My approach & Philosophy.
ABOUT ME
My name is Ana (she/her/ella) and I am a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) in the state of Maryland.
I was born and raised in the DMV area and I am a proud daughter of immigrant parents who left their homeland of El Salvador. In my practice as a therapist, I strive to be the therapist I wish my younger self would have had.
As a daughter of immigrant parents, I also work with clients who identify as first or second generation who find themselves trying to tend to their mental health as a multicultural being. Spaces for us can be difficult to find ( I know it) so let’s talk about our unique experiences that often make us feel isolated and misunderstood. Sometimes western therapy approaches can make our experiences feel pathologized because it is based on a cultural system that does not align with our experiences and family systems.
Let's work together to dismantle harmful cycles and truly celebrate the richness and beauty of the diverse cultures that we are from.
Dear Cycle breakers,
Sometimes we personally experience situations or events in our lives that can become so overwhelming that we do not know how to make sense of it. These events impact our mind (thoughts and emotions), or body (specific triggers and physical manifestations), as well as our spirit (lack of feeling safe, grounded, and/or connected to others and self).
We also can be impacted by unhealed wounds that stem from intergenerational trauma that have been passed down from our family lineage. Yes, we can create space to unburden ourselves from those intergenerational inheritances and a good place to start is with our own generational healing.
The Izote flower: The National flower of El Salvador. A symbol of resilience due to its ability to thrive in harsh environments."
Person-centered, Trauma-Informed, Culturally-Informed.
My therapeutic framework centers your mind, body, and spirit through three approaches. My practice is focused on person-centered, trauma and culturally- informed care.
What does that mean? I believe that true healing occurs when a client is seen as a whole person and when therapy offers a sense of safety, empowerment, collaboration, trust, and choice.
Therapeutic modalities I often use include:
Cognitive behavioral processing (CBT)
Psychodynamic theory
Internal Family systems (IFS)
Trauma-Informed Care
I also incorporate attachment theory, mind-body connection, expressive arts, and throw in a splash of humor!