Mental Health Coach & Healing Artist 

My name is Joy, and I grew up on Puyallup Territory, also known as Tacoma, Washington. 

I am energized to continue my work with Girasol Counseling, now in the role of a Mental Health Coach and Healing Artist. 

Being a Black woman from America, being a person of the global majority, makes me aware of how interlinked our self and collective care is directly tied to our liberation. It is necessary for both things to be happening at once; for us to simultaneously access our internal freedom while building a world for ourselves and future generations to thrive in. 

I believe in the power of inner change at the tiniest level. I believe in the power of the tiniest shifts leading to our personal evolution. I believe in the power of now. I believe in the power of YOU. 

I love the symbolism of a phoenix and believe, just like a phoenix, as long as we are alive, that we each have that same power to rise and start again despite the rubble and ash beneath us. 

“In your light I learn how to love. In your beauty, how to make poems. You dance inside my chest where no one sees you, but sometimes I do, and that sight becomes this art.” - Rumi 

This quote is by the poet Rumi and reminds me of the innate beauty that comes from remembering ourselves and remembering that goodness still exists here, goodness still exists within you and within us. When we remember that, we can reclaim our own meaning of self and be open to what that journey unfolds. Our lives are works of art filled with colors, hues, shadows, and light. Are you curious about how healing and creativity can interconnect? If so, I would be happy to be alongside you for your journey of self-exploration and healing through writing, art, and coaching. 

Experiences and Education to highlight: 

• Certified in Adult Mental Health First Aid training. This training is to provide initial help to someone experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge. This training was provided by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. 

• Mentorship (that is ongoing) provided by Claudia, Founder and Owner of Girasol Counseling

• Literary Arts Teaching Artist since 2016, working with both youth and adults. 

• Graduate of Washington State Teaching Artist Training Lab (an 8-month-long professional development training for arts educators and teaching artists; I graduated in 2019) 

• Former Spoken Word poet; I performed as a part of an art collective called Intellect Gang. Our performances were centered on social justice topics. Places we performed at included: the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration hosted by the City of Tacoma, the University of Puget Sound, and First Creek Middle School/the YMCA’s Seeds of Peace Youth Summit. We facilitated writing workshops at Baker Middle School, and this was my first experience facilitating workshops while teaching on mindfulness, citing Dr. Masuru Emoto’s water experiments.

• Graduate of Introduction to Traditional Medicine & Ecological Knowledge program facilitated by Naa káani Native Program (graduated in 2023)

• From 2023 - 2025, I facilitated weekly classes with the organization, Path with Art. With this organization, I worked with adults including veterans, folks navigating housing transitions, job transitions, and those navigating overcoming substance abuse. I also facilitated in-person classes with this organization with one of their social service partners, Jubilee Women's Center, which is a transitional home for women healing from crisis and domestic abuse. 

• In 2022, I co-organized 4 BIPOC healing events with this healing collective I co-founded called Healers Connect. We had two events online and 2 in person. Our events offered a mix of healing services including AcuDetox, meditation, yoga, painting, writing, sound healing, and tarot readings.

• Hospice Caregiver and Certified Nursing Assistant: I was the Primary Hospice Caregiver and Certified Nursing Assistant for my grandma, whom I provided care and support to during the last months of her physical life and was able to be present with her during her physical transition from this plane to the next. In this experience, I experienced firsthand what it means to be of service to someone you love. I completed my CNA training at Bates Technical College. 

• Youth Development and Educator: I have worked with youth in various capacities, including in the realms of teaching, conducting afterschool programming, supervising a youth late-night drop-in program, tutoring, as a poetry slam coach, and as a paraeducator. I worked as a paraeducator for two years, working with Indigenous youth, including Kindergarten, 1st grade, and 4th graders at a local tribal school. In this experience, I learned what it means to foster compassion, listening, and to work alongside youth when it came to conflict. 

• Recipient of Design Thinking Applied Project Badge awarded by UW Tacoma Global Innovation and Design Lab. This credential demonstrates that I have completed training in human-centered design, which is a creative problem-solving design process that centers people.  

