My Credentials
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with Mental Health Service Provider designation (LPC-MHSP) in the state of Tennessee and a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S). I received a Master of science in Clinical Psychology from the Universidad de Tarapacá, and a Master of Arts in Social-Community Psychology from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
I am a native of Chile but I moved to the US in my 20’s and have ample experience navigating the multicultural issues that accompany assimilating to a new culture.
Over the past 28 years, my work in the mental health field has allowed me to walk alongside children, adults, and families as they navigate challenges, growth, and healing.
My Philosophy
My philosophy begins with the belief that clients ( children and adults) thrive when they feel truly seen and understood. Rather than focusing only on correcting behavior, I seek to understand the emotional meaning beneath it. By slowing down, observing carefully, and reflecting what clients communicate through talk and play, I create space for them to explore their feelings and develop a stronger sense of themselves.
When clients feel safe enough to express their emotions and experiences, growth, confidence, and resilience begin to emerge naturally. Through my work with adults, I have observed that many of the same principles hold true. By creating space for reflection and emotional exploration, adults are often able to reconnect with and heal aspects of their inner child.
I am a believer in the power of play!
Play is the natural language of childhood. Through play, children express their worries, hopes, fears, and questions about the world around them.
What makes your approach Unique?
What sets my work apart is the way I focus on understanding the meaning behind a child’s behavior rather than just addressing the behavior itself. Children communicate through play, imagination, and subtle actions long before they have the words to explain their feelings. In my reflective approach, I observe and listen carefully, then mirror back what I notice—helping children make sense of their emotions in a way that feels safe and validating.
This reflective process is what allows therapy to go beyond coping strategies or surface-level behavior management. It helps children develop emotional awareness, resilience, and confidence, while giving parents insight into their child’s inner world.
Every client is seen as an individual with a unique story, and therapy is tailored to honor that story. By slowing down, noticing, and reflecting, we create space for children to explore, understand, and integrate their feelings—ultimately fostering growth that lasts well beyond the therapy room.
What is most important in Therapy?
At the heart of all therapy is the relationship. The connection between a child and their therapist forms the foundation for trust, safety, and growth. Without this sense of safety, children cannot fully explore their feelings, express themselves, or take the emotional risks that lead to understanding and resilience.
Is Play therapy for everyone, Including Adults?
Yes. Play is not just for children. It is a natural way for humans of all ages to explore feelings, process experiences, and express what cannot easily be put into words. In my work with adults, I have found that the same principles that guide play therapy with children often hold true: reflection, creative expression, and safe exploration create opportunities for healing and growth.
For adults, play can take many forms—art, storytelling, movement, symbolic activities, or guided imaginative exercises. These experiences allow adults to reconnect with parts of themselves that may have been overlooked or unheard, including aspects of their inner child. Through play, adults can process emotions, release tension, and gain insight into patterns that influence their present lives.
What is your favorite Play therapy intervention for Adults?
One of my favorite ways to work with adults is Sandplay therapy. Using miniature figures and a tray of sand, adults can create small, symbolic scenes that express feelings, experiences, and inner conflicts that are difficult to put into words.
Sandplay provides a safe, creative space for reflection, insight, and emotional processing. It allows adults to reconnect with their inner world, explore unresolved experiences, and access new perspectives—all through the natural language of play.