My Approach to Helping
Hello! I’m so glad you’ve taken this step toward self-reflection, growth, and healing. I’m Patricia Alvarado, and I bring over a decade of experience working with children, teens, and adults in the helping profession. My approach is grounded in a multicultural perspective, ensuring that I understand your unique needs through active listening, empathy, and a non-judgmental lens.
I specialize in EMDR, CBT, Solution-Focused Treatment, and Mindfulness, which allows me to address your needs in the present moment and build a strong, trusting therapeutic relationship.
With a focus on trauma treatment, anxiety, depression, mindfulness, and substance abuse, I use EMDR to help desensitize and reprocess negative thoughts, distinguishing it from traditional talk therapy by minimizing re-traumatization.
Our practice is committed to making mental health services accessible, which is why we offer exclusively online therapy through a HIPAA-secure video platform. This setup enables us to work closely together on both your short-term and long-term goals during each session. While online therapy might feel unfamiliar at first, I encourage you to try it—you might be surprised at just how effective and powerful it can be.
More Info About My Practice
Our primary focus is on understanding the underlying issues that lead to stress and maladaptive behaviors. Through active listening, empathy, and a non-judgmental approach, my aim is to build a trusting therapeutic relationship with you. My background includes volunteering on the Suicide Prevention Hotline, working in various shelters in Los Angeles, including the Downtown Women's Shelter, and participating in community mental health efforts. These experiences allow me to bring diverse perspectives to our exploration of your personal journey.
My Therapy Focus
EMDR therapy is a key part of our approach, and whether you?re familiar with it or it?s new to you (which is perfectly fine!), I want to clarify: EMDR is not hypnotherapy. You stay fully awake, aware, and in control throughout the process.
If you?re unfamiliar with EMDR, I recommend searching "What is EMDR therapy" on YouTube or visiting my Instagram @alvaradotherapy, where I?ve pinned a video explaining it in detail.
EMDR is a powerful tool for challenging negative beliefs. I integrated it into my practice after noticing the difficulty of ending sessions with clients still feeling hopeless, especially when dealing with trauma. EMDR therapy has since brought a transformative element to my work.
By incorporating eye movements (yes, your eyes moving back and forth), we focus on acknowledging and exploring your challenges while identifying adaptive, positive beliefs. EMDR is supported by specific coping skills that help you manage intense emotions during and between sessions.
Though EMDR is not an easy therapy, it effectively helps contain intense emotions, allowing you to continue with your day despite the deep work we do. If you have any questions, please reach out?this is my favorite topic to discuss!
Had a Negative Therapy Experience?
I've heard this sentiment before, and it?s truly disheartening. In therapy, it?s essential to remember that this journey is entirely yours. While some moments might feel uncomfortable as we explore different issues, my hope is that you feel comfortable enough to speak up when something doesn?t feel right. At the end of each session, I always ask what you?ve gained, serving as an ongoing check-in. Given the deep processing we do, it?s vital to me that you feel at ease as we prepare for our next appointment.
If you?ve had a negative therapy experience in the past, let?s talk about it and work through it together. I?ve been there too, and I understand just how crucial the therapeutic relationship is.
Clinicians who offer sliding scale payment structures may offer lower or reduced fees based on an individual's ability to pay. Please contact this clinician for more details regarding their fees or sliding scale policy.
