The Garden State of Mind
Cultivating Growth That Matters Most
Challenges are inevitable, being able to move beyond them requires effort to find what works best for you. As your therapist, my goal is to help you cultivate the space you need to get through life’s challenges. With an emphasis in providing culturally responsive care, I understand that coming from different walks of life can make addressing Mental Health difficult to navigate through. Being the only 1st generation Filipina-American in my immediate family, I experienced the difficulties of navigating my own values with different cultural expectations. These barriers ignited my curiosity to learn about myself and others from different walks of life.
Our minds are like a GARDEN. What we choose to nourish, will grow and what will grow will lead to our actions and behaviors. I am here to help you plant (replant) seeds that will help you live the life you truly want to have. When experiencing hardship, the resilience, courage and strength it takes to prioritize your needs can be challenging. I want to provide reassurance that you are not alone in getting there.
I am glad you’ve taken the courage to explore the option of therapy. I imagine you may be experiencing a level of overwhelm at this time in your life. I completely understand that life presents us all with difficulties that seem unbearable to navigate from time to time. With life’s never ending responsibilities, it can be easy to get lost in your thoughts and emotions. This can cause loss of self/identity, low self-esteem, anxiety, perfectionism, depression and dissatisfaction.
Therapy is a safe space for you to learn ways to navigate these challenges. How do we do that? With the construction of awareness and insight, we can make connections from past traumas and develop more balanced thoughts. By learning healthier boundaries with ourselves and becoming more intentional with our relationship, we will meet our authentic selves.
I look forward to walking alongside you as you grow a more fruitful GARDEN.
There are always flowers for those who want to see them.
/ – Henri Matisse (1992). “Jazz”, George Braziller /
Experience
I used evidence-based techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commit Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy as therapeutic modalities in treatment. I am also trained in trauma-based therapies such as Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolong Exposure Therapy. Additionally, I am trained in Perinatal Mental Health to provide supports to new mothers, parents that may be experiencing loss and infertility, and/or Postpartum Depression. Within the last 10 years of being in the mental health field, a large part of my experience has been serving diverse populations in Northern, Central and Southern counties of San Diego, CA. I have had the pleasure of providing community-based treatment, prevention & early intervention and mental health support in academia. Our mental health can be impacted by the unique cultural components that we often do not feel we have control over. This is why I find so much value in navigating and holding space for every clients individual story through a compassionate lens.
Mental Health Events & Engagements
It all started when…
I began to blend my aptitude for creativity with my career as a Mental Health provider at a local college in San Diego, CA. As I began to plan, develop, organize and connect to others in the community, this allowed me the opportunity to build successful events such as Mental Health Conferences, Workshops along with speaking engagements in classrooms. I have successfully executed large events ranging from 15o attendees to smaller, more intimate engagements with 5-10 attendees. As I engage with others, share my knowledge, bring forth my authentic self, I leave people with a sense of wisdom they are able carry throughout their journey of life.