About Gabriela

Having attended the California Institute of integral Studies and graduating from a masters in Integral Psychology, gives me a deeper understanding and passion to work with clients in a more holistic way. After my masters, I deepened my studies by getting a postgraduate certification in Mindfulness and Compassion for Psychotherapist from CIIS.
 
In addition, I have had a yoga and meditation practice for over 20 years, which has led me to obtain my yoga teacher certification. My training has ranged from CBT, DBT, Psychosynthesis, Gestalt, Mindfulness, Jungian and Hakomi to Humanistic, psychodynamic and Creative expression. I draw from some of these models to better suit the client’s needs. 
 
Throughout my career, I have worked as a therapist helping individuals, couples, families and children in private practice, profit and non-profit organizations for over 13 years. I have also worked with San Mateo County for 10 years with the Youth Mental Health department. There I have helped youth and their families overcome depression, anxiety, trauma, and school related issues. I developed a curriculum in Mindfulness and Compassion Coping Skills for Adolescent Girls and ran a group for over 6 years. This group’s goal is to help teens deal with intense emotions in a positive way. In conjunction, I also lead a parents group teaching mindful ways to better support themselves so they can in return be more present to their children’s challenges. I have supervised interns from a variety of schools and I enjoy and value the process of mentoring them in their journeys. I am bi-cultural and bi-lingual in Spanish and have worked with many clients of different cultural backgrounds. In addition, I teach yoga to youth and help them relate to their bodies in healthier and kinder ways. I serve as a Board Member for RISE a non profit organization that brings Yoga to public High Schools all over the Bay Area. I am also an adjunct professor at California Institute of Integral Studies teaching Child and Youth Psychotherapy. 
 
In the process of helping clients, I allow the fullness of my heart and passion to enter the therapeutic relationship. In doing so, I have constantly been surprised that no matter how hard the challenges and situations are, the strengths and wisdom each client is able to draw from their own experience is incredible. When guided in a nurturing and safe environment, I have learned tremendously from each client and therefore respect enormously their own knowledge and process.

Some of my specialties are:

Depression and Anxiety
Trauma
Infertility
Adoption
Parenting
Child and parent relationship
Adolescent development and self harming
Divorce
Couple Conflicts
School Challenges
Grief/Loss
Major Life Transitions
Career Direction
Self Growth
Pregnancy and Motherhood
Parenting