Associate Therapist

Gloria believes that therapy works best when a client feels comfortable, supported, and welcome in the therapy room. Using a warm, personable style (with a bit of humor!) Gloria creates this environment for clients to be fully present and open to engage in the work that therapy entails. She believes that meeting clients where they are, walking through this experience together and providing education along the way allows a client to break unhelpful patterns in order to achieve a more fulfilled life. Gloria has extensive training in evidenced-based practices, particularly CBT, and works from a holistic, collaborative and client centered approach. By recognizing the whole person, we can work together to create positive change and learn more about ourselves along the way.

Qualifications & Education

• Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, #114712
• Supervised by Elisa Dakiwag, LMFT #103978
• Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy, University of San Diego
• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, San Jose State University

Clinical Experience 

• Associate Marriage and Family Therapist of TherapyWorks
• Mental Health Counselor at KIPP Excelencia Elementary School
• Associate Marriage and Family Therapist at Children’s Health Council Palo Alto Community Clinic
• Associate Marriage and Family Therapist at Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Center Silicon Valley 
• Associate Marriage and Family Therapist at the Adolescent Counseling Services Community Clinic
• Marriage and Family Therapist Intern at UCSD Division of Family Medicine 
• Marriage and Family Therapist Intern at UCSD Pediatrics 
• Behavior Therapist at Therapeutic Learning Consultants 

Areas of Specialization & Advanced Training

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Mindfulness
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy 
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorders 
• Depression
• Suicidality/Self Harm
• Teens
• Young Adults
• LGBTQ+
• Life transitions
• Cultural Identity, Multicultural issues, Intergenerational conflict 

Associations and Memberships

• California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT).

On a Personal Note

• Gloria enjoys spending time outdoors surrounded by trees and hiking. She even brings the outdoors in with lots of plants in her home! When not working she likes cooking, trying new foods, exploring new places, live concerts and spending time with friends, husband and their new puppy.