“Knowing oneself comes from attending with compassionate curiosity to what is happening within.” - Gabor Maté
Liv Curiously Therapy is a therapeutic sanctuary where you’re allowed to show up just as you are. To live curiously is to grant yourself permission to get to know yourself on a deeper level because you deserve to heal, too.
As a first-generation Latina, my background shapes my identity as a therapist, bringing understanding, compassion, and acceptance to our work together. I don't pretend to know your lived experience because I fully believe only we know ourselves best - even if you're unsure about yourself right now. As a therapist, I value compassion, laughter, community, and advocacy and I try my best to reflect that in session by showing up as myself - no blank slate therapist here!
I invite you to reach out to me and we can talk about what brings you to therapy, your therapy expectations, and any other questions you might have for me.
My Story
There was no ah-ha moment in my story when I knew I wanted to be a therapist. In undergrad, I used to say I wanted to be a therapist because people fascinated me. If I am being honest I was searching for an explanation to family mental illness and addiction. I was desperate to understand the people in my life and decipher why they were the way they were.
It wasn’t until I mustered up enough courage to start therapy when I began to piece together the various parts of me fractured by generational trauma. I was faced with discomfort, hatred, disgust, and shame. Through inner child work & being curious about the different beliefs I carried inside me I was able to put into words what I needed to thrive. I was able to feel less anxious, more sure of myself, and no longer afraid to stick up for myself (well, kind of...I’m still a work in progress.)
My Guiding Principles
Trauma Informed Care
I do not believe anyone needs to be ‘fixed.’ My healing practice is understanding how life has impacted you & altered your mental well-being.
Community
I value community because we cannot move through life without one another. Community looks differently for everyone and you are in control of who you want as part of your inner circle because community = safety.
Self-Compassion
I believe self-compassion is key in therapy especially when you’re coming face to face with your self. Life is already hard and we all need to be kinder to ourselves.
Humor
Laughing and joking around in session is so needed because laughing is healing. There will be moments where you need a moment to sit and enjoy a good chuckle!
Cultural & Racial Competency
I take into account your cultural& racial identity and how that has impacted your experiences in life. As a first generation Latina I understand the complexities of living in a world plagued by racism & oppression.
“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any”
— Alice Walker
Education & Professional Background
Hunter College - Master of Social Work
Northern Arizona University - Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) - New York License # 095736
Licensed Clinical Social (LCSW) - Virginia License # 0904016409
2019 Started working as a therapist in private practice serving NYC adults struggling with anxiety, trauma, depression, borderline personality, & bipolar disorder.
Past populations I’ve served: chronically ill patients, survivors of sexual assault, survivors of intimate partner violence, chronically homeless individuals & families, obsessive-compulsive disorder, & schizophrenia.
Taking the first step is the hardest
Schedule your FREE 20 minute phone consultation.