You hear it all the time that finding a therapist is a very personal decision. It is.  Maybe you wonder how a stranger could possibly help you, and how will you find that right person. Maybe no one in your family believes in therapy.  Maybe your friend had a bad experience and they think it's a waste of time and money. You kind of agree, but you don't want to burden your friends and family with all the the stuff in your head.  Frankly, you don't want to talk about it at all, but you know you need to.  

I believe the way to feel better is to reveal who you are with someone who is objective, impartial, and nonjudgmental. You need someone who has an open heart, is a great listener, can teach you skills, and will keep strict confidentiality. You need someone who is working with integrity, ethics and strong boundaries so you feel safe. You need someone who respects your autonomy and will not try to convince you, change you, or disrespect your personal beliefs and values. You need a supportive person to challenge your thinking, understand your behaviors, and honor and validate your feelings. You need a place where you are encouraged to be your empowered, authentic self. Until you know it for yourself and don't need that someone anymore.

My name is Malia Gallegos, I am a Marriage and Family Therapist, and here is a little about me.

Somatic Work: I am a Certified Trauma Resiliency Model Practitioner (TRM) and Community Resiliency Model CRM Skills teacher (https://www.traumaresourceinstitute.com/). I studied Somatic Psychology at The Santa Barbara Graduate Institute. I am currently a student of the Somatic Abolitionism Training Program with the Education for Racial Equity (https://www.educationforracialequity.com/). I am a Certified Laban Movement Analyst (https://labaninstitute.org/) and hold an undergraduate degree from Hampshire College and the Five College Dance program in Amherst Massachusetts. in dance and movement studies (https://www.hampshire.edu/dance/the-five-college-dance-department). I am a licensed massage therapist in both Hawaii and California and practiced for 15 years before transition to psychotherapy. 

Trauma and Dissociation: I have been a student and member of ISSTD, The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation since 2018 (https://www.isst-d.org/). I have training in Complex Trauma and Dissociative Disorders.

Eating Disorders: While eating disorders are no longer a central aspect of my practice, I have the foundation to support those who have an ED history. I worked at all levels of eating disorder treatment from inpatient to residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient, for 8 years before embracing private practice.