Adelle M. Flores-Yoshitomi, LMHC
"Empowering adults to break unhealthy patterns so they can experience greater inner peace, happiness and fulfillment."

I provide counseling to adults who are seeking a safe space to actively work on how they process their life experiences, improve the quality of their relationships, learn tools to better manage stress, further develop how they communicate their feelings, and want to make their emotional well-being a priority. 

 

I use an integrative and holistic approach to best support my clients. I seek to get to know them and earn their trust. I honor their pace and follow their lead, while empathically challenging them. One of my biggest passions is being able to support people’s unique journeys, especially those from racial and sexual minority backgrounds. 

 

In addition, I can assist adults who are seeking therapy for the following reasons:

 

• Acculturation Process

• Anger Management

• Anxiety

• Boundary Setting

• Caretaker Burnout

• Chronic Illness

• Communication Issues

• Depression

• Esteem Issues

• Family Conflicts

• Gender and Sexuality Identity Issues

• Grief & Loss

• Infidelity

• Life Transitions

• Peer Relationships

• Relationship Issues

• Social Anxiety

• Stress Management

• Transitioning to Civilian Life

• Trauma & PTSD

• Trust Issues

• Work/Life balance

 

As therapists we are exposed to multiple theoretical orientations not only while attending school, but as we complete our face to face clinical hours, and pursue specialized certifications and training.  We are always encouraged to keep learning and gain additional tools to better serve our clients.  

 

These are the therapeutic approaches that I primarily utilize as they align with my core values and beliefs:

 

Humanistic and Person-Centered Therapy:

 

This therapy approach focuses on the individual's subjective experience and their potential for growth and self-actualization. It emphasizes on the quality of the relationship between the therapist and the client, with the therapist providing empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness. 

 

The therapist has to create a safe and supportive environment where the client can feel free to explore their emotions and experiences without fear of judgment. The therapist may use the following techniques to help the client explore their thoughts and feelings: active listening, reflection, and paraphrasing. 

 

Through the therapeutic relationship, the client will gain self-awareness and develop a stronger sense of self-worth and self-acceptance. The client is empowered to trust their own intuition and internal resources to make decisions and solve problems. 

 

Systemic Therapy:

 

This therapeutic strategy is primarily known in the realm of Family Counseling, yet it can be used when conducting Individual Counseling sessions. It focuses on understanding an individual's problems within the context of their relationships and interactions, particularly within their family and social systems. Systemic therapists not only view their clients within their larger social systems, but consider how relationships, interactions, and patterns within those systems contribute to their client’s problems. 

 

Therapist interventions can include: actively listening, hypothesizing, sharing feedback, circular questioning, conceptualizing, reframing, and creating family genograms. The benefits from this type of therapy include: improved communication, stronger relationships, increased self-awareness, problem solving skills and reduced conflict.

 

Affirmative Counseling:

 

This type of therapy focuses on validating and supporting the unique experiences and needs of LGBTQIA+ individuals (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual and a broader range of identities not named but recognized under this umbrella term). Its goal is to help clients explore and accept their identities, while also addressing their unique stressors as they may encounter prejudice, discrimination, and internalized homophobia/transphobia. 

 

Affirmative therapy aims to create a safe and affirming environment where individuals feel understood and accepted for who they are. When working with a therapist who uses this therapeutic approach, the client will experience: validation and acceptance of their gender identity and sexual orientation without judgment. 

 

Benefits from receiving this type of therapy include: increased self-acceptance, reduced mental health issues related to discrimination, and improved overall well-being. Clients report feeling understood and supported, which can lead to more effective therapy outcomes.

 

I feel a strong connection to the following populations/communities when working as a clinician, either through shared lived experiences or by being welcomed as an ally.

 

Counseling for Military Veterans:

 

During my undergraduate summer internship at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, in Bedford, Massachusetts, I saw the positive impact of recognizing and validating veterans' sacrifices. I witnessed veterans from different branches come together and find healing while sharing their experiences. 

 

I understood how not all veterans have had access to the timely care that they needed and how they came to develop PTSD.  This motivated me to seek another internship after graduate school where I provided direct counseling services at the Veteran Affairs Caribbean Healthcare in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I conducted therapy with veterans who were in the Acute Ward as a result of a recent crisis and needed to receive timely care to stabilize and prevent further decompensation. 

 

I gained a better understanding of how chronic medical issues can be service connected. The difficulties veterans face when returning to civilian life and their families, including the need for support to manage the effects of their service and the challenges of readjusting to family life. Members of the veteran community should have access to dedicated and compassionate professionals who understand their unique needs.

 

Counseling for the Latino/Latinx/Hispanic Community:

 

Al inicio de mi carrera, me tocó aprender que el ser una mujer Latina (Puertorriqueña y Nicaragüense), no significaba que automáticamente podía comprender la multitud de experiencias que existen dentro de nuestra comunidad. To gain a deeper understanding, I had to diligently seek to learn more about the similarities and differences amongst the Central American, Caribbean, and South American individuals. 

 

When I moved to Northern California from Puerto Rico for my graduate studies, I experienced the heartbreak of not ever being able to feel whole in one place. The acculturation process is not linear and many factors impact how manageable or overwhelming it can be. I quickly learned about the concept of privilege and how not all Latinos are treated the same. 

 

By providing counseling to individuals from all walks of life, different socioeconomic levels and legal status my horizons were broadened. My personal experience with the Adjustment of Status process alongside my husband, who is Peruvian and Japanese, has significantly deepened my awareness and understanding of this experience. Working in Florida has allowed me to stay true to my commitment to be able to offer counseling services in Spanish to my community.  The ability to understand my clients' needs without requiring them to explain themselves is incredibly fulfilling. 

 

Counseling for the LGBTQIA+ Community:

 

I have always identified as an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community. My respect deepened when I witnessed family and friends model the resilience and perseverance it takes to show up as their authentic selves. No one has the right to dictate who you love, and it's unjust to be forced to navigate their opinions. 

 

To properly serve the community, I had to become a well versed professional. I started my journey at The Pacific Center for Human Growth in Berkeley, California. It was an immersive experience and I’ve continued to build upon that knowledge. Working in San Francisco, CA allowed me to be surrounded by the LGBTQIA+ culture and see firsthand the joy of having the freedom to freely express themselves. 

 

Throughout my clinical experience I have helped individuals who wanted to address issues such as: anxiety, coming out, cultural issues, depression, impact of discrimination, family of origin conflicts, gender dysphoria, gender identity, internalized homophobia, relationship dynamics, self esteem, sexuality, shame, trauma, transitioning from M to F or F to M, sexual/emotional intimacy and processing the impact of living with HIV/AIDS. I am passionate about providing a safe and supportive space for LGBTQIA+ individuals seeking affirmative care, as I believe it to be profoundly healing.

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