Who is Nancy?
I was born and raised in Peru, and have lived in the United States for over half of my life. I am happy and excited to call Seattle home, but at the same time Peru will always be my home as well. This is where my experience in biculturalism comes from: I know firsthand what it is like to navigate through two different cultures, and how interesting and at the same time challenging that can be.
I have always been fascinated by art and the stories it tells -stories from everywhere and from all kinds of people and cultures. This led me to obtain my Bachelor of Arts degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Washington.
While finishing at UW, I volunteered as a domestic violence crisis advocate. This allowed me to come in touch with the pain and struggle many women go through when dealing with abusive relationships. I was honored and proud at the same time to be lending an ear to others in distress, and to still find space to help people see the beauty and the strength that lie within themselves. This experience confirmed my desire to become a mental health therapist. I received my Master's degree in Psychology from Seattle University in 2014.
I have received training in feminist psychotherapy and women's issues. I am very fond of the work I have done with my female patients and I deeply enjoy working with them. I believe I am constantly learning from the patients I see, and I am humbled to be entrusted with their care.
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the state of Washington. My specialties include early trauma, life transitions, as well as relationship, multicultural, and women's issues. I have also been designated as an Ethnic Minorities Mental Health Specialist due to my extensive work with the Latinx population.
My approach to therapy
I utilize an integrative approach to psychotherapy, which means I incorporate elements of different modalities according to what may be more beneficial to you and your goals. Some of these modalities include:
I have always been fascinated by art and the stories it tells -stories from everywhere and from all kinds of people and cultures. This led me to obtain my Bachelor of Arts degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Washington.
While finishing at UW, I volunteered as a domestic violence crisis advocate. This allowed me to come in touch with the pain and struggle many women go through when dealing with abusive relationships. I was honored and proud at the same time to be lending an ear to others in distress, and to still find space to help people see the beauty and the strength that lie within themselves. This experience confirmed my desire to become a mental health therapist. I received my Master's degree in Psychology from Seattle University in 2014.
I have received training in feminist psychotherapy and women's issues. I am very fond of the work I have done with my female patients and I deeply enjoy working with them. I believe I am constantly learning from the patients I see, and I am humbled to be entrusted with their care.
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the state of Washington. My specialties include early trauma, life transitions, as well as relationship, multicultural, and women's issues. I have also been designated as an Ethnic Minorities Mental Health Specialist due to my extensive work with the Latinx population.
My approach to therapy
I utilize an integrative approach to psychotherapy, which means I incorporate elements of different modalities according to what may be more beneficial to you and your goals. Some of these modalities include:
- Emotions-based: I believe getting to know and identify what you feel allows you to show up in the world and your relationships as your most authentic self.
- Existential-Phenomenological: This is my main approach. What these long words mean is that rather than focusing on "fixing you" or telling you "what is wrong with you," I try to get as close to your experience of the world as I can, and to welcome the many ways in which you cope -because they have allowed you to get to where you are today, and because they are what makes you the unique being that you are.
- Feminist: I am passionate about supporting women find their voice and feel empowered in all their diversity.
- Mindfulness-informed: I recently became a certified mindfulness informed professional (CMIP). I continue to learn more and incorporate in my sessions breathing and meditation exercises with the goal of helping you live in the present moment and set yourself free from traumatic memories and negative thoughts.
- Multicultural: I consider one of my goals to help you keep a close eye on how the culture(s) where you grew up and which you inhabit have shaped your views and the ways you relate to yourself, others, and the world at large.
- Relational: I am very curious about how you have interacted with the people closest to you since you were very young, and how this may have impacted your current relationships.
In my free time...
When I am not doing therapy you can find me cuddling with my labrador puppy (who occasionally appears during my sessions), planning my next trip, catching a yoga or fitness class, listening to music, going to concerts, plays, movies, art galleries, or finding my next book to read. Getting together with my friends and family is also a big source of enjoyment for me.
In my free time...
When I am not doing therapy you can find me cuddling with my labrador puppy (who occasionally appears during my sessions), planning my next trip, catching a yoga or fitness class, listening to music, going to concerts, plays, movies, art galleries, or finding my next book to read. Getting together with my friends and family is also a big source of enjoyment for me.