My Mental Health Journey
MY JOURNEY.
I was born in El Paso, Texas, a border town, to Mexican parents. My family’s history includes migration to Mexico as a result of antisemitism and persecution for being Jewish in Europe. While my family has European roots, we have been in Mexico for three generations. Though I may appear European, my lived experience and cultural connection are deeply rooted in my Mexican & Jewish identity.
I have no memory of a childhood or time in my life when I was not consumed by my mental health—my emotions were all-consuming. Some of my earliest memories include signs of severe anxiety and rumination, deep depression, and a harsh inner critic that made it difficult to feel at peace within myself and made it hard to connect with others, including family and friends. On the outside, I always seemingly had it all, and any expression of my pain was seen as a lack of gratitude for my blessings.
My mind felt like a debilitating place I could not escape, and I was never fully at ease in relation to others. I was deeply sensitive, with no understanding of why everything felt so intense or what I was supposed to do when those feelings arose.
At 16, I also developed a chronic illness, which intensified many of the challenges I was already carrying.
The stress and impact of my health problems added another layer, leading to years of dysfunctional patterns and painful moments, without any true understanding of why things were happening to me or why I was acting out in times of distress.
I sought therapy for many years, but progress felt limited.
Eventually, in my early 20s, my therapist insisted I seek a higher level of care.
A TURNING POINT.
She referred me to a treatment center. At first, I was confused to see how many people were there for drug addiction, something I had never personally experienced.
I was quickly humbled as I got to know my peers and realized they were not so different from me. They used different methods to cope with many of the same feelings and patterns I was experiencing.
While my own coping methods looked different, they were still unsustainable and damaging.
During my time there, I learned many things, but most importantly, I learned how I was unknowingly contributing to my own suffering.
While I was not the sole cause of my problems, I had far more power to improve my circumstances than I realized.
I spent months looking at things that were painful to face, sharing things I had never said out loud, and choosing courage over comfort even when it was terrifying.
After completing the program and making significant mindset and lifestyle changes, I began to see real results.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE.
After graduating from the program, and while finishing my degree in Nonprofit Management, I stayed involved with my former treatment center as an alumni. I was then asked to work for the treatment center as a peer support specialist.
I provided mental health support to clients, particularly those needing more specialized emotional support alongside substance abuse treatment.
As a former client with more recovery time and perspective, I learned the unique value of peer support. Clients could feel that I was guiding them from a place of genuine understanding, often with less of a power dynamic than they experienced elsewhere.
I worked with people during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives while learning from the licensed professionals around me.
I taught a variety of groups, led support groups for both current clients and alumni, created and led a dance class for somatic benefits, and worked 1x1 with clients.
It was deeply fulfilling work. Eventually, due to my health challenges, I was no longer able to sustain the role long-term.
It was my former therapist coworkers who encouraged me to begin coaching.
WHY I DO THIS WORK TODAY.
I know intimately what it feels like to struggle with things that can feel taboo or difficult to talk about. I also believe that with the right tools, support, and perspective, people can meaningfully improve their quality of life.
I am deeply grateful for both my personal journey and my professional experience, and I’m proud to now offer personalized support to others.
“You are imperfect, you are wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging.”