Hello

Hello! My name is Elisa Gutierrez-Bastoni (She/Her). I am a clinical practicum student supervised by Alma Henry, LISW. I received my Bachelors’ in Psychology/Law and Society from the University of California, Riverside, and now I am pursuing my Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (LMHC) at Drake University. I have several years of direct care experience within the home, community, as well as residential facilities. I have worked with clients ages 4 to 77 years old as I enjoy addressing any and all of life’s challenges.

​Having immigrated to the United Stated of America at a young age, I thoroughly enjoy working with individuals of various cultural backgrounds, always with an approach of cultural humility. I believe that mental health and material resources cannot be viewed separately as I seek to address issues through a social model, this includes collaborative care as I will always work to advocate for my clients. This philosophy extends to my experiences within the LGBTQIA+ community, where I explore with clients how socialization affects our cognitive functions.

​Therapy is best effective when practitioners can provide a space for individuals to feel accepted when at their most vulnerable, and that is always the environment I seek to create. Psychosocial models allow us to better understand how the world around us impacts where we are in life, this holistic approach frees us to expand our definition of wellness beyond conventional means.