andrea velasquez
I’m a mental health counselor supporting young adults who are feeling overwhelmed or in the middle of figuring things out. A lot of the people I work with are navigating school, early-career experiences, and the pressure to keep up while not really feeling like themselves. Therapy can be a space to slow things down and sort through what’s been feeling heavy or confusing.
My background in school-based counseling shaped how I understand people in the context of their lives—not just individually, but also in relation to the environments and relationships around them. I take a holistic approach that considers what you’re carrying and how that may be showing up now.
In sessions, I focus on creating a supportive, steady space where you can talk openly and make sense of what you’re experiencing. My approach is highly relational, relatable, and tailored to your unique needs. I draw most often from CBT, psychodynamic therapy, DBT, and solution-focused techniques, depending on what feels most helpful.
Outside of work, I love reading, trying new restaurants, wandering around NYC, and spending time with my family and our Maltipoo, Ted.
ADVANCED CLINICAL INTERN
I look forward to creating a supportive space where you can show up fully, explore what matters most to you, and work toward the life you want to live.
therapy approaches
-
Focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors. Based on the idea that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected and that changing one can lead to positive changes in the others.
-
Encourages acceptance of difficult thoughts and feelings rather than trying to eliminate them. Focuses on helping you take meaningful action guided by your values, even in the presence of discomfort or uncertainty.
-
Focuses on exploring unconscious thoughts and feelings to gain insight into emotional conflicts and unresolved issues from the past.
-
Focuses on gradually exposing clients to distressing thoughts, situations, or objects, while helping them resist engaging in their usual avoidance or compulsive behaviors. By facing fears directly in a supportive and controlled environment, clients learn that anxiety can decrease naturally over time, fostering resilience and greater emotional freedom.
-
Focuses on identifying and building upon an individual's strengths and positive qualities.
-
Focuses on past and present relationships and attachment with the goal of understanding how these relationships impact overall well being and interpersonal functioning.
-
Involves practice of non judgemental awareness through techniques such as meditation or breathing exercises.
EDUCATION, CERTIFICATIONS, AND TRAININGS
Advanced Certificate in Mental Health Counseling - University at Buffalo (in progress)
MA in Guidance & Counseling - Loyola Marymount University
Pupil Personnel Services Credential (Clear) - State of California
Training in Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Training in Disordered Eating & Trauma
Training in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Ready to take the next step?
Schedule a call to see if working together feels like the right fit.