Introduction:
Thank you for being here! My name is Stephanie and I am a bilingual, Spanish and English speaking, Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I provide therapy and Immigration Psychological Evaluation Services virtually throughout California. I decided to start this blog in order to bring more awareness to mental health related topics and to share mental health related resources.
Why “Rooted to Rise”?
It took me quite a while to land on a name for this blog. Ultimately, this is the message I hope to share with you: We were all rooted to rise.
Through both my work and my own personal experiences, I have come to witness that we are all built to rise. Our life experiences shape who we are, often influencing the way we see ourselves, others, and the world around us. They also deeply impact how we show up in relationship with ourselves and with others. When we encounter adversity in our lives, it is through understanding and healing that we learn to rise again and again.
I know that my experiences have shaped me and influenced my career choices. I cannot speak about my own path without speaking about my brother’s, because in many ways, mine would not exist without his. His life has been a source of both profound pain and profound strength. Though he was often absent during my childhood, I never doubted his love. I believe that the connection we built in those early years, the formative moments we shared, left an imprint that still endures.
Just as our bodies carry trauma, they also carry the love we experience. As Bessel van der Kolk says, “the body keeps the score,” right?
It was through this deep and complex connection that I found my way into the field of mental health. I was able to transform pain into strength, and that strength into purpose.
Through this journey, I have encountered and continue to encounter beautiful souls, those I have had the privilege of serving as a therapist, and mentors who have shaped and guided me through their knowledge, time, patience, and love.
While therapy is not the only way we come to understand ourselves and heal, through this blog, I hope to share the knowledge, resources, and reflections that have shaped my understanding of the healing process from both personal experience and a therapist’s perspective.
There is one constant I have found through this work, a truth that exists within all of us: we are all seeking clarity and understanding of our experiences. It is through that clarity and understanding that we create a sense of belonging, a very human need that we are looking to fulfill. It is often through this process that we are able to rise when we fall, and we are reminded that:
WE WERE ALL ROOTED TO RISE.
