Meet Our Therapists
Dr. Dalesa Martinez, LMFT
She/Her
I became a relationship expert so that I could help others to unlock the beautiful light that so many keep caged. On my journey, I found that my own story was actually a light for others. It is my hope that in our collective quest towards life fulfillment, internal love and unlimited connection that I inspire you to be the best version of yourself. I have told my story and trained therapist as a professor and on multiple stages, including internationally for almost 20 years. I currently serve adolescents ages 15+, individuals & couples, and specialize in relationships (singles & couples), trauma, anxiety, depression, self-love & finding purpose. I use a narrative approach, allowing my clients to recognize that they are the experts of their lives and guide them into creating a new story of themselves/their relationships.
Eric Shimoyama, MS
He/Him
In the past 17 years, I have been able to help men, women and families to unlock the dark spaces that have kept them stuck over their lives, by equipping them with the skills they need to reconnect attachments, recognize their "inner gangster", and mend broken relationships. My approach to therapy is rooted in the notion that YOU are the expert of your life, and my role is simply to help you to see what is already inside of you. My clients are active participants in their own healing, with us exploring relational and interpersonal challenges that have prevented you from having the confidence that you need to cope and thrive. I have an extensive history in child development, crisis management, and therapeutic supervision. I have dedicated my life to helping others to cope with trauma and relationship issues, and know that sometimes it can be hard to change for the better. I am with you every step of the way.
Tiffany Browning, MSMFT
She/Her
Are you ready to start becoming better for yourself and the people around you? I am here to remind you that where you are on your path to healing & improving is exactly where you’re supposed to be! I help adolescents, adults, couples and families recover from past trauma & work through limiting beliefs in a way that allows them to better understand and accept themselves and others. One of my biggest goals as a therapist is to support my clients in the journey to embracing how worthy they are. I take pride in helping others build trust and positive connections, even when it feels hopeless & imposter syndrome kicks in. My extensive background in family therapy, working with adults in multiple settings and adolescents in their homes and classrooms has provided me with the skills to dedicate our time to learning your strengths, and using them to assist you with creating the specific tools that you and your family need to rebuild the connections that you may have believed to be lost forever due to conflict, attachment and trauma. It is my goal to provide a safe space that allows you to increase resilience, self-love, worthiness and connection.
Alexandra Rodriguez, MFT
She/Her
Biografia en español abajo I became a family therapist with the intention of inspiring others to be better people. I've learned that understanding families helps us become aware of the behavior patterns and negative perceptions we hold, so that we can become a better person for ourselves and others. My goal as a therapist for individuals, couples, and families is that they feel empowered in a positive way to grow, help them discover their true potential, and take the lead of their best lives. We can not change the difficult situations of the past, but we can work together to better understand and resolve the challenges and conflicts of the present. If you are looking for additional support and guidance through a challenging situation or are just ready to move in a new direction with your life, I look forward to working with you to help you achieve your goals. My goals is to help you find negative behavior patterns in your own history that may be stopping you from experiencing a more fulfilling life. Me convertí en terapeuta familiar con la intención de inspirar a otros a ser mejores personas. Aprendí que comprender a las familias nos ayuda a tomar conciencia de los patrones de comportamiento y las percepciones negativas que tenemos, para que podamos convertirnos en mejores personas para nosotros mismos y para los demás. Mi objetivo como terapeuta para individuos, parejas y familias es que se sientan empoderados de manera positiva para crecer, ayudarlos a descubrir su verdadero potencial y tomar la iniciativa de sus mejores vidas. No podemos cambiar las situaciones difíciles del pasado, pero podemos trabajar juntos para comprender mejor y resolver los desafíos y conflictos del presente. Si está buscando apoyo y orientación adicionales a través de una situación desafiante o simplemente está listo para moverse en una nueva dirección con su vida, espero trabajar con usted para ayudarlo a alcanzar sus metas. Mi objetivo es ayudarte a encontrar patrones de comportamiento negativos en tu propia historia que pueden estar impidiendo que experimentes una vida más satisfactoria.
Mav Atis-Valentine, MS
They/Them
One of the cornerstones of my practice is that the clients I work with are met with a level of radical love and acceptance, so they can go on to model that love and acceptance within themselves. I work with clients and their families to help them find healing from their past and build skills that will help them succeed in the future. My work is trauma informed, taking into consideration the specific needs of each individual based on their past experiences. When you are aware of the ways you are influenced by your past programming, we can put the tools in your hands to help you take control of your life. I have an extensive background working with adults, adolescents, and families, supporting individuals with eating disorders, folks who are neurodivergent (e.g. ASD, ADHD, Complex PTSD, etc), and members of the LGBTQ+ community. I strive to provide you with an empathetic space for you to become your truest self.
