Through my various experiences working in outpatient substance use programs, school-based settings, forensic mental health, and clinic-based work with various populations and age ranges, I have pursued my passion for supporting individuals in changing their lives and implementing healthy coping skills for long-term recovery. My experiences in the past have taught me the importance of witnessing great pain and great joy. I believe we cannot have one without the other. I want to equip my clients w...
When people are challenged with changes that affect the ability to manage stressors, there comes a time for positive change and support. I am passionate about focusing on the healing process, whether it involves the challenges of exploring maladaptive behaviors or the triggers of trauma. I help my clients, who include children, adults, and families to find healthy coping mechanisms and self-autonomy which will lead to positive perceptions. This, in turn, creates personal identification and self-...
I take a dynamic approach, helping others through developing the courage and confidence to build new skills, change unhelpful views of the self, and increasing insight and understanding and acceptance of where you are, while working toward where you want to be. The more open and willing you are to share, the better we can work together to come to a shared plan, view of the problem and work toward more distress tolerance. I use practices like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior ...
My style can best be described as insight and action-oriented therapy. I believe that once an individual has an improved understanding of their inner workings (thoughts, emotions, behaviors) and patterns of behavior, then they can begin to adopt more healthy ways of living. In sessions, I offer empathy, acceptance, guidance, and understanding, while encouraging clients to show up authentically so that they can work towards personal growth and positive change. I'm a therapist with Octave an...
I trained in Boston. Boston College was my graduate school, Beth Israel Hospital the site of my clinical education, and MIT, where I was a Senior Research Associate, the start of my professional career. In 1976, I emerged a licensed clinical psychologist in Massachusetts and began a practice treating young people, couples, and families. I also worked as a community therapist with teachers, parents, and students, to help integrate three Boston's public schools. In California I completed a...
Dr. Vargas specializes in the treatment of depression, emotion dysregulation, trauma, and anxiety among teens and adults. She provides Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness-based therapies. She works with people experiencing the consequences of minoritization, including racial trauma, acculturative, and minority stress. She is an LGBTQ+ affirming provider. Provee terapia en español. Dr. Vargas completed...
Struggling to achieve a semblance of work-life balance while juggling the demands of a heavy academic courseload, and research, training, teaching, and employment opportunities? It is a privilege to work together with college and graduate students on increasing a sense of well-being and actualizing potential. I typically work with clients who are looking to live their best life in both the personal and academic realms, often focusing on goals related to academic success, career/post-college l...
Hello and Bienvenidos! We are K & B Therapy, Inc., a mental health group practice specializing in providing culturally sensitive mental health services (and other services) for college students, professionals, and people of color. As a collective, we are first-generation graduates and the first in our families' to receive higher education. While being the first in our families has been such an honor, we understand how difficult it can be to adjust to student life, balance family/cultural expecta...
I am certified in utilizing interventions from multisystemic therapy, which specializes in working with families and adolescents that may be experiencing behavioral concerns with aggression, lack of following rules or boundaries in the home or community, commercial sexual exploitation, and substance abuse. I specialize in empowering clients to work on increasing their insightfulness and targeting attainable goals for their desired outcomes for counseling. I provide a safe environment to discuss ...
I am a southern California native, and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist under the Board of Behavioral Sciences of California. She is also an Out-of-State Telehealth Provider - Marriage and Family Therapist with the state of Florida Department of Health. I provide virtual services throughout the state of California and Florida. I also provide coaching services nationally through services. Furthermore, I have in person sessions in West Los Angeles. I earned her Master’s of Arts in...
My aim is to help clients understand how their history and programming influences patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior. When insight and self-awareness of these patterns is established, we will develop ways to shift the combination of these things in a direction that is consistent with what is important or helpful. My experience has primarily been in a variety of outpatient mental health settings, including community mental health, intensive outpatient/partial hospitalization program, p...
You’ve struggled with the belief for as long as you can remember that no matter what you do it won’t be good enough. You know the answer to a simple question, but double check anyway because you don’t trust in yourself enough to give the right answer. Tasks that other people seem to do easily cause you to panic, which only reinforces the belief that you are inadequate. You are so tired of questioning every move you make and feeling the need to hide your true self because you cant trust other peo...
I became a therapist because I understand that everyone needs and deserves a safe and trusting space to process the human experience, be it the challenges and transitions, concerns and worries, relationships with self and others, or ever-changing emotions and thoughts that can make navigating life difficult, confusing, or overwhelming. I believe that each individual experience is unique, while also understanding that no one should feel alone or that what they feel or need is wrong, abnormal, or ...
Your mind may be filled with thoughts of worry, fear, and uncertainty about your future and you have accompanying uncomfortable sensations in your body; thus you want to avoid or escape situations. You often feel sad and don’t understand why, or how to feel relief. You avoid activities that could be enjoyable, which affect your relationships and social life. You lack the motivation or energy for daily tasks that used to be automatic preventing you from succeeding academically. Maybe you expe...
I believe that we each hold the solutions to our lives and sometimes we just need support as we figure things out. That’s my role! I get the privilege to walk beside you on your life journey and help you find solutions you already have. We get to do this together via a strength-based and solution-oriented approach that reminds you of your capabilities and just how powerful you truly are. Sessions can be tough as we work through challenges. But you’re not alone and clearly have survived all of...
I enjoy helping young adults learn more about who they are and what they want out of this life. Setting boundaries, developing more positive self-talk, problem-solving, improving communication skills, and being authentic are all important factors to feeling like your best self. I tend to have more of a conversational, laid-back style and believe a sense of humor and some foul language in sessions can be incredibly therapeutic! I strongly believe that the therapist-client relationship is the numb...
My specialty areas include depression, anxiety, child abuse, neglect, trauma, adjustment issues, divorce and separation, stress management, personal growth, and coping skills. I have experience in working in clinics, community-based outpatients, and detention settings. I have a passion for working with young adults in efforts of assisting them in re-writing their stories and utilizing necessary coping skills to manage and evolve during difficult times. I assist my clients in separating themse...
"There are more things in heaven and earth ... than are dreamt of in your philosophy" Hamlet. As a depth psychotherapist, my intention is to help you navigate your personal depths; look beyond cultural expectations and all of the shoulds that have cluttered your life. Together we can work to unravel the defenses that have been unconsciously built to protect your heart and soul from feeling, and have kept you out of the present. By assiduously listening and freely playing, we will unearth who you...
Adjusting to life changes and managing stress can seem overwhelming at times. If you experience anxiety, depression, other mental health symptoms, or just life changes you're familiar with the desire to find stability and ways to cope. It could be a change in job, or managing stress from work, strain in a relationship with a partner or family members, recent grief and loss, feelings of worthlessness, feeling on edge, or looking for a tune up after life events. I believe therapy offers a space t...
Each person has an internal struggle. This struggle is something that makes you feel vulnerable and at times you have people to talk to you about it and other times you did not. Therapy is a wonderful opportunity for you to open up in a safe environment so that you're able to process your internal world in a logical manner. Depending on the issue I utilize Family Systems theory, motivational interviewing, and solution-based therapy to help you sort through what's bugging you and developing a com...