Alessa Castillo

Relationships aren't easy! Relationships involve multiple people who have different backgrounds, opinions, beliefs, and perceptions. That often means that there may be miscommunication and in turn, conflict. If you need relationship help or you're interested in gaining better insight into your relationship difficulties, couples counseling can help you rebuild the core foundations of your relationship.

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based practice, proven effective to help individuals recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences. EMDR therapy is an eight-phase treatment including 1.) history and treatment plan, 2.) preparation, 3.) assessment, 4.) desensitization, 5.) installation, 6.) body scan, 7.) closure, and 8.) reevaluation.

I have worked with unaccompanied minors/refugees and their families, along with adults, couples, and youth who identify as minorities. I understand firsthand some of the challenges and barriers that minority individuals face when it comes to mental health and work extensively to help break down those challenges and barriers while helping individuals live happier, more fulfilling, and healthier lives.

I work with individuals who have experienced childhood trauma, abusive relationships with family members, friends, romantic partners, or other types of trauma. I have experience in conducting EMDR which is a therapy model that helps to heal from trauma. As an EMDR trained clinician, I look at PTSD as something that can be healed from.

Depression is a mental health disorder that affects mood, including how you feel, think, and behave. Everyone feels sad sometimes, but if it starts to affect your ability to perform daily tasks and your ability to enjoy things that typically bring you happiness, you may be suffering from depression.

There are things that are yours, and things passed down, but sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference. Trauma comes from somewhere. It is often tied to family, community, and national history. It is often rooted in the long and many-faceted systemic oppression that causes so much trauma.