My Approach

My approach is collaborative, thoughtful, and attentive to both what is spoken and what may be more difficult to put into words. I aim to create a space where you feel supported enough to slow down and look more closely at what is happening in your inner world. Over time, you may begin to recognize patterns in how you relate to others, respond emotionally, and make sense of yourself. I began my education in psychology before completing my graduate training in clinical social work in Houston. During that time, I became increasingly drawn to questions about emotional life, relationships, and the deeper patterns that shape how people experience themselves and others. This ultimately led me to psychoanalysis, where I found a depth of understanding about human behavior and unconscious experience that resonated deeply with me.

Psychoanalytic training involves extensive postgraduate study, intensive clinical supervision, and a sustained commitment to the therapist’s own personal analysis. I completed nine years of formal training in adult psychoanalysis at the Center for Psychoanalytic Studies in Houston. I also completed two years of psychodynamic psychotherapy training through the James T. McLaughlin Training Program at the Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Center.

Although psychoanalysis forms the foundation of my work, I recognize that people come to therapy with different histories, needs, and levels of urgency. My approach is also informed by training in EMDR, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) through the Behavior Therapy Training Institute for OCD. I have trained in the ASSYST protocol for acute stress and in Trauma-Sensitive Yoga through the Center for Trauma and Embodiment. I am also a certified yoga teacher and hold a certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research from the California Institute of Integral Studies, with specialized training in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy through Journey Clinical. My interest in the relationship among mind, body, and transformative therapeutic experiences continues to shape the way I approach clinical work.

Professional Experience

My clinical work has taken me across a wide range of settings, from acute psychiatric care and intensive outpatient programs to bilingual community mental health clinics and private practice. Each of these environments has shaped how I listen, how I think, and how I remain present with experiences that may feel complex, overwhelming, or difficult to name. I began my career in Houston in 2000 and spent the first decade of my professional life working in bilingual community mental health settings. This work grounded me in the realities of access, cultural nuance, and the importance of meeting people where they are. That foundation continues to inform my practice and sustain my commitment to culturally responsive care.

At the Menninger Clinic in Houston, I spent several years working in the Young Adult Program with individuals navigating personality disorders and co-occurring mental health and substance-use concerns. I also supervised clinical interns and fellows, a role that strengthened my ability to think carefully about both the patient’s experience and the therapeutic process. This work deepened my respect for the resilience required to live with psychological complexity and reinforced my commitment to treatment that is individualized, thoughtful, and attentive to each person’s developmental history.

I am originally from Mexico City, where I first became aware of how profoundly culture, language, and context shape emotional life. As a bilingual and bicultural therapist, I remain attentive to the ways migration, belonging, displacement, and the experience of living between languages may enter the therapeutic relationship.

Leadership and Teaching

I serve on the faculty of the Center for Psychoanalytic Studies in Houston, where I teach and supervise the next generation of psychoanalytic clinicians. I have also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work and have supervised clinicians across a range of settings throughout my career. I am also Past President of the Houston Psychoanalytic Society, where I have been involved in programming, community engagement, and fostering collaboration among analysts, psychotherapists, and trainees. I previously served on the board of the Houston Group Psychotherapy Society, reflecting my longstanding commitment to group psychotherapy and to understanding the therapeutic processes that unfold in relational settings.

In 2025, I received the Diana Siskind Excellence in Writing Award from the American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work for a clinical paper on immigration and the analytic encounter. This work examines how migration, cultural transition, displacement, and identity shape the therapeutic relationship and reflects my broader interest in the intersection of social context and inner life.

I offer consultation, clinical supervision, and case conference groups for therapists seeking to deepen their psychodynamic thinking. These spaces support careful reflection on complex clinical work, including transference and countertransference, while strengthening each clinician’s capacity to engage the therapeutic process with depth and clarity.

Community Work

I have participated in city and county efforts providing psychological first aid and trauma response following natural disasters, including Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Harvey. I have also been involved in expanding low-cost and pro bono psychoanalytic mental health services for migrants in both Houston and Austin. I am the founder of ATX Spanish Speaking Psychotherapists, a network created to strengthen connection and collaboration among bilingual clinicians. I also founded and direct Sin Fronteras, a community psychoanalytically-oriented clinical program providing pro bono psychotherapy to migrants in the Austin, TX area. The initiative grew out of years of community mental health work in Houston and is now supported by funding from the American Psychoanalytic Association.

Learn more about Sin Fronteras

Availability and Fees

My practice currently has a waitlist, with limited availability for clients referred by colleagues and trusted professionals.

Fees are discussed individually during the initial consultation or first session, based on the services and frequency of care being considered. I am not contracted with insurance companies and work on a self-pay basis. Upon request, I can provide a superbill that you may submit to your insurance carrier for possible out-of-network reimbursement, depending on your plan.

Professional Affiliations

Psychoanalytic and Psychotherapy Organizations

  • American Psychoanalytic Association

  • American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work (AAPCSW)

  • Houston Psychoanalytic Society

  • Austin Psychoanalytic

  • Division 39 (Society for Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Psychology),American Psychological Association

Group Psychotherapy Organizations

  • American Group Psychotherapy Association

  • Houston Group Psychotherapy Society

  • Austin Group Psychotherapy Society

Professional and Community Organizations

  • National Association of Social Workers

  • Austin In Connection