Hello! My name is Mercedes and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I’ve been working as a therapist since 2005 and I’ve done a little bit of everything - outpatient treatment, non-profit work, private practice, couples counseling, adult counseling - but the vast majority of my work has been with kids and teens. That’s where my heart is. And it probably helps that I’m a bit of a kid myself! Currently, I work in the school system with elementary age students that have significant emotional and behavioral impairments in the school setting. Some things to know about me: my favorite place in the world is the beach; I’m a bit of a book nerd and can get lost in a book for hours; people often think I’m an extrovert, but I’m really not. When I have free time, I like to be with my children, watch streaming shows (especially K-dramas!), read webtoons, and play puzzle games. It matters to me that children feel heard; in my work with kids, that’s what I focus on, because from there, growth can happen. Hope to meet you soon! My ideal client is simply someone who wants to learn, someone who is curious about the possibilities of their own growth and improvement. In the same way, I bring curiosity as the therapist. I listen and learn about you, to understand where you are right now in your process, and where you want to be. Building this relationship allows us to work together in finding the best path to get there.