Culturally Sensitive Therapy

My training as a counseling psychologist is steeped in a holistic view of humanity: strengths-based, developmental, contextual, multiculturally-sensitive with a focus on social justice. I have taught many courses on on CST, but more importantly, I continue to engage in a personal ongoing practice of cultural self-exploration, including awareness of the privilege I hold. CST means that we can explore all aspects of your identity and the ways they influence and contextualize your experiences.

We have a diverse staff with different backgrounds that help understand your unique experiences based on the intersectionality of your identities.

Our clinic prides itself on uplifting clients who come from under-served communities. We respect the intersectionality inherent in all of us and treat the whole client in context. In addition, we mindfully employ clinicians from multiple gender, cultural, and disability backgrounds.

I have studied at the Multicultural Family Institute, the Ackerman Institute for the family, and the Eikenberg Academy for Social Justice following the teachings of leaders in culturallly sensitive therapy such as Kenneth V. Hardy, Monica McGoldrick, Nydia Garcia Prieto, thandiwe Dee Watts Jones, and Resmaa Menakem. I continue to develop and deepen my ability to practice culturally sensitive therapy through ongoing practice, supervision and training.

I am a woman of color, who is open and available to speak about racial injustice and disparity in the United States and globally. I am a 3rd generation (Mexican) American-Latinx

You are the subject matter expert on your culture & identity. Setting treatment goals is collaborative and we integrate your background, beliefs, values, and identity into therapy. You provide the context to inform the interventions customized just for you. As a result our trust develops rapidly because we skip the assumptions, avoid misunderstandings and you feel comfortable. This modality leads to more sustainable treatment outcomes.

As a second-generation Arab American and child of immigrants, I understand the richness and beauty that being part of a collectivistic culture can provide. Yet I am also aware of the issues that can arise in trying to forge your own identity and create fulfilling relationships while embracing the most meaningful aspects of your culture. I love working with children of immigrants trying to navigate intergenerational family dynamics or cultural conflicts in a way that feels best for you.

All of us are conditioned by our surroundings — our families, communities, societies, culture — without exceptions. No matter your creed, gender, colour, etc., we carry experiences from our past, tinted by the world around us. Understanding who we are requires understanding these influences; otherwise, we cannot tease out who we are at our "core," from what we've been taught. Even if there is overlap, there is also a difference! I look forward to sifting through the layers with you.

I think it will be most meaningful to include a real patient review: “Dr. Ambardar has tremendous insight into personal & collective trauma & the impact of ancestral trauma on a person's life. It is not often you come across a professional who has an in-depth understanding of collective trauma & its impact on an individual's life. Her work & her insights have been supportive in my own healing journey. I highly recommend anyone wanting to connect with their ancestral histories to work with Dr. A"

Culture plays a large role in how we express ourselves, how we are viewed by others, and how we experience our every day life.

I work with clients in a collaborative relationship to identify goals for therapy and treatment or growth plan. Together, we will identify what will be helpful, to explore how you relate to yourself (your thoughts, feelings, body, identity), the context within which you live, and how the heck to manage the societal structures we have to navigate. As a therapist I aim to practice with cultural humility, and will educate myself on topics important to you.

Culture informs how we view and understand our values and others around us. It's important to integrate that into therapy, as well as for your therapist to respect and understand your perspective.

We strive to provide culturally responsive and affirming services that are sensitive to the unique needs and challenges faced by marginalized communities, including Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and to gender, sexuality or relationship minorities. In our clinical work, we utilize an intersectional, culturally-grounded approach to understand dynamics of power, privilege, and oppression that have shaped our clients identities and lived experiences.

Culturally sensitive therapy emphasizes the therapist's understanding of a client’s background, ethnicity, and belief system. Therapists can incorporate cultural sensitivity into their work to accommodate and respect differences in opinions, values, and attitudes of various cultures and different types of people.

Having lived in different countries and engaged in my own self-growth with a therapist, I’ve grown to see the world through various different lenses. I believe this makes me uniquely equipped to help individuals navigate their journey in therapy, especially the LGBTQ+ community. Every person deserves to live a full, authentic life without fear of judgment or exclusion, and that’s what I’m focused on with my clients.

I use a culturally sensitive lens to allow clients to be the experts in their own lives, as coming from a place of non-judgement and understanding.

I believe that we all see the world through our own cultural lens. Being allowed to learn about a client's world and belief systems is a truly humbling experience. With my experience as a former diversity coordinator coupled with being aware of the various cultural stipulations that exist in society allows me to provide you with the necessary and relevant interventions that would not only be respectful to your beliefs but also catered towards the system we are a part of.

Culturally humble and affirming, I am sensitive to the many barriers people face before coming to see me. I recognize the systemic oppressions and -isms that affect our lives, the social determinants of health which affect our access to supportive care, as well as the strength and resilience of marginalized communities. I am affirming of and celebrate the beautiful diversity of the human experience - you can be all of yourself with me!

Completed multiple trainings in providing culturally responsive treatment across a variety of settings to include children, adults, adolescents of multiple ethnicities.