Two women, one with short gray hair and the other with long reddish-brown hair, are touching their noses together and smiling in a close, affectionate moment.
Smiling man with dark hair and freckles wearing a light gray t-shirt, carrying a backpack, outdoors against a clear blue sky.

A place for real conversation — and real tools to go with it.

You can go it alone, but you don’t have to. I provide individual and couples therapy that’s both practical and deep. In-person in Oakland or online across California in English and Spanish.

Who I work with

Sometimes life hands you something you weren’t counting on…

The loss of someone or something important. A transition you didn’t choose, or one you did choose and still can’t find your footing in. A relationship that’s changed in ways that are hard to name.

What brings people to me isn’t always a crisis. Sometimes it’s quieter than that — a sense that something essential has shifted and that figuring out what it means is going to need more than meditation, martinis, or a new haircut. The good news is that therapy can help.

I work as a partner in the room, not just a witness. I bring my honest reactions, genuine curiosity, and warmth—and I follow where the conversation needs to go. It’s rarely where either of us expected. This work can be heavy, but it doesn’t have to be relentless.

Individual Therapy

Feeling lost, lonely, or heartsick? Let’s work out what’s next, and build a life you actually want to be living.

Couples Therapy

Most couples aren’t lacking love. They’re lacking a way into the conversations they actually need to have. I can help you find your way in, and find your way through.

A woman with curly brown hair smiling at the camera, wearing a dark green sweater against a neutral background.

Hi, I’m Luisa.

I’m a queer, Mexican American therapist in Oakland. I blend talk therapy, mindfulness, and somatic exercises with practical tools. I especially enjoy working with queer couples, people from mixed cultural backgrounds, and individuals navigating loss, anxiety, or trauma. I work in English and Spanish.

Whatever's life throws your way — a loss, a big change, a relationship in flux — I’m here to help.

Common questions

Let’s talk

You don’t need the right words, or a crisis. Tell me a little about what’s going on, and we’ll see if working together makes sense. A first conversation doesn’t commit you to anything.