Hidden Gems: Meet Nino Yniguez of Saturnino Yniguez, A Marriage and Family Therapy Corporation

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nino Yniguez.

Hi Nino, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hard to make this one brief, if I were to pick a starting point, it would be deciding to switch my major in college from business to psychology. I was going to San Diego State at the time and fell in love with the child and family development 1o1 course. Since then I returned back to LA for graduate school and got a masters in clinical psychology. My first job was working as an intern at a treatment center in Topanga Canyon for adolescents struggling with mental health issues. After about five years of doing treatment center work and getting my license to be a therapist, I decided to start a private practice. A little while later Covid changed my business plan and I began doing a lot of virtual therapy and with my extra time, started doing trainings for trauma work. Since then, I have become a level two certified trauma specialist, I have also become certified in psychedelic assisted therapy and somatic reprocessing of trauma. Currently, I still hold a private practice in Westlake Village and also work at the West LA VA doing psychedelic assisted therapy research with veterans struggling with PTSD.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have definitely been some ups and downs. I would say the last five years have been full as I/we (my wife) have navigated how to build a private practice business during Covid shutdowns and starting a family and becoming pregnant with our first child. There are also definite mental stressors that grad school does not prepare you for when it comes to being a mental health therapist during a worldwide crisis.

I’d say it’s been challenging learning how to grow into being a good father and husband while also growing my therapy practice/business at the same time

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My business is considered a mental health therapy private practice in Westlake Village. I am a licensed MFT and I currently specialize in trauma and autism. If there was one thing that sets me apart, it would be my work as a psychedelic assisted therapist. I would consider myself holistic in my approach and truly believe that psychedelics can be helpful for people struggling with mental health issues. I currently work part time at the West LA VA doing research with psychedelic assisted therapy and have seen how life changing these medicines can be.

This might be weird to say but I think the thing I am most proud of is the amount of times I’ve messed up and not given up. I look back at all the things I have done wrong throughout my life and how much I have learned from those mistakes – it’s most likely made me a better therapist and helped increase my open mindedness and curiosity. Lots of mistakes lol

In terms of what I offer – individual and couples therapy, psychedelic preparation and integration, trauma therapy, and sound therapy.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
This is an area that I am not strong in! I think I’m still trying to find my way in networking which is what led me to this interview. As far as finding a mentor – I always look to community service. I personally love Rotary clubs and have found amazing friends and leaders in them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ninomft.com
• Other: [email protected]