• Graduate of Tacoma Climate Leadership Cohort. I learned about climate solutions and civic engagement to build a stronger future for our planet. This culminated in a capstone project where I published an article about the concept of complete neighborhoods as a method for fostering equity and building healthy, community-centered neighborhoods. This training was organized by Tacoma Tree Foundation and the City of Tacoma. Claudia and I co-facilitated a somatic writing workshop with Tacoma Tree Foundation in 2025 called Reciprocal Relations, which was about sustaining a healthy relationship with both the earth, each other, and ourselves - one that is reciprocal and mutually beneficial. 

• A.A. in Arts and Sciences from Tacoma Community College 

Background of my work and connection with Girasol:

• My background with Girasol is rooted in collaboration. Beginning in 2024, Claudia (the founder) and I co-facilitated group healing gatherings called somatic writing workshops. These gatherings incorporated somatic therapy practices, intentional breathing, time for writing, reading, sharing, and being in community with others in nature. In 2024 and 2025, we held these gatherings together at various places, including a monthly BIPOC gathering at the W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory, a workshop with the City of Tacoma Arts and Cultural Vitality Division, Union Cultural Center, JSOL Studios, Tacoma Tree Foundation, Blue Cactus Press, Common Good Tacoma, and Healing Connections: Nature and Wellness Symposium organized by Strategic Nature. Participants in these gatherings included working parents, community members, artists, youth, and elders. These healing gatherings focused on a specific theme, whether it was courage, connecting with nature, transformation, ancestral connection, cultivating gratitude, and more. 

General Outline of what work will look like together: 

• Our first session will look like setting goal(s) of the work you would like to do together! I may offer some writing prompts here as well to unpack different themes or topics that come up. 

• 2nd and through 4th sessions: confirm if we’d like to continue working together. I’ll offer writing prompts, music, or something we can read together, whether that’s a quote or a poem that is in alignment with the areas you’re seeking to grow in or heal from. This could also look like making a list, writing a letter that you can choose to keep or not keep, answering a few questions, exploring a literary device such as personification or one of the senses, drawing, or a mixture of several of these depending on what’s resonating with you in the moment! 

• Sessions going forward: reviewing what we have learned, perhaps finalizing some type of art, whether that’s a poem, some affirmations you’d like to record for yourself to listen to, a visual art piece, whether that’s a collage, drawing, painting, etc. We’ll make goals for future sessions and/or come back to a theme(s) or topic(s) that you’d like to revisit. 

Mental Health Coach, Masters of Arts in Teaching

I am the embodiment of our plant, animal, and human ancestors.

I am a human being made of water, sun, soil, and air.

I am a living miracle—my wellbeing deeply interconnected with all life that exists.

I am the child of parents who dedicated their lives to serving youth living on the streets of downtown Seattle. I grew up in the South End of Seattle, where I went to school, attended church, played sports, and served my neighborhood. My childhood was shaped by moving between many different worlds—from the countryside with my immigrant grandmother to the white, upper-class suburbs of Washington and Arizona.

This upbringing taught me that life is sacred and worthy of care. It also gave me an early understanding of the intersectionality of identity—including ethnicity, nationality, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, age, and ability. I developed a deep curiosity about power, oppression, suffering, healing, wellness, and collective liberation.

This led me to ask:

How can we be healed, well, and collectively liberated—in mind, body, soul, and spirit—within an existence that includes suffering and oppression?

I’ve been exploring that question ever since—through independent study, formal education (earning both a bachelor’s and master’s degree), mentorship, and eight years of mental health therapy. For the past ten years, I’ve worked in schools—as a middle school math assistant, English teacher, and elementary PE teacher. In PE, I created a program that used play to teach social-emotional learning. The importance of these foundational skills became even clearer during the pandemic.

My Core Belief

If we are to be healed, well, and collectively liberated, we must develop essential skills for understanding ourselves and the environments we live in.

What you will get from Mental Health Coaching

Awareness of Self

1. Emotions and thoughts

2. Identity: Knowing your story, developing your principles, defining your success

3. Aligning mind, body, soul, and spirit

Awareness of Environment

1. Interpersonal

2. Communal

3. Systemic

Supporting Skills 

To deepen our understanding and grow in these areas.

• Reflection

• Meditation

• Visualization

My Coaching Philosophy

My coaching begins with building a loving relationship, rooted in:

• Respect

• Responsibility

• Compassion

• Dedication

• Kindness

• Gratitude

• Honesty

• Courage

• Humility

Humility calls us into a learning partnership—where both coach and client are committed to lifelong learning. From this foundation, we can create space for true mentorship: a relationship that both encourages, educates, and supports growth.

