Desiree Gonzales

You’ve been carrying a lot for a long time, and it’s started to shape the way you see yourself. Maybe anxiety feels constant, like your mind won’t slow down, or you find yourself stuck in patterns that feel impossible to break. You might feel hopeless at times, disconnected, or like you’ve never truly had a voice, especially if you grew up in spaces where your needs weren’t fully seen or heard. If substance use has touched your life, yourself or a loved one, you may feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or unsure of how to move forward. Wherever you are right now, I want you to know I see you and you don’t have to hold all of this alone.

I show up as a real, genuine person in the counseling room; someone who is here to understand you, not judge you. My role isn’t to “fix” you, but to walk alongside you as you begin to make sense of your experiences and reconnect with yourself. I’ll meet you with curiosity, compassion, and respect for your story, your culture, and the systems that have shaped you. I may ask questions you’ve never been asked before to gently open up new ways of understanding yourself. Together, we’ll create a space where you can feel safe enough to be honest, explore, and begin to find your voice.

I feel deeply connected to working with people in their mid-20s to mid-30s who are navigating trauma, anxiety, and the impact of substance use. Using approaches like EMDR, Kniffley Racial Trauma Therapy, Multi-Dimensional Family Therapy and other trauma-informed therapies, I help you process what you’ve been holding so you can move forward in a way that feels meaningful and lasting. Our work will focus on helping you rebuild your sense of self, strengthen your confidence, set boundaries, and shift the beliefs that have kept you feeling stuck. I truly believe there are real, tangible ways to create change; ways that help you feel more grounded, more empowered, and more like yourself again. You deserve to have a voice, to ask for what you need, and to build relationships that feel safe and fulfilling. I would be honored to support you in getting there.