About Me

I believe that healing happens when we can turn toward ourselves with curiosity and compassion—when we can understand the parts of us that are struggling, protecting, or holding pain. As a queer Chicano, psychotherapist, father, and someone who began my own therapy journey as a teenager working through childhood trauma, I bring both professional expertise and lived experience to this work. Licensed in California and New York with over 8 years of experience, I specialize in Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, helping individuals, couples, families, and teenagers navigate both everyday struggles and deep-rooted trauma.

My Approach

My work is grounded in the understanding that trauma—whether it's the "Big T" experiences that shake our foundation or the "little t" moments that accumulate over time—shapes how we see ourselves, relate to others, and move through the world. I create a warm, collaborative space where we can explore what's happening beneath the surface and work together to untangle the patterns that keep you stuck.

I don't pathologize people. My own experience starting therapy as a teenager taught me that we all develop strategies to survive and cope with what we've been through. I work from a place of deep compassion for families—understanding that everyone is doing the best they can with the tools and circumstances they have. As a parent myself, I know firsthand the complexity of showing up for our children while navigating our own histories and healing.

I'm direct and genuine in my approach because I believe real change requires us to get to the root of what's happening. At the same time, I bring a trauma-informed lens that honors your pace and respects the protective strategies your system has developed. My style is conversational and relational—this is a partnership, and you're the expert on your own experience.

Who I Work With

I work with individuals, couples, families, and teenagers navigating:

• Trauma and PTSD

• Relationship challenges and intimacy issues (including polyamorous, monogamous, and other relationship structures)

• Immigration

• Grief

• Eating and Food

• Alcohol & Substance Use

• ADHD and neurodivergence

• Parenting and family dynamics

• Perinatal and Postpartum Care

• Infertility and Assisted Reproduction Treatments

• Anxiety, depression, and life transitions

• Compulsive Sexual activities & porn

• Identity exploration and self-understanding

• Adolescent and teen support

• LGBTQ+ individuals, couples, and families

• Gender-affirming care

• I also work with parents navigating the complexities of raising children while doing their own healing work, and with teens who are finding their way through challenging circumstances.

My Training & Background

My therapeutic foundation is in Internal Family Systems (IFS), and I've completed extensive training including IFS Level 1, QTIFS (Queer & Trans IFS), IFS with Neurodivergent Clients, IFS for Children and Adolescents, Appreciating Extreme Parts in Context: IFS, Food, and the Body, and Intimacy from the Inside Out (IFIO). I'm also trained in:

• Brainspotting Phases 1 & 2

• Somatic EMDR

• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) - Core Concepts and Interventions

• Gottman Method Couples Therapy Levels 1 & 2

• Relational Life Therapy Levels 1 & 2

• Imago Relationship Therapy Level 1

• Somatic Experiencing® Levels 1 & 2

• The Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS)

• Foundations in Somatic Abolitionism with Resmaa Menakem

• Sex Therapy (Institute of Sexual Education and Enlightenment)

• Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy Training (Fluence)

• Advanced Perinatal Mental Health Psychotherapy (Postpartum International)

• Comprehensive Childbirth Prep & Lactation + Newborn Care with Manhattan Birth

• CBT Essentials with the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy (BI)

• Level One American Sign Language with Jeremy Lee Stone

I'm also a Certified ADHD Professional (ADHD-CCSP).

In addition to my clinical work, I've served as a practicum instructor for graduate students completing their clinical training at Northwestern University, Columbia University, Hunter College, and NYU, supporting the next generation of therapists in developing their skills and clinical identity.

Before becoming a therapist, I spent years working in community health and advocacy. I provided HIV testing and counseling, worked on integrative care teams at Federally Qualified Health Centers working in collaboration with the New York City Department of Health expanding access to PrEP, ARVs, and gender-affirming care, was a member of the New York State HIV Advisory Body with the AIDS Institute, served two years in AmeriCorps supporting civic engagement with young adults mentoring students in the Los Angeles Unified School District, and worked as a Peer Health Educator focusing on food access and sexual education in the California State University system. This foundation taught me that healing isn't just personal—it's also about the systems and communities we're part of.

Let's Work Together

If you're looking for a space where you can show up as you are, explore what's keeping you stuck, and find your way back to yourself and your relationships, I'd be honored to walk alongside you. Therapy is an investment in yourself, and I'm here to support you in that journey.