My approach to counseling is curious, open minded, empathetic, and trauma informed. Through  my lived experience as a gender queer and first generation Mexican American counselor, I aim to  collaborate with clients in building self awareness and coping skills to navigate intersecting  identities, systems, working through and with trauma, and strengthening values. As I borrow  from different modalities to fit someone’s needs, I operate from a base of Narrative Therapy and  Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to examine how we view ourselves, the issues we face, and our  skills to help folks facilitate change. When working with couples, I utilize Emotionally Focused  Therapy to create corrective emotional experiences with folks to understand their attachment  wounds and a new path forward. I am committed to working from a multicultural, queer  affirming, and relational lens to create a safe space for whoever walks through my door. 

I completed my master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Oregon State  University-Cascades, a CACREP accredited program. In my first year, I worked on the crisis line  for the Trevor Project, a LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention organization. I spoke directly with  folks to de-escalate, assess risk, and connect callers with resources or further care. I was able to  attend trainings with EASA (Early Assessment and Support Alliance) to build community  awareness and assess young folks for early signs of psychosis, PFA (Psychological First Aid),  CALM (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means), and Zerosuicide. In my second year, I interned  at the OSU Student Wellness Center, working with students to manage their past and present. I  have since become certified to work with couples/those in relationships through Emotionally  Focused Therapy. 

At Portland Mental Health and Wellness, I work in the QT-BIPOC Therapist Rising Fellowship  Clinical, directed by Carina Mariscal Diaz (she/her). If you need to contact her at any point,  please do so at carina.mariscal.diaz@portlandmh.com. I am under the clinical supervisor of  Andrea Redeau. If you need to contact her at any point, please do so at andrea@uycounseling.org.