Natalia Lopez

Hello! My name is Natalia Lopez and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW #76095) with over 13 years of clinical experience. I earned two bachelor's degrees in Sociology and Chican@ studies from the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) and earned my Master's in Social Welfare from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). I am the daughter of immigrant parents from Mexico and was born and raised in Boyle Heights, CA. My therapeutic approach is inspired by the notion that by establishing a safe and trusting therapeutic partnership with my clients, I will carefully work towards creating space for any underlying hurt, stress, or pain someone may be experiencing. Together, developing greater insight into strengths and unresolved conflicts.

My approach

I believe everything we need to live the life we want is already within us and we are the experts on our struggles and past hurt. The benefit of therapy is to provide the support, education, techniques, and coping strategies that can enhance our life circumstances and empower us to attain our personal goals. As a therapist of color, I am interested in providing therapy that is culturally relevant and compassionate. I recognize that communities of color have had to develop survival strategies to endure marginalization and historical trauma. The effects of these may show up as challenges in current relationships, depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Someone may think that something is wrong with them, while what they are actually experiencing is a result of systemic trauma that may have also been experienced by their ancestors. This is why a lot of my work and background is informed by Trauma-informed Cognitive Behavior Therapy. I believe that we can't move forward until we embrace our understanding and experience of trauma and find unique ways to process and feel our way through healing. Much of this healing occurs while working with the central nervous system where trauma is stored and so I am also informed by somatic work, meditation, and narrative work to help you develop helpful and supportive ways to heal yourself.

My focus

My clinical experience has been working with adolescents, adults, families, and couples. I also have extensive experience working with the LGBTQIA2S community and offer a lively LGBTQIA2 spirit-affirming outlook in a safe and caring environment. I am also a bilingual and bi-cultural therapist who is able to conduct therapy services in Spanish. Most of the clients I see are confronting depression, anxiety, and changes in life: like break ups, divorce, or trying to find their purpose. I am experienced in working with depression, anxiety, relationships, unsupportive family dynamics, LGBTQIA+, and two-spirit identity to name a few.

My communication style

As a therapist that is informed by relational therapy, I believe we don't only heal with therapeutic strategies and techniques; we also heal in relationships and communities with one another. This means that my number one priority as your therapist is to develop a trusting and meaningful connection with you where you feel safe, seen, and regarded. My communication style varies from person to person because there is not one single way to show up and be present as a therapist. I collaborate with you to create a communication style that is meaningful but also challenging, kind and affirming but also reflective and self-aware.

My journey to mental healthcare

I am no different from the clients I see in my practice. I believe that to be on this planet you have had to experience challenges, unexpected twists of fate, loss and grief, and trauma just by taking up space in this lifetime. I myself have experienced trauma, loss and wondered how I will ever move on from the difficult challenges that life has placed on my path. It is my lived experience of resilience, self-reflection, and the community that holds me up that has allowed me to grow and thrive. I have had so many wonderful people in my life that have created safe places to heal and rest. And as a therapist, I can now be that same support to you on your path. What drives me to do the work I do is to create connections, and witness people's hurt and also their growth. I have always been curious about people and what informs their life views and what we can learn from one another if we share our respective stories. Your story is the most valuable thing you can share with the world as it can mean someone else's beacon of hope.

My goals for you

Goal setting is a unique process that happens collaboratively. Some folks love to get down to business, while others are unsure what exactly they want to focus on in therapy. This is why there is no "one size fits all" way to approach goal setting. I aim to work with you and get to know you and your style so that we can come up with goals that are meaningful, attainable, and informed by your intuition.

My first session with you

They should expect me to be present and engaged, thoughtful and curious about them. I don't believe in opening discussions about difficult topics unless clients are comfortable sharing them. I don't ever want to go into discussions about trauma or difficult things before we have been able to establish a trusting relationship and you have some level of coping and managing strategies to regulate and ground yourself. So the first session is really about getting to know each other and what has inspired you to seek therapy; and what are the people, places, and experiences that have built you as a person.