Hugo Garcia

My name is Hugo Garcia and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Monterey, California, and working with people living in any part of California via Telehealth. I work with English or Spanish-speaking adults and specialize in anxiety, depression, trauma, and stress due to life transitions. I use Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and other therapy techniques to understand clients, their life situations, and what is most important to them, so I can better support them while we work together on integrating the past, enjoying the present, and hoping the best for the future.

My approach

My approach to therapy is based on the person's needs and preferences, as well as on identifying and utilizing their strengths and motivations to work together toward feeling hopeful and empowered to reach their goals in therapy. I utilize a combination of Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and other Therapy techniques in order to create a safe, honest, and supportive space where people feel understood, motivated, and comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings in order to reduce the emotional distress they might be experiencing and working on setting and achieving their goals in therapy.

My focus

In my experience, my style and approach have been useful for adults experiencing challenging situations or life transitions and for those who have experienced trauma earlier in their lives. Many of the people I have worked with have experienced stress, depression, anxiety, or other forms of psychological distress. I have worked along with them to navigate challenging situations, identify their strengths and motivations, learn and practice techniques to reduce and manage psychological distress and feel empowered to work on reaching their goals in therapy.

My communication style

My communication style aims to be collaborative, accepting, and respectful. I listen carefully to better understand the meaning of what the person is trying to communicate and ask if my understanding is accurate; I try not to make assumptions so I ask questions to evoke the person's perspectives, experiences, ideas, and ask permission to share information or my own perspective; I look for and point out clients' strengths and honor my clients' autonomy in making their own decisions. The purpose of utilizing this communication style is to constantly build a trusting working space in which the person feels understood, safe, and motivated to share information without the fear of being judged or criticized for anything they think, feel or do.

My journey to mental healthcare

I decided to become a therapist in order to get to know myself and others better, so I could be of service to people the same way others had been there for me when I needed it. My journey started at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) where I earned a Bachelor's in Psychology and continued at California State University at Monterey Bay (CSUMB) where I earned my Master's of Social Work. Since my graduation in 2016, I have worked in Non-Profit and Public Organizations providing Mental Health services. I believe all of us are in an ongoing process of self-discovery and understanding and continuous growth and development, and I feel honored that some people allow me to be part of theirs at often difficult but very important moments of their lives.

My goals for you

My goal is to be able to provide a safe and supportive space in which you can express your thoughts and feelings freely and comfortably. This is necessary for us to identify and define the goals you want us to work together on in therapy. Once these goals are defined we can work on tracking progress or changing goals if appropriate.

My first session with you

Our first session together gives us an opportunity to get to know a little bit about each other and discuss issues related to therapy. First, it gives us the opportunity to discuss what brings you to therapy in terms of how you have been feeling and what would you like to work on. Second, I get the opportunity to share with you a little bit about myself, my background, and my therapy style, and also gives me the opportunity to answer any questions you might have about me or therapy. And third, we get a chance to discuss logistics, next steps, and what to expect from the following therapy sessions.