I’m Jessica, a Latina first-gen college and master’s graduate and daughter of immigrants
Welcome!
There’s a weird moment that happens in this stage of life—when you finally have more freedom, more independence, and more choices… and instead of feeling confident or excited, you feel lost.
I know that feeling all too well. I remember feeling liberated to finally be living the life I dreamed of, but what hit me like a ton of bricks was not knowing where to go or who I was. Like, Okay… now what? Who am I without the dysfunction, dynamics, rules I’ve always known? And if you’re a first-gen like me, there’s a unique experience of navigating life and doing all the firsts in your family.
This season can be full of possibility—and also really confusing, lonely, and emotionally heavy in ways that don’t always make sense.
You might be going to college, living away from home for the first time, figuring out who you are outside of your family, navigating new friendships or dating, entering the job market or starting your career, or noticing old family stuff and emotional patterns coming up now that there’s more space to think and feel.
A lot of young adults I work with say things like:
“I thought I’d feel happier by now.”
“I’m not good enough”
“Everyone else seems to know what they’re doing, and I don’t.”
“If I say no, will they be be mad at me?”
“What will my family say?”
“I can deal with it. Other people have it worse.”
“What if I’m just being dramatic?”
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and it doesn’t mean anything is wrong with you. Feeling anxious, stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure can be a really normal response to big transitions, pressure, and unspoken expectations. Having support can make it feel less overwhelming.
My Approach
My approach to therapy with young adults is deeply shaped by my lived experience as a first-generation college and graduate student and Latina. I know firsthand how complex and isolating it can feel to navigate higher education, identity, and family expectations all at once. College and young adulthood often mean holding multiple worlds, cultures, and responsibilities, and that understanding informs how I show up in the therapy space.
I approach therapy with cultural humility and curiosity. I don’t assume I know your experience based on shared or different identities, and I remain attentive to what is unique to you.
Above all, my goal is to create a space where you feel respected, understood, and safe bringing your full self. I don’t aim to fit you into a box, but to work collaboratively in a way that honors the systems you move through, the strengths you carry, and the realities of your everyday life.
My work is rooted in social justice, attachment and nervous system awareness. Together, we explore how early relationships, family dynamics, and societal systems shape how you relate to yourself and others, while also focusing on what helps you feel more grounded day to day. I integrate gentle somatic and nervous system approaches to support stress regulation, alongside DBT-informed skills that offer practical tools for emotional balance and mindfulness.
What other professionals say about Jessica