Bilingual therapy for Latinas navigating anxiety, burnout and guilt in New York City, New York.
Find your voice, come home to yourself.
Has this ever happened to you?
It’s 6 pm and you’re home, settling in after a demanding work day.
Your mom’s phone number lights up on your screen and your stomach tightens.
You look up at the ceiling, exhale loudly and answer.
Your cousin needs help filling out a form.
You’ve been filling out forms since you were in junior high school. You’re so tired of this.
Your family doesn’t understand that this form adds to the pile of responsibilities you’re already managing. This is a different kind of work that follows you when you least expect it.
You feel torn. You don’t want your cousin to think you don’t want to help. You worry about how she’ll complete the form, knowing she doesn’t speak English. You don’t want your mother to think you’re cold-hearted.
You grit your teeth and respond in a monotone:
“Ok. Tell her to meet me on Saturday.”
You feel like you’ve just abandoned yourself to keep the peace — and your reputation. Even worse: these phone calls will keep coming because you’re the one who speaks English, the one who went to college.
This feels like a no-win situation (for you).
You love your family, but sometimes you feel like a resource, and it’s draining you.
You wonder: “Why does helping everyone always seem to come at my expense? Why does saying “no” make me feel like a bad daughter?”
Welcome to the emotional tension many first-generation Latinas carry every day.
You feel angry, guilty & stuck.
You have bicultural whiplash. Navigating two cultures has meant bargaining with two sets of opposing values.
Your Latinx culture prioritizes group harmony, and being of service and agreeable. American culture values independence, being outspoken and taking risks.
No wonder you’re tired.
Does this sound familiar?
You feel guilty for earning more money than your relatives.
You hide your good news out of fear that you’ll outshine them.
You’re exhausted by your family’s requests that you help them solve problems — all while working full-time in a break-neck world.
You don’t talk about your Latina side with your American side because you’re afraid they’ll look down on you.
Many of the women who work with me are tired of being “the strong one. They’re problem solvers, high achievers and committed to their families.
From the outside, their lives look organized and right on track.
Privately, they’re exhausted and anxious from carrying the weight of two worlds — their Latinx roots and upbringing in the United States.
In therapy, we create room so you can finally breathe and think without pressure. We acknowledge how complex it is to belong to two cultures.
My approach is warm, collaborative and culturally attuned. With me, you don’t have to abandon your family. Instead, we’ll unpack the reasons why you feel guilty and anxious. I’ll help you create healthy boundaries and honor your needs. Together, we’ll clarify what’s important to you and center you as the protagonist of your own story.
Before becoming a therapist, I spent more than a decade as a newspaper reporter, telling the stories of people whose voices were marginalized. I bring that same motivation to therapy. I listen deeply, offer you the best of my therapeutic tools and respect the complexity of your life. You’re the heroine and I’m your guide.
You won’t have to translate your cultural experience for me — I’ve walked the walk.
I’m Monica, a therapist in New York City who works with first-generation Latinas navigating anxiety, burnout and guilt.
You deserve understanding, connection and depth.
Together, we'll unpack your guilt.
I’ll help you embrace yourself exactly as you are.
Specializing in…
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There’s so much love between you and your family, but some pieces just don’t fit.
You remember the gossiping and financial scorekeeping when you were growing up.
You learned to say as little as possible, but it came at a cost — your voice.
Now, you’re ready to stop hiding and own your gifts.
Therapy with me can help you honor your needs without rejecting your family.
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Losing your loved one has changed you forever, but the people around you don’t understand this.
They hint that they want the old you back. They seem uncomfortable when you talk about your loved one.
Your grief deserves to be witnessed. Your loved one mattered — they helped shape you in important ways.
Grief therapy can hep you make sense of your loss. In therapy with me, you don’t have to censor yourself. Come as you are.
Contact me
Let’s begin your journey toward authenticity and self-trust, one session at a time.
I’ll help you find your voice and integrate your Latina and American identities.
Through therapy, you’ll create a balanced relationship with your family that reflects who you really are.
You’ll learn to trust yourself and feel empowered (llegó Fefita!)
How it Works
01
Reach out
Schedule a free, 15-minute phone consultation.
I’ll answer your questions so that you can be sure we’re a good fit.
02
Get to work
We’ll meet once a week over video as you recover from burnout.
You’ll create healthy boundaries and finally feel comfortable being your bicultural self.
03
See change
Imagine becoming the main character in your own story.
Picture yourself saying "no” to draining requests so that you can protect your energy.
With my support and tools, this kind of transformation is wholly accessible.
If you’re ready to begin thriving, I invite you to take the first step.
Find your voice.
Start thriving.
Find your voice. Start thriving.