Spaces for Skill Development

• Dialogue

• Play

• Reflection

• Meditation

• Visualization

Education

• Bachelor's in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences from the Central Washington University (August 2010)

• Master's in Teaching from Seattle Pacific University (June 2018)

Bilingual Mental Health Therapist 

“Know all the theories, master all the techniques, but as you touch a human soul, be just another human soul.” — C.G. Jung

My story:

I am a Brazilian immigrant, a Latina, a mother, a military wife, and a mental health advocate. I am also a bilingual therapist who provides services in English and Portuguese. Outside of work, I love spending time cooking, baking, reading, playing games, and being outdoors with my family.

My personal and professional journeys have shaped the way I understand healing: as something that happens in relationships, as we learn to accept ourselves while creating meaningful change and building a life that is aligned with our values.

Growing up in a small city in the Northeast of Brazil, my decision to become a therapist was first ignited by a spiritual leader who helped me recognize that this field might be a good fit for me. They noticed my nonjudgmental way of being and the fact that people often shared that they felt safe talking to me about their struggles. That early encouragement became the beginning of a professional journey that has continued to shape how I understand the therapeutic relationship today.

Education:

• I am a licensed psychologist in Brazil, where I earned my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Psychology from the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE). I have fourteen years of experience working with expectant and postpartum mothers, children, adolescents, adults, and families. For the last seven years of my work in Brazil, I have been serving children and adolescents in the foster-care system, supporting them and their families through reunification, adoption, and other family-law experiences. These experiences deeply shaped my commitment to trauma-informed and relational care.

• After immigrating to the United States, I earned a second Master's degree in Child and Adolescent Psychology from the University of Washington and became a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA) in Washington State. Here in the U.S., I have had the honor of supporting children, adolescents, and adults with diverse behavioral and emotional needs, including neurodivergent youth with ADHD and ASD. My training and experiences in both Brazil and the United States have shaped a perspective that is both relational and culturally responsive.

My core beliefs and approach to healing:

I believe therapy should be a space where you feel safe, heard, understood, respected, and free to be yourself. I also bring myself authentically into the therapeutic relationship, and my style is warm, flexible, and very much connected to my own history. As relational beings, I believe that experiencing an authentic and safe relationship can be a powerful catalyst for healing, since meaningful change often begins when we feel truly seen and supported. In therapy with me, you can expect to work with someone who will accept you for who you are, help you recognize and build on your strengths, and gently challenge patterns that may be keeping you from living a more fulfilling life aligned with your values.

From a decolonial perspective, I recognize the role that culture, identity, power structures, and social systems play in shaping our life experiences. I consider how our contexts can amplify vulnerabilities to psychological suffering while also shaping sources of resilience and strength. As a Latina and an immigrant myself, I care deeply about providing culturally responsive care, and I see the therapeutic space as an opportunity to promote social justice. One way I strive to do this is by providing evidence-based care to populations that have historically been underserved. I also strive to honor each person's values, identities, and lived experiences, whether related to culture, ethnicity, spirituality, gender, sexuality, or family structure.

I view therapy as more than symptom relief. It can be an opportunity to develop a broader understanding of ourselves and the systems around us, strengthen our sense of agency and connection, and build a life that feels meaningful and aligned with our values, beliefs, and traditions.

My approach to therapy integrates my training from Brazil and the United States. I use a person-centered, relational approach with a strong emphasis on attachment and relationships, while integrating evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, behavioral activation, behavioral parenting strategies, Trauma-Focused CBT, and other trauma-informed interventions. It is my goal to support my clients
using interventions that research has shown to be helpful for clients facing
similar challenges; however, I tailor interventions to each client's needs, readiness, strengths, and goals, while continually considering whether our work is connected to what is most important and meaningful to them.

I have a special interest in supporting people experiencing anxiety and trauma, including children, teens, young adults, and adults. I also enjoy working with immigrants and multicultural families,  such as Portuguese-speaking clients.