Teena Scott, LMFT
She/Her
My vision as a therapist is to help adolescents, adults, couples and families recognize that they have what it takes to promote their own evolution. Growth and change can be a challenge at times, within ourselves and in our relationships. I believe that my role is to support others to work towards their healing holistically; I help them to unpack the pain that exists and recognize the impact on their mind, body, spirit and relationships. It is my intention to break down barriers in areas related to relationships, divorce, infidelity, blending families, adoption, anxiety, depression, and racial inequity in such a way that my clients feel more connected to their own sense of purpose & value. My experience of over 15 years in the helping professions, paired with my non-judgmental, individualized approach and passion for family, community, and advocacy of social justice allows me to help clients not only recognize that they have the solutions to their problems, but leaves them feeling empowered and ready to take on the world. When we can see the light within ourselves, we can conquer any task! I will aid you in finding your light, healing from past hurts & trauma, and building healthy and connected relationships.
Vanessa Nieves-Rivera, MAMFT
She/Her
Biografia en Español abajo Having to overcome the unplanned events that can turn one’s life upside down propelled me into my true calling of being a therapist. I strive to help others to understand that that sometimes changed plans can help them to open doors, leading them to finding their purpose and transcend the version of themselves they only imagined they would be. I work from a non-judgmental stance, using an approach that allows you to recalibrate, create new meaning, and connect or reconnect to your purpose. My years of experience as a therapist and certified health and life coach allow me a multitude of ways to assist adults and couples who are working through anxiety, trauma, depression, and grief. My vision for therapy is to help you to see the light from some of your darkest places, and helping you to get to a place where you can look back and say to yourself, “Wow, look how I have grown”. I am excited to work with you on the journey to recovering from the pain and imbalance of life’s hardships, so that you can enjoy a free and healthy lifestyle. Tener que superar los eventos no planificados que pueden cambiar la vida de uno me impulsó a mi verdadera vocación de ser terapeuta. Me esfuerzo por ayudar a otros a entender que, a veces, cambiar de planes puede ayudarlos a abrir puertas, llevándolos a encontrar su propósito y trascender la versión de sí mismos que solo imaginaban que serían. Trabajo desde una postura sin prejuicios, utilizando un enfoque que le permite recalibrar, crear un nuevo significado y conectarse o reconectarse con su propósito. Mis años de experiencia como terapeuta y entrenador certificado de salud y vida me permiten una multitud de formas. para ayudar a adultos y parejas que están pasando por ansiedad, trauma, depresión y duelo. Mi visión de la terapia es ayudarte a ver la luz en algunos de tus lugares más oscuros y ayudarte a llegar a un lugar donde puedas mirar hacia atrás y decirte a ti mismo: "Guau, mira cómo he crecido." Estoy emocionada de trabajar con usted en el viaje hacia la recuperación del dolor y el desequilibrio de las dificultades de la vida, para que pueda disfrutar de un estilo de vida libre y saludable.
Gabriellia Boatwright, MSW
She/Her
My goal as a therapist is to give people a safe space to be themselves. Life is tough sometimes, and having support is important to the healing and self-discovery processes. I learned through my own life’s challenges the value in having someone to be an accepting, empathetic listener who helps you unpack the bags that weigh you down. I consider myself to be an accountability partner, one that’s nonjudgmental, actively listens, supports and guides you to realizing your full potential. I specialize in helping people to find and use their voice, particularly adults, adolescents, people in the LGBTQ+ community, and those who struggle with ADHD, depression, anxiety and healing from trauma. Let’s work collaboratively towards healing from trauma, negative self-beliefs, and other areas that hold you back, with the intention of helping you to evolve into your best self.
Noris De Jesus-Petrone, MA, LP-MFT
She/Her
I did not always want to be a therapist, but I have always known that helping others is my purpose. My own personal life challenges and feeling that I was in a dark place pushed me a strong desire to understand myself and my feelings at a deeper level. I realized that I wanted to leave the world better than I had found it, and I wanted to do so by helping others to heal. My own healing journey brought me to help others through therapy. For over 19 years, I have been helping children ages 6 and over, adolescents, adults, couples and families to work towards self- acceptance, heal from trauma, grief, loss and infertility, cope with anxiety and depression, become better coparents and explore the challenges of immigration. I also specialize in helping mothers who struggle with infertility and loss of a child. I use a strengths-based approach to help my clients ease the pain that they are experiencing, by not only being there and offering an empathetic ear, but by helping them to find the joy in life that they may have thought would be lost forever. If you have ever felt lost and need help finding your way back to yourself again, I want to walk beside you on the journey of reconnection – not only to others, but to the happiest version of yourself!
Shariff-Justin Blackwell, MA,LBS, CCTS-I,CRC,MCC
He/Him
I know what it’s like to feel defeated and disempowered; to want to achieve happiness but feeling that your anxiety, depression or experienced trauma continues to get in the way of being who you were truly meant to be. It can impact your relationships at work, home and with friends, causing life to sometimes feel hopeless. Hope is defined as a desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment, and I want to help my clients achieve it. YOU have the power, I believe strongly that my job as a therapist is to create the safe space to help you realize it. In my years of experience as a trauma therapist & relationship coach, I have helped countless couples, adolescents, adults and families to heal, grow, and discover what’s next. My clients walk away from therapy feeling like they have a new outlook on life, recognizing that they ARE enough, and healing from the burdens of past traumas. I use an understanding approach in therapy to encourage you to learn the tools that can help you achieve long term change, giving yourself the opportunity to flourish in ways that seemed impossible. You are braver than you believe, and I can’t wait to help you realize the light that already exists within!
