Serena Rodriguez (She/her)

Traumatic events are defined as physical or sexual abuse, psychological abuse (persistent intimidation, manipulation, criticism), or cumulative stress caused by repeated workplace exposures or a lifetime of systemic oppression. You may experience intrusive memories and nightmares, difficulty experiencing positive emotions, feeling detached from others, and more. You might find yourself engaging in destructive behavior to distract from your pain. Recovery is possible!

Do you find yourself re-analyzing, over-thinking, and/or beating yourself up about the past? Maybe you dread social situations because you worry you have to be perfect or are always wondering what other people are thinking of you. You might notice physical symptoms that you had never before identified as anxiety. Let me help you find peace!

Managing a medical issue, recovering after divorce, reeling from the death of a loved one, or struggling after being laid off from work can be incredibly stressful. Furthermore, events do not have to be negative to be stressful. Welcoming changes such as a new career or relationship, marriage, moving, or having a child you planned on can create a mix of emotions. Do you need a letter of support for gender-affirming medical care? I can help!

I have extensive training and experience in DBT. In my private practice, I do not take on individuals who need a formal DBT program as that would be unethical as a solo practitioner. I do heavily use my DBT workbooks to pull helpful worksheets that aid in teaching various healthy life skills

I'm trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy. CPT helps you learn to change some of your unhelpful thoughts that keep you stuck in your trauma symptoms and learn to not avoid your feelings and your life. You will learn to value yourself, set boundaries with others, and make time for self-care.

Accepting yourself as you are and embracing your inherent worthiness are foundational to sustainable change. I will model this welcoming stance during our sessions. I will also be putting you in the driver's seat of your own treatment. While I can offer perspective and information, this is ultimately a collaborative process. You choose how treatment is structured.

Are you experiencing countertransference, feeling overwhelmed with your workload, or experiencing vicarious trauma? Maybe a colleague has seen you struggling and suggested you seek personal therapy. Maybe you are new to the field and wondering what the heck you got yourself into. (Been there!) You might be judging yourself for not being able to “figure it out.” Come! Be radically human, and let someone who intimately gets it attune to your needs.

Folx with marginalized identities need an extra special connection with their therapists. To feel safe enough to do the work, the relationship you have with your therapist is extremely important. I got your back and look forward to providing a safe space for you to heal and grow.

My fellow therapists! Our field has always had its challenges. I don't know about you, but it feels like it's a little heavier in recent years. The pandemic fundamentally changed our work. Life, finances, and the weight of current events require a lot of careful balancing. Let me be a sounding board as you navigate how to work through the burnout, find more time for yourself, and get your groove back.

I know the experience of chronic pain and illness all too well. I actually started a blog on my website to speak more about this and encourage you to check it out. Chronic pain and/or illness has a widespread effect on our lives, and you deserve to be connected with a therapist that you don't have to explain that to.