AVA CÁZARES · MS · LMFT
Ava Cázares, M.S., LMFT
Accepting new clients now!
Psychotherapy for Women: Identity Work | Self-esteem | Trauma
(1) Who am I after what has happened to me?
I am the therapist for women with 3 questions...
(2) Who is the woman I want to become?
(3) And how do I become her?
The Details
My Clients
Women I work with often describe feeling disconnected from themselves in ways that are hard to explain. Most are in their 20s, many of whom are Latina, navigating identity shifts and redefining who they are after major life transitions (i.e. breakups, graduating college, pivoting careers, traumas, etc).
They describe feeling held back by something invisible. That “something” often goes by many names: depression, self-esteem issues, insecure attachment, abandonment and rejection wounds, and unresolved trauma from childhood.
My Approach
First, we begin with the 'deep work'. This looks like getting to the root of your experiences and bringing to the surface what is sometimes easier to bury. At this stage, we do a lot of processing and making meaning of what has happened. I like to take our time on this; there is no rush.
Then, we take what we have learned and 'integrate' this into your identity, reconstructing your sense of self into something stable, authentic, and whole. This part involves taking practical steps: reshaping your belief system, identifying priorities, and developing healthier ways of coping.
The woman you’re becoming isn’t someone you have to create from scratch; you are already her.
Treatment Modalities
My sessions are a cocktail of several modalities: Psychodynamic, Attachment, Existential/Humanistic, Gestalt & Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
I am also known for weaving dream analysis into my sessions. Click on each theory to learn more.
Ethos
My solidarity resides with communities who have been historically 'othered' in the context of psychotherapy, making for an intimidating, traumatic, and oppressive experience.
I am often non-pathologizing and choose to perceive my clientele as being a part of a larger socio/cultural/political context, often attributing symptoms to external factors (when relevant) rather than something inside of them.
The Investment
out-of-network Fee: $150
The standard fee reflects specialized care in a boutique private practice setting. This option is for clients who choose to pay privately or seek a treatment experience that you can't find at a hospital, community clinic, or big insurance company.
In-network insurance
At this time, I work with the following insurances:
Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross California, Carelon Behavioral Health, Curative, Cigna, and Providence Health Plan.
If you don't see your insurance company listed above and you cannot afford the out-of-network fee, feel free to ask me about my sliding-scale availability. Sliding-scale slots are reserved exclusively for those with financial hardship. These slots are filled on a first-come-first-serve basis and may require you to be on a wait list.
Frequently asked questions
Have a question that I haven't answered here? Send me an email at avamcazares@gmail.com.
other places you can find me...
INQUIRY FORM
Work with me...
Please fill out the form below to get started. I will reach out to you via email in 1-2 business days to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation.
I look forward to meeting you.
"Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate"
Carl Jung (1875 - 1961)