Today we’d like to introduce you to Pedro B. Ostrosky.
Hi Pedro, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in Mexico City in a home where creativity, imagination, and art were part of everyday life. Both of my parents were actors, so I was surrounded by storytelling, performance, and the rich world of ideas. My maternal grandmother, a talented jewelry designer, taught me to appreciate the artistry of design, how beauty, detail, and meaning can live in something you create with your hands. Those influences shaped not just my love for the arts but my way of seeing the world.
As a child, I was endlessly curious and loved inventing things. I remember my dad, who owned jewelry and watch stores, once bringing me a small bag of watch parts, tiny gears, springs, and clock faces. I would spend hours piecing them together, imagining myself as an inventor. That creativity later found its way into designing jewelry and clothing, and, eventually, into my therapeutic work, especially when I’m in session with kids, where play and imagination can open the door to healing.
For a while, I even dreamed of becoming an actor, and I appeared in a telenovela. But my real fascination was with people; their feelings, struggles, and capacity for growth. I realized that the most meaningful “invention” I could create was a space where someone could discover new ways of being, where their old stories could be challenged and reshaped into something hopeful and transformative. That led me to study clinical psychology and psychoanalysis in Mexico City and Buenos Aires, receiving my Masters degree and then working in schools, clinics, and research institutions, while also running my private practice. Along the way, I organized workshops, developed community programs, and even curated a TEDx event.
Life changed when I met my wife here in San Diego after my nephew was born. She later moved to Mexico, studied psychology, and became an incredibly talented perinatal psychotherapist. After we got married and establishing my roots in Mexico, I was telling my dad how beautiful San Diego was, and he simply asked, “So, what are you waiting for? Why don’t you move there?” That question stopped me in my tracks. I realized I had been hesitating out of fear. Soon after, my wife and I took a leap of faith, leaving behind a full, stable private practice in Mexico City in search of something new.
The transition wasn’t easy. In California, I couldn’t practice without a license. I had no professional credentials recognized in the U.S. despite having a Masters degree in a well renowned school and having over 10 years of clinical experience. I didn’t even have a social security number. Starting from scratch and fully immigrating was daunting, but my wife’s support made all the difference. While she worked, I navigated the licensing process, submitted all my documents, and began the 3,000+ clinical hours required to become a Marriage and Family Therapist in California. I was fortunate to spend almost three years at Rady Children’s Hospital’s Outpatient Psychiatry program, where I learned invaluable lessons about working with kids, teens, and families in complex situations.
Today, I’ve been in the clinical field for nearly 15 years. I run a bilingual private practice in San Diego, working with children, adolescents, young adults, parents, couples, and families. I specialize in issues such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, self-esteem struggles, relationship challenges, burnout, and life transitions. I also provide parent coaching, helping caregivers strengthen connection, communication, and resilience at home.
Creativity is still at the heart of my work, whether it’s using play and imagination in sessions with children, bringing fresh perspectives to couples therapy, or helping someone reframe their personal story. I believe that therapy can provide a corrective emotional experience, allowing someone to see themselves, others, and the world in new ways. My journey from a childhood filled with art and invention, to crossing borders and starting over, has taught me that transformation is always possible when you have connection, courage, and the right support.
Today, my work blends the artistry I grew up with, the inventiveness I dreamed of as a child, and the clinical expertise I’ve cultivated across cultures. Whether in the therapy room, leading workshops, or speaking in the community, my passion remains the same: creating spaces where growth, connection, and transformation can take root.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Moving from Mexico City to San Diego meant leaving behind a life and career I had worked hard to build. In Mexico City, I already had a psychology license and a master’s degree in Clinical Psychotherapy, along with a full private practice and a steady caseload. Arriving in San Diego, I had to start from zero. While beginning the immigration process, I couldn’t work, drive, or even get a credit card. My identity as a therapist felt frozen, and I struggled with the shift from provider to someone who couldn’t provide.
To stay grounded, I turned to surfing. It became my new project, something to invest in, wake up early for, and work at with discipline. It gave me purpose, connected me to nature and community, and kept me motivated through a long season of waiting and radical acceptance. I began volunteering as a way to give back to the community speaking at events and finding ways to support teens going through difficult life transitions.
