Carla Rivera

Feeling trapped in a cycle of negative thoughts and behaviors that impact your life, career, or relationships? Are you ready to enhance your mental well-being and reach your full potential? Experiencing anxiety, depression, numbness, or communication difficulties? I understand how you feel, and I'm here to help you discover the tools that best suit your life, so you can get back on track and achieve your goals. The fact that you're reading this shows you're ready for change. Seeking empathy? Enjoy humor when it's fitting? Want to feel at ease while processing your emotions no matter how big or small? With personalized treatment plans crafted for your unique needs, I'm devoted to guiding you on your journey towards greater self-awareness, growth, and fulfillment. Navigating life, I've often walked in shoes where my voice faded into the background, and judgments from others felt louder than my own thoughts. It’s these personal moments of silence that inspired my journey into therapy. My core belief? Everyone has a voice that's worthy of being heard, validated, and understood. Having tasted the bittersweetness of not always fitting the mold, I'm deeply committed to ensuring that my therapy space is a sanctuary of warmth, acceptance, and genuine connection. My approach is fueled by a blend of personal experiences and true nonjudgment. I actively strive to recognize, respect, and embrace the variety of stories that every individual brings. As your therapist, I promise a space where you’re not just another note in the symphony but the melody itself. I am not a therapist who just sits with you in a session and asks "how does that make you feel?" I go above and beyond for my clients and my work doesn't just stop in our sessions together. I spend time researching specific ways to help if we hit a stuck point, and I don't give up. I've always believed that our past experiences mold us, and my journey to becoming a therapist is a story of resilience, adventure, and passion. Like many, I faced personal trauma that gifted me with empathy and the drive to uplift others. Before diving into therapy, I served in the military, which taught me discipline, patience, and how to deal with challenges. With my boots hung up from military service, my heart gravitated toward supporting individuals battling addiction, which was soon followed by years spent as a geriatric social worker where I learned the art of understanding life's various perspectives throughout a lifetime. I've also had the privilege to work within many homes, supporting families therapeutically in their own sanctuaries. As I evolve, so do my skills. I've embraced EMDR, ERP, and sex therapy training to enhance the depth of my practice. My diverse background and heart full of compassion position me as not just a therapist but as a fellow traveler in the journey of life. If you're thinking about working with me, you should know I truly believe that my clients are the experts in their own lives. I respect your knowledge, experiences, and opinions, and I'm here to support you in achieving your goals, whatever they may be. I'm also not one to shy away from a challenge. If you ask me to push you outside your comfort zone, I'm more than happy to oblige; if I sense that you might be holding back, I'm not afraid to gently nudge you to explore those difficult emotions, and I'll always do it with empathy and compassion. I'm not here to judge or criticize, as I have lived an interesting life where many choices I made were judgeable. I believe humor can be a powerful tool in the therapeutic process. When appropriate, I'll use humor to lighten the mood and help you feel more at ease. And, sometimes, when the moment calls for it, I'll use silence as a therapeutic tool. This gives you the space and time to process your thoughts and feelings without interruption or distraction. If you're ready to take that next step to grow and heal, I'm here! I'm constantly looking for knowledge and new ways to help my clients. One of my favorite ways to continue learning is by attending trainings and workshops. I now provide comprehensive assessments for adults who may have ADHD, autism, or both. Many adults go undiagnosed for years, often struggling with focus, organization, social interactions, or sensory sensitivities without understanding why. My evaluations take a holistic approach, considering your developmental history, daily experiences, and the unique ways your brain processes the world. Because ADHD and autism share overlapping traits—such as executive functioning challenges, emotional regulation difficulties, and struggles with routine changes—I take the time to differentiate between them and rule out other possible explanations, such as anxiety, depression, or past trauma. Through in-depth conversations, evidence-based screening tools, and a focus on your personal experiences, I aim to provide clarity and guidance on how your brain works so you can move forward with the right support. If you’ve ever felt misunderstood or wondered if there’s more to your struggles than what you’ve been told, I’m here to help you find answers. I'm always on the lookout for the newest evidence-based therapy modalities that could work for my clients. If there's something out there that can help my clients heal and grow, you bet I will learn all about it. Clinical psychology is just such a fascinating field, with so many different areas to explore. From trauma-informed care to positive psychology, I'm always looking to expand my knowledge base. Learning and building competencies isn't just about the technical stuff. It's also about continuing to grow as a person, which is why I'm always seeking out opportunities for personal development. I attend training, engage in peer supervision, and even have my own therapist because, let's be real, if I'm not taking care of myself, how can I expect to take care of my clients?