Empowering young adults through their many life transitions, as they develop their identity and strive to break generational cycles
Hello, I’m Jennifer! Hola, yo soy Jennifer!
Jennifer Gonzalez, LCSW-S
She| Her | Ella
My name is Jennifer Garay Gonzalez, and I am a bilingual, first-generation Latina, and Licensed Clinical Social Worker with Supervisor status practicing in Texas!
Poco de Mi/ A little about me:
I like long walks to my couch during my time off, 2-3 cups of coffee per day, and a warm concha for comforting vibes.
Other things that bring me joy: cooking all things but mostly Mexican food, visiting my extended family in Chihuahua MX, making memories with my kids and husband, and organizing every corner of our home!
What is my Why?
I pursued this field of work to ultimately be the person I needed when I was younger AND the person my immigrant parents needed in their younger adult life.
I have always had a deep-rooted passion for helping other individuals navigate through different aspects of life, and that passion flourished throughout my educational and personal life experiences throughout young adulthood.
As a social worker and WOC, I am highly motivated by social justice. I strongly believe and advocate for Women's rights, LGBTQIA rights, POC rights, and basic human rights-to name a few! I am an affirming therapist for people of all sexual identities and genders.
Educational & Professional Background
Licensure: Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners- Licensed Clinical Social Worker #65485
Supervisor Status earned April, 2023
Education: Master of Social Work Degree (MSW)- The University of Houston, 2016
Bachelors of Psychology & Spanish- The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2014
Being that social workers are needed/sought in most settings, my varied experience to date includes inpatient/outpatient hospital counseling, crisis intervention counseling, skills training through a community program for children/adolescents, and mental health counseling in higher education settings. I have 8+ years of mental health experience working with the pediatric, adolescent, and adult population facing a variety of challenges including stages of life, relationships, adjustments, self-image, family dynamics, and physical health issues.
My Therapy Approach
I strive to offer a safe space in which young adult individuals (18-39 years old) can share their stories in their own way, on their own time, and from their own perspective. I offer support for clients to talk through the most difficult challenges in their vida/life while also struggling with symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and challenging family and relationship dynamics. I practice Cognitive behavioral therapy, solution focused therapy, and Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD.
I chose the name Vida Counseling TX to reflect the unique experiences young adults encounter in their lives/vidas as children of immigrants in an environment that at times can work against us, not for us. And how those experiences usually come to surface during this age period, but persist throughout our lives/vidas. There are many generational cycles that can be deep rooted within us that don’t necessarily align with who we actually want to be.
If this sounds familiar, I’d like to help you feel you find ways to feel empowered to modify or eliminate those generational hardships.