degree in Early Child Development, a BA Degree from the University of California Santa Cruz, and I attended the University of. Nevada, Reno for my Masters in Social Work.

My husband and I have two grown children who live in Northern CA and Nevada. We are avid skiers, mountain bikers, and my hobbies include cooking, art, writing, and learning, and of course, playing with our mini golden doodle, Joaquin.

My roots are in Scranton, Pennsylvania; growing up, life was challenging and unpredictable for me and my sisters. I was the first member of our extended family who was able to put themselves through both undergraduate (BA - Latin American Studies/UCSC, and graduate school (MSW- Masters in Social Work, (UNR) and graduate with honors.

All three of my younger sisters followed in my footsteps to pursue higher education and to find success as Professionals.

My husband and I moved to the Tahoe/Truckee area together in the early 1990s, pursuing seasonal employment. We somehow made ends meet, things got a little easier each year, and he later pursued a career in resort and business management, while I pursued continuing education, mental health and licensure, and opening up my practice.

Our son and a daughter both grew up enjoyed attending local public schools in Truckee, and later the Univeristy of California; they are both living fulfilling adult lives in the nearby region.

I am currently accepting new clients. Life can feel overwhelming when stress builds, relationships feel strained, or we are carrying grief, anxiety, or self doubt on our own. I work with individuals, couples, and families who want more clarity, stronger connection, and a more fulfilling life. Whether you are feeling stuck, disconnected, or simply worn down, therapy can be a place where we slow down, make sense of what is happening, and start creating meaningful change together.