Inspiring Conversations with Tina Gonzalez of Flor Y Siendo Therapy and Wellness

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tina Gonzalez.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Well, I can tell you that I never expected to be where I am today. As a child, I wanted to be a nurse, a teacher, a doctor, an airline stewardess. Now I realize that I wanted to help people feel better or at least a little more comfortable. I was a helper, not always by choice, but as the child of immigrants from Mexico, I was a part of the team doing adult things like translating documents, writing checks, and trying to make sense of confusing bureaucratic processes. All the while, I was trying to navigate culture, identity, and my own mental health.

When I was in high school, inspired by my own counselor, Mrs. Sally Combs Soike, I decided that I would be a school counselor. I wanted to help students not only navigate the school system but also help them reach their personal and career goals. In 2011, I completed a Master of Arts degree in Counseling and was credentialed to work as a school counselor in California. I was ready for it! However, the recession made it so that schools were not ready for me and many other counselors. It turned out that not only were school districts NOT hiring new counselors but also dismantling their entire school counseling programs. To say that this was disheartening and disappointing is an understatement. I worked in various school-based roles until finally obtaining a part-time position as a school counselor 2.5 years later in the school district’s mental health program. While in that role, I found clarity at the intersection of education and mental health. So, what did I do? I went back to school!

I earned a second Master of Arts degree, this time in Clinical Psychology, and graduated with a job, this time working in a wonderful school-based mental health program. I eventually left that position due to a move and LA traffic won out! I found myself in a new community mental health agency in which I was able to work with a more diverse population for the next few years. Due to personal health and family responsibilities, it just wasn’t sustainable to stay on. In the midst of realizing this, I took a course about starting a therapy private practice and slowly started building what came to be Flor Y Siendo Therapy and Wellness.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In short, no. I have been fortunate to have the support of my family and husband and have seen my practice grow at a pace that has felt comfortable. One of the reasons I decided to start my practice was to be more present for my family and it has allowed for that. The challenge is that I have absolutely needed that flexibility. Therapists are humans. We go through the same things that everyone else goes through. So life itself has been a challenge. I’m happy to say that I can walk the walk. I’m in my own therapy and it makes a world of difference not just as a practice owner and a therapist but as a person. Of course, the challenge of learning to run a business is ever-present. I’m constantly consulting with colleagues and learning from them. Connecting with other practice owners has been vital!

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?
I started Flor Y Siendo Therapy and Wellness with the intention of providing bilingual (English and español), culturally competent, and trauma-informed therapy services. Personally, I work primarily with adult women (but not exclusively) who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse and feel stuck in various aspects of their lives. I believe that by creating a therapeutic environment that feels both safe and familiar, we can bring about healing for individuals and the community as a whole. My goal is to move at my clients’ pace with curiosity and respect for them and their lived experiences. For me, the process is just as important as the final goal. As a practice, my goal is to provide therapeutic services, education, and goods that are trauma-informed and that challenge mental health stigma.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I think it’s important to remember that we all have mental health and that we have to take care of it. Just like we all have physical health: we make decisions about nourishing and caring for our body and we do the same for our mental health. Some of us meditate, play, journal, and/or go to therapy. This is nourishment and exercise for our minds and emotions. I hope that our society continues to move forward in taking care of our mental health and not just talking about it.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.florysiendotherapyandwellness.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/florysiendo_therapyandwellness/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/florysiendotherapyandwellness
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/user/4yrisko9yl7h7iik0tkksqbw5

Image Credits:
Rebecca Zeller Photography Logo by Mariana Gomez Estudio