Hi! ¡Hola! I’m Jenny, and I’m excited to invite you into a glimpse of who I am, both as a person and as a therapist. As someone who is AuDHD (Autistic and ADHD!), this vibrant part of my identity colors every aspect of my daily life. Living in these two worlds helps me notice the hidden wonders in everyday moments.
I thrive on curiosity and learning, balancing the comfort of routines with the thrill of unexpected changes. When I’m not in therapist mode, you’ll find me curled up with a historical or general fiction novel—especially the thought-provoking works of Fredrik Backman—in my cozy indoor tent. Yes, I really do have a tent at home! This is where I recharge and stay connected with myself and everything around me. I also enjoy watching Korean Dramas, documentaries or the news, listening to podcasts, meditating, doing Pilates/yoga, hiking, or dancing to my favorite tunes. And if you ever want to play a board game during therapy, I’ll be over the moon!
As a school psychologist, I believe play is a powerful language for everyone, offering kids, teens, and adults a joyful way to express their inner worlds and heal.
MS in School Psychology: Carlos Albizu University
PhD in Clinical Psychology: Ponce Health and Sciences University
… what Korean drama I’m watching.
… my experiences traveling solo to South Korea, Canada, Brazil, Finland, Portugal, France, Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
… my life growing up on an island, Puerto Rico.
MS in School Psychology: Carlos Albizu University
PhD in Clinical Psychology: Ponce Health and Sciences University
I remember the words clients have used to describe me. “Authentic.” “Kind.” “Warm.” “Direct.” “Funny.” Over the years, my personal and professional paths have empowered me to be genuine in therapy, providing personalized care and supporting clients to be themselves in a space built on honesty and trust.
What matters most to me is that a client’s progress in therapy depends on a strong connection—rapport—with their therapist. Trust, feeling safe, and being understood are all essential in our space. Without this connection, healing or progress does not happen.
Imagine a compassionate conversation where we ride the highs and lows together, learning to sit with uncomfortable feelings, thoughts, sensations, and memories.
Healing does not follow a straight path; it takes on your unique shape. We will team up on this journey, and at times during the session, I may step into the role of teacher or coach, using a direct or structured approach. Sometimes I may be quiet, share a lighthearted joke, or engage in thoughtful conversation to give you space to process strong emotions, sort out difficult thoughts, or feel comfortable. If you find yourself avoiding what truly matters to you, I will encourage you to trust and reflect in your strengths and embrace where you are right now. This can help you gather the energy needed for your next step toward healing or resolve a situation.
At the end of our sessions, I may ask any takeaways from today’s session and your thoughts about the therapy process and my role as your therapist, so I can support you in ways that fit your unique needs.
I earned my master’s degree in school psychology from Carlos Albizu University and my PhD in clinical psychology from Ponce Health and Sciences University, both in Puerto Rico. My experience includes working with children as young as three, teens, young adults, and adults facing various identity and sexuality concerns, as well as neurodevelopmental, behavioral, and mental health challenges. I have supported people from different backgrounds in schools, private practices, and community mental health settings, offering services in both Spanish and English. During my internship, I worked mainly with second-generation immigrant college students on the border between El Paso, TX, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. These experiences helped me understand the unique needs of multicultural and LGBTQIA+ communities and motivated me to stay dedicated to cultural humility, cultural competence, social justice, and advocating for systemic change.
I support clients as they work through challenges like anxiety, depression, stress, PTSD, bipolar disorder, OCD, ADHD, autism, life changes, grief, relationship issues, and concerns about career or identity. Career coaching for young and emerging adults is a particular specialty of mine.
My therapeutic approaches are grounded in evidence-based practices, such as trauma-informed care, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Play Therapy, Floortime, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Relational-Cultural Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Strength-Based Therapy. I also embrace neurodiversity-affirming practice. These therapy methods, or others if needed, help me address each person’s or family’s individual issues.
Together, we’ll create a warmth space where you can explore, grow, and step confidently into the life you imagine. “Live the life you want to remember.”
I’ll remind you that it’s okay not to be okay, and that you’re both yourself and your circumstances. Life can feel like a backpack, sometimes heavy, sometimes light, filled with culture, upbringing, biology, trauma, relationships, economy, history, and society expectations. Mental health is not just about us, but also about our connections with others and the world. Let’s create a safe space where you feel understood and lighter.
Here are answers to questions I hear from clients most often!
Overthinking often develops as a way of trying to gain control, avoid mistakes, or manage anxiety. While it can feel productive, it often leads to mental exhaustion and self-doubt. Therapy helps you understand the underlying drivers of overthinking and build more effective ways of responding to uncertainty, stress, and decision-making.
Many people notice recurring patterns in their relationships—whether it’s choosing similar partners, struggling with boundaries, or feeling stuck in familiar dynamics. These patterns often have roots in earlier experiences and can operate outside of conscious awareness. Insight-oriented therapy helps bring these patterns into focus so you can begin to make more intentional and fulfilling choices.
Therapy sessions are a collaborative space where you can talk openly about your thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Over time, your therapist helps you identify patterns, gain insight, and explore new ways of understanding yourself and your relationships. The process is tailored to your goals and evolves as your needs change.
Therapy can be helpful if you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or curious about understanding yourself more deeply. Many people start therapy during times of transition or when patterns in their life no longer feel sustainable. If you’re asking the question, it’s often a good sign that therapy could be beneficial.
The timeline for therapy varies depending on your goals. Some clients begin to notice changes within a few sessions, while others choose to engage in longer-term work to explore deeper patterns. Insight-oriented therapy is flexible and can be adapted to support both short-term relief and long-term growth.
Yes. We provide therapy for individuals in Naperville and throughout the western suburbs of Chicago. Our approach is supportive, collaborative, and focused on helping you feel understood while working toward meaningful change.
Play therapy can be particularly helpful when emotions feel hard to describe, when someone feels stuck in their thoughts, or when traditional talk therapy alone doesn’t feel like enough. It can also be useful for individuals who process experiences more intuitively.
A play therapy session for kids involves a child playing in a warm, specially designed room filled with toys, while a trained therapist observes and interacts to help the child process emotions. While it may look like ordinary playtime, play therapy uses toys as the child’s words and play as their language.
Adult play therapy uses creative, expressive, and tactile activities instead of—or alongside—traditional talking to help process emotions, trauma, and complex life challenges. An adult play therapy session provides a safe, structured space to use metaphors and creative expression.
Yes. Play therapy is often integrated with talk therapy, depending on your needs and preferences. Some sessions may focus more on conversation, while others incorporate game elements to support deeper understanding and emotional processing.
Many people experience this feeling during periods of transition, stress, or personal growth—especially in college or early adulthood. You may find that roles, expectations, or relationships that once felt clear no longer fit in the same way. This can feel unsettling, but it’s often part of a deeper process of self-exploration. Therapy provides a space to better understand who you are, what matters to you, and how to move forward with greater clarity and confidence.
Therapy helps you identify the patterns that drive anxiety and overthinking, such as worry loops, self-doubt, or fear of uncertainty. Over time, you can learn strategies to quiet those patterns, feel more grounded, and respond to stress in a more balanced way.
