Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah Aguirre.
Leah, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Both my parents are social workers and in the mental health field. So, I was raised with a strong awareness and understanding of mental health/mental illness that not a lot of people have. I have had many family members struggle with mental illness/mental health challenges and I myself have always struggled with anxiety and challenges with my self-esteem.
I studied psychology at UCSB and then went for my masters at SDSU where I graduated with a master’s of social work. I have been in the field of mental health since I was 23 and was licensed about three years ago. I have had a lot of experience working with individuals that have experienced complex trauma and am trained in EMDR. I have spent the last 6 years working for different non-profits. I currently work at a community clinic and have my private practice.
Most recently I have been focusing on helping women process and clear trauma and developing more positive self-esteem. Today with technology, social media and dating apps being so pervasive, women are struggling more and more and not feeling “good enough” in different areas of their lives. There is so much more comparing and the need to prove oneself to others and be “seen.” My hope and mission is to help women in their 20s and 30s embrace every aspect of themselves and have more self-love and self-compassion.
Has it been a smooth road?
For the longest time, I didn’t show myself the same compassion that I have always had for my clients (and most other people). I have always been really hard and super critical of myself. I’m a perfectionist in a lot of ways. I was always comparing myself to others and seeking outside approval and validation (from work or relationships.) I experienced a lot of negative self talk and blamed myself for things outside of my control.
Two to three years ago I hit a wall and was so exhausted and tired of how things were, how I was feeling. I had chronic headaches, was very emotional and neglected a lot of things that have always been important to me. This impacted a lot of aspects of my life and I was generally unhappy. It’s ironic because I would put so much care and energy into my clients but be neglecting my own needs. So, I started actively making changes. I became committed to my own therapy, started getting back into fitness and developing a more healthy lifestyle, pursued goals and interests that I had put off, and made the conscious effort to put myself first in all aspects of my life. I set boundaries and said no to things that weren’t good for me. I went through my renaissance. And through this process became passionate about encouraging self-love and growth in other young, professional women.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am an individual psychotherapist and focus on providing support for women who want to heal from past trauma and develop more self-love and compassion. I am trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy. Specifically, my mission is to help women become more confident in who they are as they date and navigate relationships. So many women lose themselves through the dating process and seek happiness and validation through relationships and external factors. I help women challenge their inner critic and build on their strengths and qualities that make them the strong, beautiful person they are.
I am most proud of my non-traditional approach with clients. I don’t see myself as an expert in the therapeutic space. In my practice, I cuss, sit crossed legged in my chair with shoes off and laugh with my clients. My clients are the experts of their lives and experiences, and my role is to provide a nonjudgmental and therapeutic space. Most recently I have been contributing to Sanity & Self (a self-care app for women) and sharing some of my own experiences to connect with other women. While taboo for many mental health professionals, I believe that my candidness and vulnerability has helped normalize and validate other women’s experiences, as well as empower them. While there has been so much movement and progress in regards to the discussion of mental health and women’s issues, I continue to share my story and journey to facilitate even more conversations, reduce stigma and create more community and resources.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
There is always a need for mental health providers! I don’t think that there is one person that has not experienced challenges with their mental health. Everyone experiences grief/loss, life transitions, anxiety, identity crisis, depression and relationship problems. I think it is so important for individuals to have access to a variety of providers with different styles and approaches. I always emphasize the importance of shopping for therapists and finding a good fit and so having a wide range and pool of providers to choose from is so important. Everyone has different needs and expectations for therapy.
I think there could be better networking for therapists in private practice (locally). I also think there needs to be more groups and spaces for individuals with similar lived experiences and challenges to connect and build community.
Pricing:
- $120/50 min individual psychotherapy session
- Free 10-14 min phone consultations
- I offer low cost presentations and workshops for small groups (price varies)
Contact Info:
- Address: 3435 Camino Del Rio South. Suite 122
San Diego, CA 92108 - Website: leahaguirrelcsw.com
- Phone: 858-365-0453
- Email: leahaguirrelcsw@gmail.com
- Instagram: @yourmoremoderntherapist
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