Personal Background

Hello! Like all of my clients, I am a human first and don’t have all the answers or any magic "fixes." My personal experiences with therapy and therapeutic practices have been healing, hopeful, and prompted me to study mental health in a professional capacity. It led me, probably unsurprisingly, to the recognition that I find meaning in collaborating with others who are looking for change in their lives—people who no longer want to be held back from what the past, culture, or norms say should be but instead want to live through their truest expressions of self. ​

Professional Background

My professional journey began in graduate school where I received my master's degree in Social Work from Saint Louis University. I have 8+ years of clinical experience in a variety of settings, including working with child survivors of domestic violence, courtroom and first-response settings with trauma survivors, and at a St. Louis non-profit organization providing individual and group therapy to individuals who have experienced domestic and sexual violence. At this non-profit organization, I also developed and improved a variety of group curricula focusing on sexual intimacy after trauma, LGBTQ+ trauma recovery, and domestic and sexual violence recovery.

In my private practice, Phoenix Wellness, which I began in 2021, I specialize in trauma, dysfunctional family patterns, and anxiety. My therapy space is warm and collaborative, and I focus on people’s ability to build resilience, joy, and power. You are welcome here and worthy of receiving support!

Teresa Outside the Office

In addition to being a therapist, I am a wife/partner and have two dogs. I enjoy cooking, exploring the outdoors, reading, and practicing yoga. One thing people often don't assume about me is that I'm Hispanic! My mom speaks Spanish (unfortunately I don't) and my maternal family is from Spain and Mexico.

The photo to your right (or below if you're on a phone) was taken in Asheville, North Carolina-one of my favorite cities in the United States.