I am a Latina woman born and raised in Austin, Texas.
I come from a Mexican-American family - my parents are Texans as well. I have an amazing sister with whom I grew up very close. We leaned on each other during turbulent times at home, where there was a history of trauma and substance abuse. She was, and always will be, the source of strength that kept me going forward. During high school, I barely made it to graduation, always struggling to find myself. As a first-generation college student, the journey through higher education has been challenging but rewarding. I've discovered inner strengths I didn't know I had and feel empowered to create positive change. While the road hasn't been easy, I'm proud of how far I've come. My experiences have shaped me into a resilient and compassionate person committed to helping others who face similar struggles.

In 2011, during my first semester of graduate school, I became certified in Integral Breath Therapy. This experience opened my eyes to how we hold emotions in our bodies and the importance of our breath. The training involved intense experiential exercises that elicited strong emotions and physical sensations. I became profoundly aware of how memories and relational patterns live inside us. Our bodies communicate inner truths we may try to suppress. After this transformational experience, I felt passionately drawn to exploring embodied awareness at a deeper level. This led me to pursue training in Gestalt therapy and somatic movement education, which have deepened my embodied self-awareness. I’ve come to recognize the deep wisdom and memories held in our physical selves and how tenderness with our bodies is essential for healing and growth. My journey with embodiment practices has allowed me to reconnect with myself and find healing from my past traumas. I feel grounded, open-hearted, and ready to share my story to help others on their own path.