Ruby Pina

Living with bipolar can sometimes feel like you are multiple different people trying to steer the same ship. It is exhausting. And let's be honest: when you finally stabilize, it is completely normal to actually miss the energy and productivity of those highs. You aren't bad for feeling that way. We will work on managing the extreme shifts, grieving the parts of the highs you miss, and building a stable life that doesn't feel boring.

I don't just treat anxiety; I live with it. As a chronic overthinker and recovering people-pleaser, I know exactly what it feels like to have your brain running at 100mph while you smile and pretend everything is fine. You don't need a therapist to give you a generic deep-breathing worksheet. You need a safe place to unmask, drop the heavy armor, and learn how to actually regulate your nervous system. Let's quiet the noise together.

I spent years working in a forensic hospital treating severe substance abuse and mental illness, so believe me when I say: nothing you bring into my office will shock me. Addiction isn't a moral failing; it's usually just a desperate attempt to survive and numb out pain. I offer a fiercely non-judgmental, zero-shame environment. Whether you are actively struggling, in recovery, or just questioning your relationship with substances, we will tackle the root causes together.

CBT sometimes gets a bad rap for being too clinical or worksheet-heavy. I don't do boring worksheets. Instead, we use CBT to actively untangle chronic overthinking. We will look at the exhausting stories you tell yourself (like "I have to fix everything or people will leave me") and rewire those thought loops so you can break out of survival mode and finally find some mental peace.

My absolute favorite therapy phrase is "Two things can be true." That is the core of DBT: you can be deeply struggling AND completely capable of building a beautiful life. I use DBT to help you navigate massive emotional storms. We will focus on real-world skills for distress tolerance, setting fierce boundaries, and regulating your nervous system when everything feels way too intense.

Humans are far too complex for a one-size-fits-all, cookie-cutter approach. Eclectic therapy simply means that I adapt to exactly what you need in the room on any given day. Sometimes you need practical coping skills, sometimes we need to process deep attachment wounds, and sometimes you just need a fiercely safe space to swear and messy cry. We tailor the therapy to fit YOU, not the other way around.