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Kris Alvarado
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #127063
Email: [email protected]
Phone Number: (818) 798-1385

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Contact Kris
ABOUT 
I am a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist who is passionate about empowering my clients to face that which they fear most with grace, ease, and empathy.  As a fifth generation Mexican American, I empathize with feelings of not-belonging and being othered and I have dedicated myself to working with adults who feel cast aside and silenced by society.  I enjoy helping others find their voice and breathe life into their authentic selves.  I help my clients explore their roles in society, to see if these roles still serve them, and shed light on all other options to find a better fit. 
 
I thrive in giving others the space to talk about that which has deeply hurt them at a pace that feels good for them.  I enjoy assisting people of color and folks from marginalized communities with shifting from seeing themselves as "selfish" to seeing themselves as "centered in self".  I am also passionate about assisting LGBTQ+ people in deepening their self-acceptance by releasing internalized shame that is holding them back.  As a recovering Catholic, I am also very familiar with taking in shame from religion.  I appreciate how challenging and rewarding the process of letting go of shame can be and I delight in helping my clients do the same. I also have a passion for helping other allies grow in their allyship as I truly love discussing diversity in gender and sexuality.  I thrive on helping others out of the muck of what is expected of them and what they fear so they can appreciate who they truly are and experience a higher degree of freedom and empowerment.  As a fan of scary stories and horror movies, I also appreciate being able to help my clients face their biggest fears bravely in a safe, non-judgmental, and empowering space. I am passionate about helping folks step out of simplistic, black and white, binary thinking and expand and grow into a beautiful rainbow of colorful diversity within themselves and within their communities. 

EDUCATION/TRAINING
I completed my undergraduate degree in Religious Studies at California State University Northridge.  During my time at CSUN, I took a class called “Psychology and Religion” and it was then that I realized I wanted to learn more about Psychology.  I then attended Antioch University Los Angeles to get my Master's in Clinical Psychology and sought out to grow in my ally-ship professionally through my studies in the LGBTQ+ Specialization. I also received training in EMDR Therapy from the Institute of Creative Mindfulness, an approved training provider and advanced credit provider by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA).

THERAPEUTIC APPROACH
I enjoy beginning my approach with a foundation of several theories such as Person-Centered, Humanistic, & Trauma Focused.  I enjoy being able to use any theory that can best help my client so I have a very eclectic style.  I have a great enthusiasm for practicing Feminist Theory, LGBTQ+ Affirmative Psychology, Family Systems Theory, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Psychodynamic Theory, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - all through a Multicultural lens. I can also provide EMDR Therapy which is a modality that involves reprocessing distressing memories in order to improve current functioning and promote therapeutic healing.  My clinical approach is gentle, direct, emotional, and practical.  I see my clients as the expert of their experience and all therapeutic work as a collaboration between client and therapist.  We're in this together. Let’s collaborate to find what therapeutically works best for you.

SPECIALTIES
My training and experience allows for me to assist with a myriad of issues, including: 
ADHD, Adjustment Issues, Anxiety, ASD, Codependency, Coping Skills, Depression, Gender Identity Issues, Grief & Loss, Life Transitions, Marital/Pre-Marital, Motivation, PTSD, Parenting, Relationship Issues, School Issues, Self-Care, Self-Esteem, Sexual Identity Issues, Spirituality, and Trauma. 

CURRENT SERVICES
I provide individual therapy for adults (ages 20 to 60) remotely via Google Meet

FEES 
$200.00 per 50 minute session.

INSURANCE
HealthNet, Anthem BC 

OFFICE HOURS
Monday-Wednesday 10am-6pm
Thursday 10am-6pm
Friday-Saturday Out of Office

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