About
Clinical Practice
Overall, my clinical practice is based on a combination of evidence-based approaches that are designed to help people develop greater self-awareness, challenge negative thinking patterns, and develop skills for coping with difficult emotions and situations.
Together we work on being more present and non-judgmental in the moment, this develops greater self-awareness, reduces stress, cultivates a more positive outlook on life, and leads to action toward a person’s goals and values.
With children my clinical practice is based on an attachment-based clinical orientation that emphasizes the importance of early attachment experiences in shaping a child’s emotional and psychological development. Attachment theory suggests that the quality of the relationship between a child and their primary caregiver(s) has a significant impact on the child’s emotional regulation, self-esteem, and ability to form healthy relationships later in life.
Together we work on exploring the child’s attachment history and working to repair any disruptions or unresolved issues in their relationships. By repairing we help the child develop greater self-awareness and self-regulation skills, as well as improving their ability to communicate effectively and form healthy relationships with others.
Professional Background
In 2005, I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of California Berkeley receiving a degree in History and Political Science.
Following my undergraduate studies, I worked in positions in the nonprofit sector in the San Francisco Bay Area at Compass Family Services and Catholic Charities SF as a case manager and program director working with homeless immigrant families.
This experience helps me when working with professionals struggling to find their personal and professional identities and paths.
I chose to purse a service oriented professional track and received my Masters in Social Welfare at the University of California Berkeley with a concentration in Community Mental Health now known as Advancing Health and Well-being across the Adult Lifespan in 2014.
My first-year field training was at Familias Unidas in Richmond California where I learned how to provide individual therapy to adults using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. My second year field training was at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Social Services in the general inpatient unit and Pediatric Rheumatology where I learned how to support children and their families during hospitalizations and when children are diagnosed with rheumatological and inflammatory diseases.
Following graduation, I worked for five years with at risk families, first at A Better Way Inc providing mental health services to children in the foster care system. I later took a position at UCSF in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, in the Division of Infant, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Child Adolescent Services (CAS). At CAS I provided community-based services for low-income families in the San Francisco and greater bay area. During this time I also trained clinician on how to work with undocumented youth utilizing the Fuerte Program curriculum.
For the past three years I have been working with adults.
I worked at Alameda Healthcare for the Homeless where I provided mental health services to homeless individuals in shelters, transitional housing programs, and substance rehab programs. I also did community-based outreach to the undocumented day laborer community regarding the COVID pandemic.
I am currently with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Counseling Center. As a Clinical Counselor, I support students in crisis, provide short term mental health services to a diverse community, conduct skills-based group therapy, and administer outreach presentations to the university community.
Personal Background
My personal history influences my work, interests, and my commitment to mental health practice.
I came to the U.S. as an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador and I am a survivor of a home with domestic abuse. Growing up in Los Angeles, CA meant developing multiple cultural identities to navigate the complex expectations of the culture of the United States.
This personal experience has led me to work with children and adults who have experience trauma, are struggling with transitions in their lives, and have complicated family relationships.
As a first-generation college student, I struggled through the High School experience graduating with a 2.0 This high school experience led me to contemplate a series of possible paths including a vocational track, a military track, and an academic track. Ultimately, I attended Los Angeles Pierce Community College where I worked full time and took a full coursework at night. This experience led to transferring to the University of California Berkeley where I received my undergraduate degrees in History and Political Science.
This personal experience has led me to work with youth who are struggling with finding their path into adulthood.