My journey to becoming a therapist began in the 5th grade. I didn’t have a warm family life or the privilege of receiving care from a wise professional, but rather what I instinctively knew at a young age was that healthy relationships are vital and can support us in becoming our true Selves– I just didn’t have that, and I desperately desired it. 

Instead, in my childhood I often felt alone and divided between two worlds– simultaneously too much and not enough to occupy either terrain fully. Many aspects of my identity felt incongruent or competing to the environment I was in– being the only girl out of the 7 children in my household, my bicultural Mexican-American identity, or growing up in a community with strong Christian roots yet the seeds of religion never sprouting inside of me– and it created the belief that people would only hurt or reject me if I were to ever be my true Self, and that I needed to earn love.

Enter perfectionism.

My perfectionistic patterns helped me survive a difficult childhood, and unconsciously I managed anxiety and a deep unacknowledged fear of loneliness and rejection by becoming autonomous and excelling in so many areas of my life in order to gain acceptance.

I graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology in 2011 and with a near perfect GPA. I earned a coveted research assistant position and mentorship in one of the top Psychology labs on campus. I was even on the dance team where I performed for tens of thousands of fans. Graduate school was no different. I began carving the pathway to becoming a trauma expert by stacking up professional trainings on my resume, landed a highly sought after internship site, and graduated from St. Edward’s University with a Master’s in Counseling and a perfect 4.0 GPA. 

Yet for years I was struggling with chronic bodily pain, chronic gastrointestinal issues, chronic fatigue, and ongoing difficult relationship dynamics throughout my early adulthood. Countless doctors dismissed my symptoms stating I was far too young to possibly have so much pain. Though my body knew what my mind couldn’t grasp. I felt trapped by these dynamics and their incredibly high personal costs. 

But was my perfectionism really me? Would my perfectionism protect me for forever?

Life hit me hard in the form of a horrifying and wildly unique near death experience. In the moment of my near death when I was physically trapped with no option to escape, the veil of perfectionism was ripped away and I immediately thought, “Oh no, I’ve been so worried about being perfect that I haven’t really lived. I can’t die not having lived.” In this moment, underneath my perfectionism I could see my deep shame and sadness.

Though when I survived I began to wonder, “What the f*ck do I do now? Who am I really?” I built so much of my identity around doing everything right, exceeding all expectations, and yet life was now harder than ever. These questions haunted me almost as much as the trauma itself.

What I know now is that trauma kept me psychologically and physiologically stuck in the various times throughout my life when I lacked choice and agency. If our normal and natural protective responses (ie, to fight/flee, to advocate for ourselves or set clear boundaries, etc.) are thwarted during a traumatic event or as a means to survive a difficult childhood, the impeded defensive energy becomes locked into our nervous system and psyche, leading to ongoing physiological symptoms, unhealthy ways of relating, or distorted views of ourselves and our identity. Our mind and body must have new, vividly disconfirming experiences in order to heal.

As I walked into my therapist Jesse’s office in the darkest corners of my suffering, something started to change for me as I finally felt the redemptive power of my darkest emotions and I realized I had a choice to make. I could harm myself (which I strongly considered because I didn’t believe I could tolerate any level of pain given that I spent so many years trying to protect myself from it)… or I could finally try to learn how to embody my adult agency (versus hiding behind the veil of perfectionism) and learn how to live. My drive to truly live, albeit tender and newly forming, coupled with the right kind of supportive connection allowed for all of the once fragmented pieces of myself to come together– whole, just as I was always meant to be. 

EMDR therapy healed the trauma stored in my body and resolved my flashbacks, my hypervigilance, allowed me to sleep without nightmares, and quieted my anxiety-ridden thoughts about almost dying, but when I finally allowed for another person to see all of me (the messy, unprepared, raw, angry, sad, and scared parts of myself) while also experiencing genuine acceptance and encouragement to be the fullest, adult version of my Self, it all changed. I finally accessed and experienced the new option that would forever be available to me thereafter. And this is now the work I’m committed to doing with you.

I share my journey to articulate that I entered into this role as your therapist honestly. And if you’re open and willing, I want to help you connect to a greater sense of vitality and authenticity, unlayered from the stories, unconscious strategies, and beliefs formed from your difficult past. I aim to support you in meeting your childhood fears with adult courage, and embolden a new, more empowered way of viewing yourself and the world. 

Curiosity, radical and loving honesty, and humor are at the center of my practice. 

Incorporating EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, psychodynamic psychotherapies such as NARM and AEDP, attachment theory, interpersonal neurobiology, mindfulness, parts work informed by Internal Family Systems, my many years of active self-inquiry in therapy, and hard-earned wisdom, my approach is holistic and integrates the science, art, and heart of relationships. 

I want to help you access a deeper, more fuller truth about yourself and (re)discover your inner strength and resilience as we work towards shifting old patterns and transforming your life. Let’s begin.

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These days, I spend a lot of time living. As the Owner and Clinical Director of EMDR Therapy Austin, I continue to deepen my knowledge in treating trauma (hey, it’s part of the job), but it occupies a more balanced space in my life. I enjoy going to the park with my dog Reese, traveling both solo and with my partner Johnathon (ask me about our trek to Everest Base Camp in Nepal), and engaging in hobbies that encourage me to embrace being an imperfect beginner, such as taking tennis lessons.