Language, culture, and belonging are at the heart of my work—and my own story. As a multilingual counselor (English/Spanish/Portuguese) and an immigrant from South America, I’ve lived the complexities of navigating identity between worlds. This personal journey fuels my passion for supporting families, children, and communities in transition—whether due to migration, trauma, or the everyday challenges of growing up. My approach is deeply relational: I see each client not just as an individual, but as part of an ecosystem of family, culture, and society. Together, we’ll honor your family story, strengthen your connections, and build resilience from a place of cultural humility and care.

My therapeutic approach is flexible and prescriptive—tailored to the unique needs of each client. Children and adolescents thrive when their therapy aligns with their developmental stage, personality, and specific challenges, which is why I carefully select and adapt interventions rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all model. 

For younger children, this might mean beginning with child-led play therapy to build trust and emotional safety, then gradually introducing more directive techniques (like cognitive-behavioral, narrative or expressive arts) as they grow ready to work toward goals. With tweens and teens, I would blend narrative therapy with skill-building strategies, ensuring their voice drives the process. For families, I offer experiential and arts-based interventions in conjoint sessions—using creative projects, and interactive exercises to deepen communication, repair relationships, and foster shared understanding. I also provide specialized parenting support grounded in Positive Discipline and my credentials as a parent educator, offering concrete tools to strengthen family dynamics. 

Whether working individually with children, collaboratively with parents, or facilitating family sessions, my goal is to create a space where clients feel empowered to explore, heal, and grow—while honoring their cultural identities and personal values.

I have experience addressing a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, self-harm, conduct disorders, school-related challenges, and family transitions such as divorce. My work is trauma-informed, diversity-affirming, and inclusive of all identities, with a commitment to ongoing cultural humility.

Beyond my clinical work, I am deeply engaged in my Brazilian community, and I love exploring creativity through arts and crafts, board games, and film. Whether in therapy or in life, I believe in the power of connection, play, and growth—and I’m honored to walk alongside my clients in their journeys.

Viviane can be reached at viviane@gaiacounseling.com