Hello there! I’m CJ, your friendly neighborhood therapist.

I’m so glad you found us here at Raíces Healing Collective!

I imagine you’re thinking about embarking on your therapy journey, so let me tell you a little bit about myself to help break the ice.

I am a Florida native, born and raised in the beautiful and vibrant city of Miami. Over the years, I’ve bounced around the state and finally landed in Jacksonville. I am a second-generation immigrant of Puerto Rican and Ecuadorian heritage, and I wear it with pride!

My undergraduate years were spent at the University of Florida - GO GATORS! During that time, I studied Psychology and Family, Youth, and Community Sciences, earning a Bachelor of Science. After wetting my toes in community mental health for a few years, I decided to pursue my graduate program at Florida State University. I received a Master of Science and Education Specialist degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

I became a therapist because I have witnessed the power of having someone in your corner during life’s toughest moments - one who truly sees you and believes in you. I believe that sometimes what we need is a steady presence and voice reminding us that we matter and we are not alone. I am especially passionate about holding space for those who feel marginalized or unseen. Everyone deserves to feel accepted, supported, and heard.

My specialties are:
Complex Trauma and PTSD
Intimate Partner Recovery
Religious Trauma and Faith Deconstruction
Depression, Grief, and Bereavement
Acculturation Issues (AAPI, BIPOC, Latino)
LGBTQIA+ Support

My go-to modalities are:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
Somatic Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Additional services I offer:
Emotional Support Animal (ESA) assessment and letter-writing
Medically-Affirming Care assessment and letter-writing

Whenever I’m not in therapist mode, I can be found soaking up sun at the beach, curled up with a good book (fantasy and thrillers are *chef’s kiss*), creating music, or spending quality time with my husband and our sweet fur babies, Teddy and Miko!