About Donna Cruz, Pre-Licensed Associate

Consider this.

Would you like to find a safe place to let your guard down and say what’s on your heart and mind without judgment or accusation?

Therapy with me provides that place.

My clients are surprised when they discover therapy with me can be fun and safe. First-time clients often think therapy is about being judged or the only ones talking. What happens is we end up having natural, effortless, two-way conversations.

Working with me is like having a tough-love kind of relationship. I’m kind and nurturing and will be there for you no matter what. However, I want you to succeed, and therefore, I will hold you accountable to ensure that you continue to grow into the best version of yourself.

Walking in and sitting across from me will feel like a weight lifted off your shoulders. There are all these initial thoughts, emotions, and worries about what therapy might be like, and before you know it, you can’t wait to show up to your next session to discuss any obstacles and accomplishments.

To be my client over several months means that you will experience a new level of comfort and confidence. It also means that we will go beneath the surface and uncover parts of you that were once unknown. You will learn that happiness and meaning stem from several life areas, such as diet, spirituality, and physical activity. And yes, difficult things will happen, but those things are only part of us. They don’t define us.

Our approach depends on your needs.

To be a person in need of my work means that you are struggling to find balance in life. You may feel like you need new coping skills or techniques to reduce stress, that your emotions are everywhere, or that you’re always worried or sad.

Don’t worry because I use many modalities to meet your needs effectively. Some of the approaches that I utilize include DBT mindfulness, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance to target many of my client’s concerns.

I also understand that everyone is unique, and what works for one person won’t work for another. I also make it a goal of mine to find what WILL work for each of my client’s presenting issues.

Helping others is my mission.

As cliche as it sounds, my mission in life has always been about helping make the world a better place.

I originally went to John Jay College of Criminal Justice for Forensic Psychology because I thought I could get the wrongfully or unfairly convicted out of jails and prisons and offer them alternatives to reduce the likelihood of reoffending. As a result, our crime rates would drop, and individuals with mental illnesses could get real help.

However, I later discovered while exploring counseling that when you work one-on-one with individuals over an extended period, you begin to see fundamental changes happen.

It didn’t matter if I was making a large-scale change in the world. What mattered was that I was impacting at least one person’s life. If that person can share their experience, then I am helping plenty.

Some fun facts about me.

I love to travel and be outdoors. I like hiking because it’s my way of spending quality time with my two dogs. It’s also my form of practicing mindfulness.

I also like to meditate and do yoga to center myself. I enjoy concerts and trying out new food with my family for fun.