Family Therapy in 95073

We live in an unprecedented time of change, uncertainty and concern for our present and future well-being. The times we find ourselves in can make it even more challenging to deal with our own individual and family challenges and sometimes leave us feeling overwhelmed, anxious and depressed.

After 25 years of hearing from clients that I help them to grow, change and solve the problems that bring them into therapy, I take pride in being a caring, compassionate and skilled therapist. Research has demonstrated that successful therapy depends upon the relationship between the therapist and the client. You can trust me to respect you, understand you and guide you in a collaborative therapeutic process. You can safely bring your frustrations, sadness, anxiety, shame or other feelings into therapy as we work through them in ways that improve your happiness and sense of well being.

Sometimes life presents seemingly overwhelming challenges. Answers to these questions lie within us. I can help you find solutions drawn from your own innate wholeness, wisdom and intelligence. Working together we can make significant steps along this journey to greater well being and more satisfying relationships. Allow me to accompany, guide and support you along your way. I bring over 30 years of professional experience and training in addictions, couples work, LBGT issues and trauma recovery to our sessions. I offer humor, empathy, a highly engaged style and a deep respect for the courage, resources and depth of each person.

I work with couples with challenging relationship issues (including infidelity). I work with teenagers and their families (including various "addictions" drug/alc, computer/video games, social media, pornography). I work with people who have been sexually and physically abused. I work with people experiencing grief and loss. I work with couples and individuals who are conflict avoidant and provide skills to work through conflict. I also work with family of origin unresolved hurt and trauma. I help identify the origin of auto-pilot buttons and defenses. Lastly, self-esteem and personal growth challenges. Change is hard not impossible.

Relationships are hard, especially when we are carrying uncomfortable feelings about ourselves and others. It is useful to untangle what you would like and develop an outcome that meets your needs. Then, life will seem easier, and relationships will go more smoothly. It is helpful to identify the early imprints, the parts that are struggling to protect us and to bring trauma to a place where it is simply a memory. Beliefs that have been around forever about us need to be examined and updated.

Do you feel a sense of disconnection in your relationships? Are you considering divorce or frustrated with your co-parenting relationship? Therapy is a place where you can take a much needed pause from the stresses you face, and explore your inner world and your relationships. I can help you identify what needs attention so you can feel better and more connected to the important people in your life.

Welcome! My name is Heather Rodriguez, and I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with over 10 years of experience working with teens, at-risk youth, adults, parents, and families. I help with issues like Depression, Anxiety, Sexual abuse/trauma, Sexual Identity, Stress, Grief, Trauma, Relationships, Self-Harm, and Coping Skills. I incorporate many modalities including Crisis Intervention, Solution Focused Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Psychodynamic therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I recognize that seeking therapy is a difficult decision, and I am proud of you for taking the first step!

Humans are creatures of habit, but not all habits support us in being the best versions of ourselves. Want to feel better? Want to do better? Want to feel like you are thriving and not just surviving? Learn more tools for speaking, listening, feeling, experiencing and healing. Feel more calm and increase your sense of connection to yourself, family and friends. Learn how fear can be overcome through strategic action and utilizing growth mindset strategies.

From a spiritual reality, I believe that we humans are "gems of inestimable value". Coming to therapy to learn about your own gem-like nature is an act of courage. I ask curious questions and wonder about non-verbal signals, so that you may safely explore the depth and breadth of your own nature. My background is in Process Oriented Psychology (with Jungian roots) and Developmental Psychology. I'm excited to include Internal Family Systems and Intimacy from the Inside Out. I'm passionate about helping you discover your inside parts and access your own Self energy to aid you in your healing journey

Entering into the right therapeutic relationship is the first step toward healing and change. Working collaboratively we will explore the origins of any problems or pain you have be struggling with, at a pace that is safe and comfortable for you. As mental and emotional material is explored, the ability to experience greater freedom and enjoyment in your relationships, work, and family life will become more readily accessible and tangible in daily life.

Are you frustrated with the amount of anxiety you feel on a daily basis? Is anxiety getting in the way of living your life? Or maybe your child's anxiety is causing your family stress. I can help! I view anxiety as treatable and provide effective and time-limited therapy to children, adolescents and adults. I LOVE helping anxious people lead more value-oriented (and less fearful!) lives. I have been seeing therapy patients for over a decade, using scientifically-based, cognitive-behavioral (CBT) approaches. I use my background in clinical neuroscience to deliver cutting-edge treatment for anxiety.

Do you get the feeling that there are parts of yourself that are blocking you from the life you want to live? Do you feel like you over-react to common things? Do you sometimes feel that you just can't get past your past? I offer an opportunity for you to change how you see yourself. Challenges can be seen as opportunities for growth. Aspects of the self and experiences that are feared can be understood as windows to greater wisdom. Through this healing, past wounds are seen as openings for understanding to grow.

Native American cultures believe a decision today will impact the next seven generations. I work to keep past traumas and unwanted patterns from impacting your life now and in the future. I specialize in trauma resolution (using EMDR and Flash Technique), managing anxiety/stress, personalizing interventions to improve school experiences, and improving family dynamics. Working with children ages 10 and older.

Would you like to live a more fulfilled life with meaningful relationships? Do you want to make more sense of your life and your role in it? You have taken the first step! Finding the right therapist can be scary and confusing. I believe that a personal connection is the corner stone to a successful therapeutic experience. Sometimes traumatic events can bring us to lose our sense of well-being and our center and we need help regaining them. I am honored to support you on your path to regain a greater sense of yourself. I love working with adults, adolescents and couples.

Laying awake at night, not knowing how much longer you can hang on. The job, the kids, the family, etc. is just too much sometimes. There's an urge to escape. Then...the solution becomes the problem. Alcohol and drugs help relieve the stress. The stress is still there, but it seems manageable. There is just one problem...keeping the stress manageable means continuing to drink or use. Not knowing where to turn. How to ask for help? Who to ask for help? What does help even look like? Feeling alone. Looking in the mirror is not a good option because the person looking back is a stranger.

I believe that therapy is a partnership between the therapist and you, the client. I will work with you to support the process of growth and discovery as well as to work toward the goals which brought you to therapy. In my work with couples, individuals, families, and children, I use a strengths based, collaborative approach. Whether you want to improve your relationships, learn new coping skills, develop your parenting skills, or work toward other personal goals, I encourage you to give me a call so we can develop a plan which will work for you.

I am a licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice in Santa Cruz, CA. I provide psychotherapy for individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, women's issues, perinatal/postpartum challenges, infertility, trauma recovery, and career struggles/transitions. I work with couples who may be struggling with communication, intimacy, and overall dissatisfaction with their current relationship dynamics. I also facilitate groups for postpartum challenges, parenting and body image. Please view my website for detailed and current information regarding my practice at www.sunmindtherapy.com

This is not always easy work. Exploring trauma, sadness, anxiousness, fear, doubt, insecurities, change, and more can be challenging and even scary. So much has shifted in our world, it feels as if it has also unearthed new chances to also allow ourselves to grow. I imagine that’s why you’re here, searching for ways to connect with and support these parts of yourself, or to help a younger loved one do so. In my work, I choose to employ curiosity and acceptance, informed by models such as Internal Family Systems, to gently lean into change and healing at the client's pace.

I am a compassionate, empathetic, engaging, and challenging therapist. I utilize the many disciplines I have integrated over the almost 30 years of practicing as a Licensed, Marriage, Family therapist. I am also a Certified Addiction Specialist #C-4020. I tailor treatment to each individual, couple, and family. I will help guide you on your journey of change.