Judith Rivera Counseling
Hi! I'm Judith
I am a warmhearted and compassionate Christian therapist with a decade of experience ready to come alongside you and help you rise above what you are going through. I provide care for those experiencing core wounds, unhealthy pressure, and uncomfortable emotions such as shame, anxiety, and depression. I’m also passionate about supporting women in the perinatal stage (infertility, traumatic births, miscarriage, pregnancy and the transition into parenthood).
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California (License No. 111379). My education includes a Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Psychology from Azusa Pacific University (summa cum laude). I further hold a B.S. in Psychology from Regent University (summa cum laude). I have also undergone additional training in the following areas: EMDR, Perinatal stages, Parenting Education; Trauma, CBT, Relationship Education, and Gottman Method. Being fully bilingual, I am able to work with you in Spanish.
I look forward to assisting you or your family.
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Why Christian Counseling?
Christian counseling is a solution for those individuals seeking mental
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
I’m nervous about starting therapy. Is that normal?
Therapy can be vulnerable and new, so it’s natural to be nervous. It can be difficult to imagine the words around what you are feeling. Maybe you’ve experienced feeling tongue tied when trying to open up to friends or loved ones in the past. The fear around that can feel overwhelming. Going to therapy even when you are nervous is not easy. It may take courage to take those steps. You reading this now shows that you are already stepping in the right direction.
Therapy is a safe and encouraging space where you can be yourself and come just as you are. I’m committed to finding a way to care for your uneasiness and ensure sessions are as comfortable as possible.
How do I know if you are the right therapist for me?
Take your time to read through my website. If you sense that I may be a good fit based on what you are reading, you can contact me.
We can discuss how I have helped other people like you before, what a typical session with me is like, or any other questions you may have that are specific-to-you. You’ll also be able to share what’s transpiring in your life and we can decide together how I can help.
It may be helpful to think of the first few sessions as an opportunity to experience our collaborative journey. During the sessions, you’ll be able to get a feel of what working with me is like. My approach is not going to work for everyone. What’s most important to me is that you find someone who you feel is the right fit for you. We can explore that together.
What if I’m not ready to talk about something?
It’s natural to not want to share some of the painful or difficult things we’ve been through. During our sessions, it will always be up to you if you feel ready to talk about something or not. It’s my hope that you will slowly come to feel that this is a safe place to work through those painful areas in your life. Gradually and at a pace that feels comfortable to you, you can share what you feel ready to share.
I’m anxious to take this step
You are courageous for taking this step. Many of my clients have had the same fear because of past experiences. Through my own life journey and working with my clients, I know how ‘normal’ your experience is.
I know many of us are overwhelmed, we all have our strengths and weaknesses, we may have normal reactions to abnormally challenging experiences.
Whatever it is you’re going through, I provide a safe space where you can feel heard and supported.
How can I maximize my Tele-Health experience?
To maximize your experience during our time together, you will need a quiet and confidential space wherever you are at, a strong Wi-Fi connection (a wired connection is preferred to avoid interruptions) and a good pair of headsets or ear buds. Finally, if you are interested in EMDR, you will need to join our sessions from any device except a phone.
How long will therapy take?
On average, clients who are a great fit take 10-12 weekly sessions before they switch to maintenance phase (every other week, 1x/month, or 1x/quarter) or termination (graduate from therapy).
What can I expect during the first session?
Overall, you can think of the first session as a free-flowing conversation through which we start getting to know each other. I’ll invite you to share more about yourself and we can also talk about what’s worked or not worked for your mental health in the past.
Some questions that I like to ask during a first session include:
- What brought you to therapy?
- What’s taking place in your life right now?
- Have you gone to therapy before? How did that go?
You can ask me questions as well. You might be curious about why I’m a therapist or how I’ve helped other clients like you.
The most important part of a first session is that you see if you feel I’m a good fit for you. If you feel supported, seen, and at-ease with me, we can discuss if you’d like to meet again.
Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?
It can be concerning feeling like things you say or do in therapy could “get out.” This can be especially concerning if you are someone in ministry, so I want you to know that your privacy and trust are of utmost importance. If you have specific questions about how confidentiality works, please know that we will cover this prior to our first session together.
How can I get started?
Fill out the contact form and I will be in touch with you!
