About me
I am a first-generation Cuban American and a native Miamian. I come from a lineage of only daughters, spanning four generations. My great-grandmother and grandmother were widowed a month apart in 1967 when Mami was 17 and only 5 years after having arrived in the United States. Soon after Mami met my father ( a textbook narcissist and abuser but he offered her an out from the emotional abuse and neglect at home) had me, and was divorced by 33. The in-betweens and overall story are both tragic and magical but long, so I’ll hit fast forward to the moral of the story…
We are a family of proud, hard-working, strong-ass women. I absorbed the values of hard work, perseverance, and self-sacrifice like a sponge. Yet, in the midst of this strength, I also learned to navigate between being seen and being silent to avoid unas buenas nalgadas. I learned to be obedient, to suppress my opinions, not ask for too much, and to shrink myself to fit into my family’s mold of what una hija buena was.
For a long time, I believed this mixed messaging was unique. Now I know that us Latinx women are perpetually attempting to find an impossible balance between being palatable for our families, and for society while figuring out the ways of being good enough, successful enough, impressive enough, and "show-off-able" enough so we are worthy of the sacrifices our families made
In the backdrop, my great-grandmother was my primary caretaker - Mami and my grandmother worked full time so Abuela was responsible for me. She taught me all the things that would make me a good, Cuban woman – cooking, cleaning, how to echar un buen partido de domino, and a strong faith. A 3 tiered altar of Saints, clear glasses of water, and perpetual burning candles were the centerpiece of her room. I learned the importance of prayer and spiritual cleansing through her daily ritual of bendiciones when I got home from school. Yet, beneath the surface, there was a veil of secrecy surrounding all our spiritual practices. Any question I had was answered with a stern look and a "¡niña, eso no se pregunta!"
As I got older, the more secretive everyone became. I watched as they participated in consultas espirituales, had cartas and caracoles read, took baños de flores blancas and yet shut out from understanding our practices fully. I quickly learned that anything having to do with my beliefs had to be held in secret and as a result, I became increasingly disconnected from my spiritual roots, hiding my gifts and grappling with a growing sense of fear and distrust. I could not be seen and I was on my own to figure this out.
Although not always evident, choosing this career path saved my life. I was highly successful throughout grad school, and through years of agency work, spending nearly 20 years thriving in persistent crisis management. I lived on autopilot, feeling either nothing or utter rage, self-soothing with everything and anything I could find. I was overwhelmed, empty, confused, and had lost all trust in myself. I sacrificed everything – my relationships, my family, and my Self, but your girl was proud. Everyone was proud!
But amidst the chaos and confusion, there was a glimmer of hope—a lifeline that would ultimately save me. In 2016, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery through Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy. Those six days of soul-searching opened doors I never knew existed and changed the course of my life, leading me back to myself and to the wisdom of my ancestors. Soon after I started the corresponding 2-year internship and began on the road back to my true Self – treading through the pain and grief my Inner Child had been holding, allowing me to acknowledge my deepest needs and learning the ways to truly be present in my life. I began to heal my wounds, slowly regaining trust in myself. The veil between me and the spiritual realm grew thinner, my intuition became clearer, and soon I found myself guided by the messages from my Guides and Ancestors. I was finding my way home as I realigned with my Soul’s purpose.
It was then that I realized my calling—to guide Latinx women on their own journey of healing and self-discovery. With authenticity and intuition as my compass, I embarked on a mission to help others reclaim what they had lost and bear witness to their healing, across generations and lifetimes. Within six months of completing my internship, I took a leap of faith into full-time private practice, ready to rewrite the narrative for myself and for others.
And so, here I am—a beacon of hope, a healer, and a witness to the transformative power of reclaiming one's roots. My journey is far from over, but I walk this path with courage, conviction, and an unwavering belief in the resilience of the human spirit.
In this sacred space, you will find the freedom to desire something different for yourself. As you gain clarity in your relationships, you will be empowered to establish and honor the boundaries that safeguard your well-being. With compassion and courage, we will navigate your family’s expectations as you lovingly release the burden of obligation to them. We will also explore and challenge the societal norms and systemic oppressions that have shaped our lives, reclaiming our autonomy from the grip of cultural conditioning. Through this journey, I'll gently guide you back to your Inner Child, where healing and light await. It's within this nurturing embrace that you'll rediscover the art of slowing down, creating space to reconnect with your intuition, and embracing the fullness of your authentic self.
EDUCATION
I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Religious Studies from Florida International University, where I later pursued my graduate studies. At FIU, I earned a Masters in Counselor Education - Mental Health Counseling Track.
Continuing my education, I completed a two-year advanced training in clinical hypnotherapy through The Wellness Institute. This comprehensive program equipped me with expertise in Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy, Energetic Psychodrama, Heart-Centered Breath Therapy, and healing intergenerational and past life trauma. I am certified as an Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapist.
Additionally, I hold certification as a Third Degree Reiki Master and have completed Integral Breath Therapy, Level 1 through Integration Concepts. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Qualified Clinical Supervisor in the State of Florida, I offer supervision in individual, dyad, and group modalities. Bilingual in English and Spanish, I am committed to providing comprehensive support to individuals of diverse backgrounds.