In my six years of being a mental health counselor one insight has trumped all the rest; healing is really freaking hard. As pain avoidant individuals, we seek quick fixes or instant gratification for our problems and I think we’re starting to realize as a generation that it’s not really working for us.
Understanding the healing process, having had gone through it myself, is what I’ve become most passionate about as I have grown comfortable in my work with clients. I’m passionate about holding the space for others to see that pain is not just a lot more tolerable than we think, but it’s also necessary for us to learn and grow. Healing is non-linear, it has its ups and downs and the counseling process definitely mirrors that sometimes. But nothing is more satisfying that getting to watch my clients come into their own. My therapeutic aim is to empower, support, and if necessary confront my clients in order to support their healing and growth.
Good counseling features lots of laughter, a sound amount of tears, and intentional work. At the end, my clients and I both walk away from the therapeutic journey closer to a sense of peace and understanding of how to live more purposeful and intentional lives.
And while counseling is a huge part of my life, I take joy in spending quality time with my family, friends, and pooch, Buffy. I’m a frequent visitor of the Disney and Universal theme parks, a lover of video-games, an avid reader, and lover of a good workout or match of tennis. I’m also a proud Latina who loves to eat, dance, travel, and laugh a lot (mostly at my own jokes).