From Surviving to Leading with Heart and Wisdom

Surviving an abusive relationship led me to question everything—especially the “why” behind human behavior. Why do we stay? What draws us to certain dynamics? As I searched for answers, I found myself torn between two callings: law or relationships. Ultimately, I chose to become a Marriage and Family Therapist, drawn to the deeper emotional work that could foster lasting healing.

My journey began at a domestic violence shelter, where I interned with a fierce determination to help other women find the strength and clarity I had to fight for myself. Though I pursued therapy, my passion for justice never left. Today, I remain deeply committed to advocacy—with a strong foundation in law and ethics, particularly in educational equity, court mediation, discrimination, and the rights of vulnerable children and adults.

Surviving domestic violence changed everything. In a world where someone once tried to silence me, I learned to reclaim my voice—and it became my most powerful tool.

The abuse I endured wasn’t just psychological or emotional—it was about power and control. I know what it feels like to have your sense of agency stripped away, to second-guess your instincts, and to carry heavy emotions with nowhere safe to put it. But I also know what it feels like to rise from that. I took all the energy that once went into surviving—and began channeling it into my healing, my goals, and my purpose.

I learned that anger wasn’t something to fear—it was a signal. A fire. A call to reclaim what had been taken.

Through therapy, education, and deep inner work, I transformed that anger into action, and that action into advocacy.

I had to learn how to stay in touch with my emotions and express them in a way that honored my truth—firm, grounded, and clear. That’s what I now help my clients do: find their voice, own their story, and speak up for themselves without apology.

Healing from power and control doesn’t mean becoming hardened—it means becoming whole.
And it starts with learning that your voice is not just valid—it’s vital.

I didn’t just study healing—I lived it and CONTINUE to live it.

Through inner child work, trauma processing, and grief integration, I discovered how my early attachment wounds shaped the relationships I accepted. I learned how to shift from survival to self-empowerment using tools like strength-based reframing and locus of control. These were the foundations that helped me break cycles, reclaim my voice, and transform my pain into purpose.

I became more than a statistic. I became a survivor... and an anomaly.

And now, every tool that helped me heal—empathy, boundaries, perspective, and emotional intelligence—I bring into my work with clients.

As a first-generation Latina growing up in a city where few understood the nuances of bicultural identity or the first-gen experience, I often felt disconnected. The adults around me couldn’t relate to the invisible pressure of forging new paths while honoring generational roots.

Many first-generation clients were raised by parents who operated in survival mode—and often, they continue to live that way without realizing it. I help clients recognize these inherited patterns and begin the process of healing by engaging their parasympathetic nervous system—the part responsible for rest, regulation, and safety.

I teach clients that they don’t have to just survive life—they are allowed to live it.
And living means giving yourself grace when you make mistakes, learning to self-soothe, and embracing the unfamiliar feeling of peace. Together, we break generational cycles not by rejecting where we come from, but by learning how to move forward with both pride and balance.

"You are allowed to rest. You are allowed to make mistakes. You are allowed to live, not just survive."

I believe healing requires both insight and action. I meet my clients where they are—with curiosity, grace, and a trauma-informed lens that honors their full humanity. Whether we’re addressing past wounds, navigating relationships, or breaking intergenerational cycles, my role is to help clients move from reaction to intention.

• Inner Child & Attachment-Based Exploration
  Understanding how early relationships shape current patterns—so we can heal from the root, not just the symptom.

• Trauma-Informed & Strength-Based Frameworks
  Centering safety, empowerment, and resilience while honoring your lived experience.

• Emotional Regulation & Nervous System Support
  Helping you move from survival mode to a state of calm and grounded presence.

• Cultural Humility & Advocacy
  Holding space for the impact of identity, oppression, and lived experience—with a commitment to justice and belonging.

• Identifying Stuck Points & Creating Movement
  Bringing awareness to patterns, environments, and beliefs that keep you feeling stuck—and helping you find practical ways to move forward.

• Reframing Limiting Beliefs & Reclaiming Power
  Challenging internalized narratives so you can reconnect with your voice, worth, and agency.

From private sessions to program development, I operate at both micro and macro levels—supporting individuals in healing while working to transform the systems they’re a part of. Whether I’m partnering with school districts, consulting on trauma-informed programs, or walking with someone through the hardest season of their life, my goal is the same:
To help people and communities heal, grow, and thrive.

This work is sacred to me.
And I’m humbled to be a part of every story I witness.

Now, as an empowered adult navigating the complex world we live in, I understand firsthand the unique struggles our generation faces. As Millennials, we were raised to believe in hard work and achievement—only to find ourselves in a world where hustle culture, social media comparison, economic stress, and systemic oppression often leave us burnt out, anxious, and disconnected from ourselves.

Even with all the inner work I’ve done, I still encounter systems rooted in power and control—reminders that personal growth doesn’t exempt us from institutional oppression. But surviving an abusive relationship gave me the clearest gift: the ability to identify what’s unhealthy, name it, and find the courage to stand up to it. That strength informs how I help others do the same.

I specialize in working with highly motivated, successful individuals who are silently struggling under the weight of these pressures—especially those navigating the intersections of gender, race, class, and cultural expectations. Many of my clients appear to “have it all together” while internally coping with imposter syndrome, perfectionism, or the emotional exhaustion of being in constant fight-or-flight mode.

Together, we work to interrupt that cycle.

I help clients reclaim their voice, set meaningful boundaries, and rewire their relationship with success—not as something to chase, but as something to define for themselves. This process naturally builds self-esteem, self-efficacy, and a more balanced, grounded life.

You can be high-achieving and emotionally well.
You can break the cycle—and you don’t have to do it alone.

“Healing taught me how to name power, resist it, and reclaim my voice—and now, I help others do the same.”