Hi, I’m Yesenia.

I’m the proud daughter of immigrants y trabajadores del campo, and like many first-generation Latina daughters, I grew up learning how to push through, stay strong, and figure it out on my own.

For a long time, I carried depression, anger, frustration, and anxiety without really having space to understand where it was coming from—or how much of it was tied to being first-gen.

The First-Gen Experience

I spent years feeling like I had to earn my worth.

It was always the next degree, the next certification, the next accomplishment that was supposed to finally make me feel “enough.” But instead, I felt like I was constantly catching up.

At the same time, I was watching everyone around me on social media appear successful, confident, and ahead in life while I quietly questioned myself in the background.

I was taught that education would solve everything—but no one really talked about what to do with the anxiety, self-doubt, or emotional overwhelm that can come with it.

And at home, I didn’t have space to fully express what I was going through. I didn’t want to worry my parents, and I carried the unspoken belief of “¿qué va a decir la gente?”

So I stayed quiet. I kept going. I handled it.

Until I couldn’t do it the same way anymore.

How Therapy Changed My Life

Reaching out for therapy was the first time I had a space where I didn’t have to perform or minimize what I was feeling.

It became a place where I could be honest, receive validation, and finally understand the patterns I had been living in. I started to see my experiences differently—not as personal failures, but as responses to pressure, expectation, and survival.

Therapy helped me reconnect with myself and recognize my worth beyond achievement.

That experience is what led me here.

My Professional Background

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a Master’s in Social Work from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UCLA.

I’ve been working in the field of social work since 2010 across a range of settings, including:

• Case management
• Nonprofit organizations
• Child protective services
• School-based mental health
• Outpatient mental health services

This background has given me a deep understanding of how systemic stress, family dynamics, and identity intersect—especially for first-generation Latina women.

Why I Do This Work

I don’t believe you are broken.

I believe you learned how to survive in the environment you were given—and now you’re ready for something different.

Therapy with me is about helping you slow down, understand your patterns, and build a life where you don’t have to carry everything alone.

Lista? It’s your turn now.

If you’re ready to stop surviving on autopilot and start reconnecting with yourself, I’m here to walk with you through that process.