I grew up in Mexico City and came to the States at the age of 12. My journey in the States began learning a second language and getting used to a new culture. I come from a family that carried much generational trauma and as such, they experienced difficulty and struggled to undo the pain and effects of abuse. Growing up, I experienced the consequences of that trauma, and I struggled in my personal life and in school. If it wasn’t for the people that came alongside us and helped us get through, I would not be here today.
As a mother of three; two grown children and one still in grade school, I am grateful for all the teachers, friends, and family that have come alongside of us to help guide the way. They provided support, offered their presence, and love when we most needed it. Most importantly, they remind us that raising kids is like a marathon and not a sprint. Learning to recognize my inadequacies as a parent, accepting them, and offering kindness and grace to my own self, was one of the most powerful gifts I could give to my children. The ability to repair became more meaningful to my children than any perfect parenting I could have offered.
In addition, I am grateful for the personal work I have done in my life to obtain health and healing for my own heart. I believe the best gift you can give to your children is to do your own heart work. I love the words of Brene Brown that say, ”I think the single most important thing that I learned from my research is this: We can NOT give our children what we don’t have. If we want our children to have courage, compassion, and connection, we must practice these things in our daily lives. If we want them to love and accept who they are, our job is to love and accept who we are.”
I have always loved working with children and that is why I began my education by becoming a teacher. Throughout the years however, I quickly came face to face with the absolute impediments that the effects of trauma can have on children at school. I am passionate about trauma-informed care at home and at schools.
Even though I specialize in children, my work with adult individuals is just as enjoyable to me. I consider it an honor and a privilege to come alongside any individual, parents, or children/teens and join them in their healing journey.
I received my Bachelors of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Arizona State University and my Masters of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy, (LMFT) from Fuller Theological Seminary.
- I am licensed by the state of Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners.
- I am an EMDRIA certified EMDR Therapist. (Eye Movement and Desensitization Reprocessing).
- I am a certificed Sensorimotor Psychotherapist. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy is a method that draws upon the natural wisdom of the body (posture, movement, and the nervous system) to tap into the innate drive in all of us to heal, adapt, and develop new capacities.
These modalities are well researched and provide in-depth neurobiological training for the treatment of trauma.
I also have specific training in the modalities mentioned as it regards to children.
- I have advanced training in Sand Tray (Level 4) through the Center for Sand Play-Tray.
- Advanced training (over 100 hours) in Child-EMDR treatment through Agate Institute by Ana Gomez.
- I am a member of the Association for Play Therapy, and working toward obtaining certification in it.
- I follow the work of Bruce Perry which focuses on sequential model of healing. A well researched approach that looks at trauma from fa neurobiological perspective in children.
- I am attachment-focused in my approach to therapy. I have advanced training in the treatment of attachment wounds and attachment trauma from Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and other leading training organizations.
My master’s degree focused on family systems. Therefore, I approach treatment of an adult individual or child from a family systems perspective, as well as an attachment-focused perspective. This means that all members of the family contribute to the dynamic of whether the family is functioning in a healthy or dysfunctional way and that we all have our own attachment styles that impact each other.