Licensed Mental Health Counselor & Washington State Approved Supervisor

I am a queer Filipinx American, a daughter of immigrants, an eldest sibling, and a proud auntie. I am the daughter of a father who served in the U.S. Navy and later worked in manufacturing, and a mother who transitioned from being a stay-at-home parent to building her own career. These identities, relationships, and experiences have shaped how I understand myself, others, and the world around me.

I have always been curious about people. Why do we do what we do? Why do we make the choices we make? How do our families, cultures, histories, and communities shape the ways we navigate our lives?

My journey into becoming a therapist was not a traditional one. Before entering the mental health field, I worked across various industries, including over a decade as a hairdresser. Throughout these experiences, I found myself drawn to opportunities for one-on-one connection, listening to people's stories, and understanding their experiences. Over time, this curiosity evolved into a deeper calling toward mental health and healing work.

As a therapist, I am especially drawn to working with people who hold intersecting identities and have experienced being "othered" or marginalized. I am interested in exploring how our identities, cultural histories, family systems, and broader social structures influence our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world.

I recognize that we live within systems that can shape, challenge, and sometimes silence our sense of self. With so much noise around us—expectations from family, culture, society, and institutions—it can be difficult to hear our own voices. I believe therapy can offer a space to slow down, explore these influences, reconnect with ourselves, and begin to make meaning of our experiences.

My therapeutic work is grounded in humanistic, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and social justice-oriented approaches. I am committed to creating a space where individuals can bring their authentic selves, including the complexities of their identities, relationships, and lived experiences. My work also reflects an ongoing commitment to destigmatizing and decolonizing mental health, particularly within Filipinx American and historically marginalized communities.

I approach healing with curiosity, humility, and the understanding that we are all continually learning, growing, and evolving. Just as I invite clients to explore their own experiences, I remain committed to reflecting on and growing within my own journey as a therapist.

Education & Professional Experience

• Master of Arts in Humanistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling — Saybrook University

• Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, with a concentration in Ethnic Studies — University of Washington

• Doctoral Training in Counselor Education and Supervision — Saybrook University (dissertation phase; enrollment currently paused)

• Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) — Washington State

• National Certified Counselor (NCC)

• Washington State Approved Supervisor

In addition to providing individual therapy, I offer clinical supervision to developing counselors and have participated in graduate-level teaching, research, and national conference presentations.

My professional and community work has included conversations and presentations focused on destigmatizing mental health, decolonizing therapeutic practices, and creating culturally responsive healing spaces for Filipinx American communities.

Areas of Focus

• Trauma and trauma recovery

• Grief and loss

• Cultural identity and belonging

• Intersecting identities and experiences of marginalization

• Filipinx American and BIPOC mental health

• Family, cultural, and intergenerational influences

• Social justice, oppression, and systemic influences on well-being

• Self-exploration and personal growth

I welcome the opportunity to walk alongside you as we explore your experiences, honor the many parts of who you are, and create space for your own voice to emerge.

Intern

Who I am:

My name is Nevaeh, and I grew up in Sunnyside, Washington. As a Chicana/Latina, my own cultural background has shaped the way I understand the importance of identity, culture, family, and community in the healing process. These experiences have strengthened my desire and passion to support individuals as they navigate their journeys in healing and growth.

I am interested in working with individuals who are experiencing grief, trauma, depression, anxiety, and/or generational trauma. I recognize that the experiences we carry can extend beyond our daily lives and be influenced by culture, family, and the systems around us. I hope to create a safe, non-judgmental space where clients feel comfortable sharing their stories and exploring what healing looks like for them.

My approach and focus:

My approach to therapy is culturally responsive, open to spirituality, and focused on liberation. I strive to honor each client's values and perspective while recognizing the social and cultural factors that may impact their mental health.

As an intern, I am committed to my learning and developing my clinical skills across different therapeutic approaches. I understand that every individual has different needs and experiences, and I want to remain open and flexible in my approach so that I can meet clients where they are. My mission is to build therapeutic relationships where clients feel heard, empowered, and supported through their healing journey.

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare at the University of Washington

• Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies at the University of Washington

• Currently pursuing my Master's degree in Social Work at the University of Washington

Intern

My Story:

• I am a Black Somali Muslim woman, a community advocate, and a social work student passionate about healing, connection, and collective care. My cultural background, faith, and experiences have shaped how I understand the importance of identity, belonging, and community in our well-being. My path toward becoming a therapist has grown through my work with young people and underserved communities, where I have seen how meaningful relationships and supportive spaces can help people feel seen, valued, and connected. Outside of my work and studies, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, trying new foods and restaurants, and participating in my faith and community.

