Zen
Bridging the mind and heart
Put feet on your prayers.
To make a ripple in the healing that extends 7 generations.
My therapeutic style can be described as non directive; I help create a container to meet people where they are at.
My approach to therapy is listening and learning about the individual’s needs. Sometimes this looks as checking on their body somatically, their heart or longing. Sometimes this may be practicing grounding techniques and slowing down external stimulation.
The frameworks of my practice come from my training in psychedelic therapy. This approach is centered in community and relationship with the land. Giving space to listen to the inner healing intelligence that we carry.
As a young chicano I struggled with my identity, the process of acculturation for survival and walk with the process of decolonizing.
I am committed to making space and accessibility for BIPOC individuals to integrate expanded states of consciousness.
My experience as a detribalized indigenous person in what is known as North America or Turtle Island informs my work. Having had the support of elders to navigate my own journey from mind to heart is why I am community made.
“Love is an action, never simply a feeling” – bell hooks
A calming presence
A wider bandwidth after having been able to express themselves, their feelings and being listened to.
providing a safe non-judgmental space that invites the sum parts of an individual, we look to address the shadow work and take a deeper look into the smoky mirror.
The bridging of worldviews is made by shifting root metaphors and bringing awareness to the archetypal nature of the issues that all human beings face as part of being alive.
Building rapport, asking about how your physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual or communal parts are doing.
My Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy training. I have been trained in working with MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy, Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy and Psilocybin Assisted Psychotherapy. These training sessions have informed my practice to meet clients where they are, investigate the inner healing intelligence and to listen to the body.
Compassion, respect, responsibility and accountability.
Informing the world I see. As a Chicano therapist I am developing a double consciousness to see the world from a decolonized perspective, along with living in a system not meant for us.
As a youth I held in a lot and didn’t have the community or support to express myself. Holding this in resulted in my body expressing it through facial paralysis. This informs my somatic approach and checking on the body and where stress or tension may be getting held.
My role with clients is to be an observer, to transformation and change. Just as in metaphysics, having an observer changes the dynamics of the situation. In my role I don’t just observe but compassionately walk with those I work with and take a non-directive approach to what the individual perceives as precedent. Through mindfulness practices we aim to recenter the body, mind and felt sense of what the individual is processing. Through this somatic approach we emphasize the importance of feeling, what the mind is rationalizing. This may present itself as parts of us that come to light with observation and acknowledgement.
I am a detribalized chicano who has been working in the community to learn and recover our ancestral practices. I bring into my practice indigenous awareness, knowledge and understanding.
Chicana/o/x Affirmative Therapy and other Raza Psychology trainings.
“We are taught that the body is an ignorant animal intelligence dwells only in the head. But the body is smart. It does not discern between external stimuli and stimuli from the imagination. It reacts equally viscerally to events from the imagination as it does to real events.” ― Gloria E. Anzaldúa
I have a dog who keeps me busy. I love biking, hiking and gardening.
I am a tall mexican. 6’6” the same height as Michael Jordan.
Connecting to the earth
I have worked in higher education for over 13 years. I began at a community college as a counselor and then went into therapy as a Multicultural Specialist. I have worked and volunteered for non-profits and specifically focused on working with youth.
I have focused on continuing my education and training in Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy. I have completed trainings in MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy, Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy and Psilocybin Assisted Psychotherapy.
Education is the Passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today. -Malcolm X
Sociology
Latin American Studies
Masters of Social Work
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
I stay updated on the evolution and development of psychedelic Assisted Therapies or anything to do with that field. I am a part of some MDMA clinical trials that are going on.
I am a board member to a couple boards. One is focused on supporting autonomous indigenous communities access to healthcare and dental care. The other is highlighting historically marginalized identities in the art work and supporting their visibility.
MDMA Clinical trials
Board Member
Supporting indigenous communities
Supporting artist visibility
Keep a journal. This helps capture things that the client can bring into session and help find a place to express oneself.
Mindfulness and coping skills are also good between sessions.
It is individualized but typically weekly and a session is 50 minutes long.
Therapy is both an art and science. As a supervisor I walk with you in navigating all that clients may bring to session.
I specialize in supervising clinicians who are interested in developing skills to support Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). This can range from preparation, experiential, to integration of KAP.
I believe effective supervision requires rapport building and trust as a foundation. To be able to share vulnerable client and session experiences there has to be trust and understanding that I am not going to be punitive but understanding. My goal is to bring curiosity to supervision and support and encourage the development of the supervisees skills and confidence in the work they are doing.
Feedback
Prevent burnout
Therapy is an art and a science
