Family therapy and counseling in Bakersfield, CA

I believe therapy is most effective when you feel accepted, understood, and empowered. My goal is to create a safe, supportive space where you can be yourself while also feeling challenged to grow. I meet clients where they are, recognizing that everyone comes to therapy with unique experiences, strengths, and goals.

I have been a mental health professional since 2006 and I strive to help people realize that “the grass is always greenest where you water it’-Unknown. My areas of special focus include grief, parent/adult child conflict, depression; anxiety, bi-polar, marital, self-esteem, academic, occupational, empty nest, personal coaching, and stress management. I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University, a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from California Baptist University and a Doctorate of Education in Psychology from Argosy University.

I bring more than 20 years of experience supporting children, adolescents, young adults, and families from diverse cultural backgrounds. I received my Master of Social Welfare from UCLA, and my work in group homes, schools, and community-based nonprofits has shaped my understanding of how emotional, academic, cultural, and environmental factors influence well-being.

I specialize in working with Latino and bilingual families, and I strive to create a space where clients feel seen, respected, and understood.

I specialize in supporting people who feel overwhelmed by anxiety, depression, stress, ADHD, trauma, life transitions and much more. I have extensive experience working with high acuity teens, and I also work with adults of all ages who are navigating imbalance, self-acceptance uncertainty, or emotional overload. I support parents who need guidance in understanding their child’s needs or simply a calm place to process their own feelings. No matter your age or background, if you are struggling to find balance and peace in life, I am here to help.

My approach begins with the belief that life poses great challenges for all of us. Through these challenges, we develop adaptive patterns that may help us survive but can also bring disharmony. I aim to help you bring awareness to these patterns, loosen their grip, and reshape them so you can find greater balance and harmony in your relationship with yourself, others, and the world.

I am a bilingual (Spanish & English) marriage and family therapist licensed in California with over 14 years of experience working in clinical practice. I am born and raised in San Francisco's Mission District. I am Salvarodan and Nicaraguan; and a native Spanish speaker. I have served clients experiencing multiple occurring conditions requiring some form of crisis stabilization service or intervention. I have counseled individuals and families dealing with an array of issues such as immigration/deportation, domestic and community violence, teen pregnancy, work – readiness, homelessness, substance abuse, and more. I use a client-centered and strengths-based approach when I work with clients. I believe that it is critical to collaborate with cleints in identifying and attaining what they are seeking. I believe that clients are experts in their lives and I am an expert my field.

I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 15 years of experience helping adults navigate anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, and life transitions. Throughout my career, I have been passionate about supporting individuals as they work through challenges, build resilience, and create meaningful, lasting change in their lives.

I believe therapy is most effective when clients feel safe, supported, and genuinely heard. My approach is compassionate, collaborative, and strengths-based, focusing on helping you recognize your existing strengths while developing practical tools to manage life's difficulties. Together, we will work to increase self-awareness, strengthen coping skills, and create a path forward that aligns with your values, goals, and overall well-being. My goal is to empower you to navigate challenges with greater confidence and build a life that feels more balanced, fulfilling, and authentic.

I offer a space where rigorous thinking and genuine connection work together. I draw on psychoeducation and clinical reasoning to help adults make sense of complex patterns in their relationships, identities, and the systems that shape daily life. I see clients remotely throughout California and Nevada, with one goal: moving you from insight to sustainable progress.

I have over 30 years of clinical, counseling and administrative experience working with individuals and couples, addressing the unique issues related to their unique life experiences. I have extensive professional and personal experience with military families and veterans. I understand first-hand the struggles of grief and medical conditions that impact all aspects of life. I have supported chronically and terminally ill patients, individuals living with cancer or chronic medical diagnoses, as well as parents experiencing infertility, peripartum, and postpartum depression. Whether dealing with life transitions, parenting, depression, anxiety, or divorce, or simply seeking to express yourself and feel more confident, I am here to walk with you, provide insights, and support you toward lasting change.

Hello there. Thanks for checking out my profile.

I don't know what brings you to this tiny nook of the internet, on this particular day, but I am grateful and very curious to hear.

As a therapist, I've worked with adolescents and adults for over a decade; sharing in their challenges, connecting in laughter and kindness.

It would be my joy to learn your story and meet you with warmth, humor, and sincerity.