• Much of my personal and professional journey has been rooted in community. I am a co-founder of Pathways Learning Hub, a nonprofit focused on educational equity and youth development, and a youth program lead at the Puyallup Islamic Community Center. Through these roles, I help create opportunities for young people to explore their identities, build relationships, and experience a sense of belonging. These experiences have strengthened my belief that healing does not happen only on an individual level. It can also grow through mentorship, cultural connection, community support, and having spaces where people feel understood.

Education:

• I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and Bachelor of Arts in Africana Studies from Eastern Washington University. I am currently pursuing my Master of Social Work at the University of Washington.

• My education and community experiences continue to shape my understanding of mental health and the ways culture, identity, relationships, and systemic inequities influence our experiences. They have also strengthened my commitment to supporting individuals and communities who have historically faced barriers to care.

My Approach to Healing & Focus:

• I believe therapy should be a space where you feel safe, heard, respected, and free to be yourself. My approach is person-centered, relational, and trauma-informed. My practice is grounded in the belief that every person brings their own strengths, knowledge, and lived experiences into the healing process. I hope to build therapeutic relationships rooted in trust, compassion, and collaboration, where clients feel comfortable exploring their experiences without judgment.

• Through a liberation perspective, I recognize that our mental health cannot always be separated from the social conditions, systems, and power structures that shape our lives. I believe it is important to understand people within the context of their experiences rather than viewing their struggles in isolation. I am particularly passionate about supporting individuals who may not always feel understood or represented in traditional mental health spaces.

• Faith and spirituality are important parts of how I understand healing. I believe clients should not have to separate their cultural identities, values, beliefs, or spiritual lives from their mental health. Instead, these parts of themselves can be honored as sources of strength, meaning, connection, and resilience. As a social work intern, I am committed to continuing to learn, developing my clinical skills, and remaining open to each client's unique needs and experiences. I am especially interested in working with adolescents, young adults, and families navigating identity, anxiety, life transitions, and emotional well-being.

• Ultimately, I view healing as a process of understanding ourselves more deeply, recognizing our strengths, and building meaningful connections with others and our communities. My goal is to create a warm and collaborative environment where clients feel empowered to define their own healing journeys in ways that honor who they are, where they come from, and what matters most to them.

Founder, Owner of Girasol Counseling, Bilingual Mental Health Therapist 

I am a daughter of immigrants; a daughter of the diaspora; a wounded healer; an intellectual, spiritual, and queer Chingon@. These are a few identities that influence how I interact/experience the world around me, and the stories attached to them: past and present. In my therapeutic work, I continue to work towards decolonization of both my healing practices and myself.

My parents are El Salvadoran immigrants. They migrated to the U.S. during the El Salvadoran civil war and made their new home in "El Centro" of Los Angeles. I was fortunate enough to be born and raised here with a large Central American community. My formation there naturally led me to healing work for myself, family, and community.

My healing work is inherited; I come from a lineage of people seeking healing. Professionally, I started healing work with young people as a case manager, advocate, and mental health counselor in 2016. 

Education: 

• Bachelor in Psychology and minor in Law, Societies, and Justice from the University of Washington, Seattle (graduate of 2016) 

• Masters in Social Work from the University of Washington, Seattle (graduate of 2020)

Trainings and Certificates: 

• Curanderismo: Traditional Healing Using Plants, University of New Mexico (2022)

• Certificate in Somatic Embodiment and Regulation Strategies, from Collectively Rooted (2022)

• EMDR Therapy training for BIPOC Clinicians with Lisa Hayes from the Institute for Creative Mindfulness (2023)

• Family SoulPages from Northwest Creative and Expressive Arts Institute (2023)

Specialties:

• Historical Trauma, Intergenerational Trauma, Developmental Trauma

• Emotional, Physical, Sexual Abuse & Trauma

• Oppression & Internalized Oppression

• Mother Wound

• Latinx Issues, Immigration, Assimilation, Acculturation, Identity

• Religious and Spiritual Trauma

• Activism Burnout/ Service Provider Burnout

• Familial Stress/ Caring for Family Stress

• Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, Complex Trauma

• Attachment Wound