A dedicated, empathetic clinician committed to care rooted in dignity and respect, and to being relatable with clients. My work centers on fostering genuine connection, meeting clients where they are, and pairing strength-based and evidence-based approaches with trust.
My identities, as a man, a Latino, a brother, a confidant, an advisor, a gay man, a husband, a cousin, a friend, a nephew, and a son, allow me to understand the many roles clients carry and the societal implications tied to them. These lived experiences help me relate to aspects of what clients face, and they have shaped my clinical work over the years.
One formative experience was volunteering with Stand Up for Kids, working alongside homeless LGBTQ+ teens and young adults by providing hot meals, a welcoming environment, and a willingness to listen. That work deepened my understanding of the challenges trans people face, particularly youth aging out of foster care with few places to turn, and it continues to inform my practice.
My clinical background is in trauma-informed care, which helps create a safe environment for clients to express their experiences, understand their triggers, and develop coping skills that support their well-being. My theoretical orientation is strength-based, grounded in the belief that everyone is resilient in their own way. This approach helps clients recognize their own capacity to navigate their lives.
Specialties
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Anger Management
- Anxiety / Stress / Worry / Stress Management
- Bereavement / Grief and Loss Counseling
- Bipolar Disorder
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Depression
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Life Coaching / Life Transition
- Mindfulness-Based Therapy
- Mood Disorders / Swings
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
- Self Esteem
- Trauma
Languages spoken
- English
- Spanish
Gender
Male
Pronouns
he/him/his
In-network insurances
- Aetna
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Self Pay
Education and training
- University of Illinois at Chicago - Master’s Degree in Social Work