Rachel Garcia LPC, NCC

Starting with a new therapist is hard.

It feels scary beginning a journey of healing with a stranger you’ve never met. I want to make that process as gentle and as easy as possible, because you deserve it.

Imagine sitting down with someone where you don’t have to filter who you are or what you say. You aren’t responsible for the emotions of the person in front of you - all you have to do is simply show up, and be you, trusting that your therapist will do the same. The environment is safe, open, and judgement free, with every part of who you are invited and celebrated.

Authenticity is everything.

As a neurodiverse, deep-feeling human, I know what it’s like to exist in a world that wasn’t created by or for people like us; to always feel like you’re just outside the circle, a little too much, but never quite enough. My goal is to make sure you never feel that way with me. With a primary focus in ADHD, Autism, and trauma amongst Queer and hetero adults, I am deeply passionate about curating a space that accommodates and celebrates all parts of who we are, so that we no longer feel the need to soften our edges or mask our real selves, just to belong. I promise to never check my authentic self at the door, and I will always invite you to do the same. 

The space is collaborative. 

Even though there is a professional in the room, YOU are the expert on you. Your values, your emotions, your identity, your story, - they make sense. You make sense. And you will always be believed. The interventions and modalities integrated into the process are curated to best fit you. There is no one size-fits-all; with me, your preferences and autonomy will always be valued.

Healing is possible.

Regardless of where you have been or what you have done, you deserve healing. From a trauma-informed and multicultural lens, we will take a look at your story to get the whole picture. You and I will establish a space that fosters a transformational connection through a relational encounter, providing us with true, lasting change. That means that everything we do, will flow from the relationship we create.

Once safety and rapport are established, we will dive deeper to understand more of who you are and what you have experienced. Through a Somatic Experiencing approach, we will begin to learn your nervous system, discover the patterns it has learned in survival, and establish helpful rhythms to untangle the trauma that’s been stored deep in your bones. We will work together to build accommodations that support who you are and where you are, so that your body can finally learn what it feels like to be safe. We will identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, rewire our focus from capability to sustainability, and deepen skills in communication, processing, and emotional regulation. My goal is to help you discover the best versions of yourself from a place of gentleness, not shame, because you deserve good things.

Human first, therapist second.

This space doesn’t need to be a cold, clinical box of diagnoses and pathology; it’s relational, it’s real, it’s whatever you need it to be. We may laugh together, cry together, go on tangents about the unjust political system, try out my new office fidgets, get side-tracked a million times discussing your hyperfixations, or spend the first half of a session catching up on workplace gossip. We may need to set boundaries to stay focused, or redirect conversations to get back on track, but I will never force you to fake it or be someone you’re not. I will be silly and I will be serious, I will challenge and champion you, I will call out unhelpful patterns but with gentleness and positive regard, and I will always, always believe you. I will show up fully as myself, and I hope you will too.