Hidden Gems: Meet Fatima Mendoza of Healing Yesterday Counseling

Today we’d like to introduce you to Fatima Mendoza.

Hi Fatima, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Fatima Mendoza, and I’m a first-gen Latina therapist. I didn’t always know what I wanted to do when I “grew up.” At different points, I wanted to be a teacher, a lawyer, even a nurse. When I graduated high school, I still wasn’t sure, but I knew I loved school, so I enrolled in community college.
I later transferred to a four-year university, earned my degree in Human Services, and began my master’s program in School Counseling, thinking I wanted to work in education. Early in my master’s program, I decided to start therapy for myself, and that experience completely changed me. For the first time, I felt deeply understood and supported. It also made me realize how powerful therapy can be, especially for people like me who grew up in families where mental health wasn’t openly discussed.
That experience inspired me to expand my path. I added my PPS credential to open more opportunities in education and decided to pursue the LPCC pathway so I could provide therapy and make a greater impact.
I now have about 12 years of experience working with youth and in education and around six years specifically in mental health. I’ve worked in schools, nonprofits serving low-income and Spanish-speaking communities, and at a behavioral hospital facilitating mental health and substance use groups.
All of these experiences led me to create Healing Yesterday Counseling, a space dedicated to breaking the stigma around mental health in the Latino community.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Yes and no. As a first-gen student, I had to navigate college completely on my own. There was no roadmap, just a lot of determination and trial and error. I was fortunate to receive grants that helped me through undergrad, but graduate school was a different story. I still remember crying when I found out I had to take out student loans. Forty-five thousand dollars felt like an impossible amount at 21 years old.
During my master’s program, I completed multiple unpaid internships, which were honestly where I gained the most meaningful experience. To make it all work, I went from full-time to part-time jobs and eventually picked up a second job just to make ends meet. It was exhausting, but I knew it was part of the journey.
When I decided to open my private practice, the hardest part wasn’t the paperwork, it was imposter syndrome. I was nervous to put myself out there, even though I had worked so hard to get to that point. One of my biggest challenges was also getting back on Instagram. I hadn’t used it in about 10 years! Not going to lie, I googled a lot, asked my younger siblings and even watched YouTube videos on how to navigate Instagram. Now, I’m focused on growing my business, improving my SEO, and connecting with others…and yes, my student loans have been paid off!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At Healing Yesterday Counseling, I provide bilingual telehealth therapy for adults across California. My work is rooted in empathy, cultural awareness, and a deep understanding of the Latina experience. I specialize in helping first-generation adults navigate anxiety, grief, life transitions, trauma, and the unique stress that comes from balancing two cultures. I also work with educators, a group I hold close to my heart because of my own background in education.
What sets me apart is the combination of lived experience and professional training. I grew up ni de aquí ni de allá, so I understand what it’s like to live between cultures, to feel the pull of familismo while striving for independence.
My brand is inspired by the marigold, a flower deeply rooted in Mexican culture and used in Día de los Muertos. Just as the marigold honors those we have lost, I honor the many forms of grief we carry—because grief isn’t always about losing someone; we grieve the changes, challenges, and transitions in life. Healing Yesterday recognizes and validates these experiences, offering a space to process them fully. I am proud of creating a space where therapy isn’t seen as “only for crazy people,” but as something empowering and healing. My brand message is simple: you are seen, you are heard, and you can heal. Healing Yesterday isn’t about forgetting your past, it’s about healing it and moving into tomorrow with strength.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was ni de aquí ni de allá, not from here, not from there. I’m the first-born daughter of Mexican immigrants, and Spanish was my first language. Because of that, I was classified as an “ESL” student, which today I’m actually really proud of saying, but back then it didn’t feel that way. I didn’t master English until around fourth grade, and school came with a lot of frustrations. I realized early on that I was different. We liked different music, different shows, and I struggled to make friends because we didn’t have much in common.
Homework was another challenge since my parents were also learning English. My mom had this huge English-to-Spanish dictionary that I used all the time. It was basically my homework partner.
Traveling to Mexico was always part of my childhood, but even that came with its own struggle. My cousins would tell me my Spanish wasn’t “Mexican enough,” and at school my English had a Mexican accent. I often felt caught between two worlds, and that’s really when my love for reading started. I got into Harry Potter toward the end of elementary school and later Twilight, like many other teenage girls. Those stories helped me find connection and friendship.
By middle school things got better. I joined orchestra, made great friends, and by high school I was in honors classes and even learning French. Looking back, those language barriers shaped my confidence, resilience, and love for learning.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://healingyesterday.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healingyesterdaycounseling?igsh=cXN2OWZjbDU0ejd0&utm_source=qr