When I began my licensing process, I joined Rady Children’s Hospital’s Outpatient Psychiatry program just as COVID began. It was my first time providing therapy in English, and I often say the kids were my teachers, helping me find confidence, correct my words, and build a beautiful, collaborative experience.
Life outside of work brought some of my most profound challenges. After a couple of years of marriage, my wife and I dreamed of becoming parents, but we faced infertility. It was an emotionally draining time, full of hope, disappointment, and patience. Thanks to science and the help of IVF, we finally welcomed our first child, a moment that filled our lives with joy. Through miscarriage and loss, I realized how seeking support can be beneficial in such hard times.
Then, almost two years ago, I faced the hardest season of my life when my dad passed away from cancer. For months, I lived between two worlds, flying to Mexico City to be with my dad, my mom, and my siblings, then returning to San Diego to raise my one-year-old, support my wife, and complete the final steps of my licensure. It was a constant emotional whiplash: one moment in the light of family milestones and new beginnings, the next in the darkness of watching someone I love slip away.
Strangely, after my dad passed away, many of my new clients were also facing cancer and grief. Through supervision, my own therapy, and supporting my clients, I found that my own experiences helped me support my clients. It deepened my understanding of loss in a way that textbooks never could.
These challenges, both professional and personal, taught me that resilience isn’t the absence of hardship. It’s finding meaning, connection, and purpose right in the middle of it.
As you know, we’re big fans of Pedro B. Ostrosky. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I’m a bilingual Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with a master’s degree in Clinical Psychotherapy and I am a PhD candidate currently working on my dissertation in child and adolescent psychoanalysis, with nearly 15 years of clinical experience. I work with children, adolescents, young adults, couples, parents, and families, helping them navigate challenges such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, self-esteem struggles, relationship issues, burnout, and major life transitions.
In my practice, I’m known for blending evidence-based approaches, like CBT, ACT, and family systems, with psychodynamic, attachment-based, and play therapy principles. I also bring a strong creative lens to my work. Whether I’m using play and art with kids, metaphor and storytelling with adults, or experiential exercises with couples, I adapt my approach to each person’s unique needs.
I have a special passion for working with children and teens, and for helping parents feel more confident and connected in their role. Parent coaching is a big part of my work, giving caregivers practical tools to improve communication, bring joy and play to their home, set healthy boundaries, and create a calmer, more supportive home environment.
What sets my practice apart is the combination of my cultural background, creativity, and clinical expertise. Having trained and practiced in Mexico, Argentina, and the United States, I bring a multicultural perspective that helps me connect deeply with clients from diverse backgrounds. I also believe therapy should be a collaborative, dynamic process, not just talking, but exploring, creating, and experimenting with new ways of being. I believe play and humor are an essential role in connection and healing. I use the outdoors as a way to help clients open and process, from a walk and talk session to a surf therapy session.
I’m proud that my practice has become a space where clients feel truly seen, heard, and supported. Many people tell me they look forward to sessions, even when we’re tackling difficult topics, because they feel safe to be themselves. That trust is something I protect and value deeply.
For readers of San Diego Voyager, I’d want you to know this: therapy is not just for crises. It’s a space to explore your inner world, strengthen your relationships, and find clarity in the middle of change. Whether you’re a parent trying to understand your child better, a couple wanting to reconnect, or an individual feeling stuck, you don’t have to figure it out alone. My goal is to walk alongside you, bringing both professional expertise and genuine human connection, so that growth, healing, and transformation feel possible.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I have so many beautiful memories from my childhood, but one that stands out is our Sunday “excursion days.” My dad would come into our room with so much excitement, announcing, “Today is excursion day!” We each had our own bicycles, and he would take us riding to different places around the city.
We’d follow him through the streets, feeling like we were on a real adventure. I remember the mix of adrenaline and trust, cars would pass nearby, but I felt safe because my dad was leading the way. He had this calm confidence that made us feel capable, like he trusted us to be both responsible and have fun.
Those rides weren’t just about getting from one place to another, they were about freedom, connection, and joy. Even now, thinking about them makes me smile. It’s a reminder of how powerful it is when someone believes in you enough to let you take risks while knowing they’re right there with you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pedroostrosky.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedro-b-ostrosky-phd-c-lmft-054685b5/es
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/pedro-b-ostrosky-san-diego-ca/739234
