My Approach

Psychotherapy is a collaborative process that takes time. In my work, I am interested in creating a space where you feel supported enough to slow down and really look at what’s going on in your inner world. Over time, you may begin to notice patterns in how you relate to others, how you respond emotionally, and how you make sense of yourself. Rather than trying to change these patterns quickly, we work to understand them. That understanding often creates more room to respond differently, with greater awareness, ease and agency. The relationship we build in therapy is an important part of this process, often what shows up between us can reflect other relationships or experiences in your life. Paying attention to those moments, in a supportive and grounded way, can offer meaningful insight.

I believe the most meaningful way to determine whether we are a good fit is through actually meeting together. Therapy is about the experience of being with another person and how that experience feels to you. In the first few sessions, people often begin to sense whether they feel understood, whether curiosity and reflection can emerge, and whether the space feels supportive enough for meaningful work to unfold. My approach is collaborative, thoughtful, and attentive to both what is spoken and what may be more difficult to put into words. I encourage people to pay attention to their own experience in the room and to trust their sense of what feels helpful, engaging, and possible.

Training

I first studied psychology before going on to complete my graduate training in 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 toward psychoanalysis, where I found a depth of understanding about human behavior and unconscious experience that resonated deeply with me.

Psychoanalytic training involves extensive post-graduate study, intensive supervision, and a deep commitment to the therapist’s own personal analysis. I completed nine years of post-graduate training in adult psychoanalysis at the Center for Psychoanalytic Studies Houston, an experience that continues to deeply inform how I listen and engage with the complexity of each person’s inner world. I also completed two years of psychodynamic psychotherapy training at the Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Center and remain actively involved in the psychoanalytic community as an ongoing part of my professional life.

Alongside this psychoanalytic foundation, my clinical approach is informed by additional training in trauma-informed and experiential modalities, including EMDR, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) through the Behavior Therapy Training Institute for OCD. I have also 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 Therapy and Research (CPTR), with specialized training in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy through Journey Clinical. My interest in the relationship between mind, body, and transformative therapeutic experiences continues to shape the way I approach clinical work.

Professional Experience

Over the years, my clinical work has taken me across a wide range of settings, from acute psychiatric care to bilingual community mental health clinics and intensive outpatient programs. Each of these environments has shaped how I listen, how I think, and how I stay with people in moments that are often complex, overwhelming, or difficult to name.

At The Menninger Clinic in Houston, I spent several years in the Young Adult Program, working closely with individuals navigating dual diagnosis and personality disorders. I also supervised clinical interns and fellows, a role that sharpened my ability to think carefully about both the patient’s experience and the therapeutic process itself. This work deepened my respect for the resilience required to live with psychological complexity and strengthened my commitment to treatment that is individualized, thoughtful, and attuned to each person’s developmental history.

I am originally from Mexico City, where I first developed an awareness of how culture, language, and context shape emotional life. I completed my graduate training in clinical social work and began my career in Houston in 2000. For the first decade of my professional life, I worked in bilingual community mental health settings, an experience that grounded me in the realities of access, cultural nuance, and the importance of meeting people where they are. That foundation continues to inform my work today and sustains my commitment to culturally responsive care.

Leadership and Teaching

I currently serve as Immediate 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 Association, reflecting my longstanding commitment to group psychotherapy and to understanding therapeutic processes that unfold in relational settings.

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

Teaching and mentoring have also been integral to my work. I have served as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Graduate School of Social Work and have supervised clinicians across a range of settings throughout my career.

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

Professional Affiliations

Psychoanalytic and Psychotherapy Organizations

  • American Psychoanalytic Association

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

  • Houston Psychoanalytic Society

  • Austin Psychoanalytic

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

  • Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

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 seeking asylum in both Houston and Austin.

In Austin, my community work includes an ongoing collaboration with Casa Marianella, where I am developing a psychoanalytically informed group process model for recently arrived immigrants and asylum seekers. This project reflects my commitment to creating spaces where psychological care is accessible, culturally responsive, and attentive to both individual and collective experience.

I am also a co-founder of ATX Spanish Speaking Psychotherapists, a network created to strengthen connection and collaboration among bilingual clinicians. In addition, I partner with migrant-serving organizations across the country to support mental health care that is both clinically rigorous and grounded in cultural context. Alongside my clinical work, I provide forensic immigration evaluations, including psychological assessments for asylum cases, hardship waivers, VAWA petitions, and related proceedings. I approach this work with careful attention, cultural sensitivity, and deep respect for the individuals and families whose stories are entrusted to me.

A Personal Note

Outside of my clinical work, I am drawn to practices that support reflection and presence, including yoga and contemplative traditions. These interests continue to shape how I think about healing, resilience, and the many ways people find their way toward a fuller life.

If you feel that my approach may resonate with you, I welcome you to reach out.