After more than 20 years of working with individuals and couples - from college age to retirement age - my true learning and commitment to the field has come from the life stories that I have heard from those courageous individuals I have had the privilege of sitting with. From them I have understood what it is like to live with chronic depression; what it is like to work through painful memories of physical and sexual abuse; how devastating chronic illness, loss, impact of prejudice, break ups can be; how challenging it is to meet the developmental changes of life and the ebbs and flows of healthy relationships. My clients continue to remind me that change is hard but possible, that hope and healing can happen in the therapeutic process, and that resilience and strength are alive and well, even in those who struggle.

To the therapeutic process I bring a true belief in the possibility of change. I understand that the work of therapist and client happens in the therapeutic relationship that is founded on trust, honesty and collaboration. I utilize the understanding of a person’s family and past experiences to assist them to identify and change coping mechanisms that are not useful anymore. I encourage clients to use their experiences and their feelings to understand their emotional pain.

My experience as a bi-cultural, bilingual therapist, born in Cuba, has taught me how important it is to understand the context in which a person lives. Race, class, gender, age, sexual orientation, religious upbringing, physical abilities are always important part of the puzzle that clients bring to psychotherapy. It is important for me to include these aspects of a person’s experience in the therapeutic narrative.

My style as a therapist is active and informal, infused with hope and a sense of humor. The key to growth is inside all. My role at times is to make sure that my clients do not forget this.