Approach to Therapy 

Renata takes a collaborative approach when working with individuals, couples, and families by creating a plan that is unique to each person. She meets clients where they are and works with them to take a holistic look into their lives. Renata works systemically with her clients and looks at the self as well as connections with family, friends, and community. She strives to gently and safely challenge clients to push through struggles while gaining the new skills and resilience necessary to overcome difficulties. 

When working with parents or families, Renata takes a more directive approach, which allows her to “join” the family in order to re-establish parent-child bonds, restructure the family hierarchy, improve communication, and assist in the development of new adaptive strategies. And in doing so, a new system develops; one that is unique to each family. 
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​Whether treatment is with an individual, couple or family,  change occurs by creating new connections. This crucial to sustainable change in that it allows for a more open and honest exploration of our most important relationships -- individually and with others. ​

Education and Training 

• BA in Psychology and Secondary Education in Spanish: University of Illinois in Chicago
• MA in Counseling Psychology with Marriage and Family Therapy concentration: Argosy University in Santa Ana
• Trained in various evidence-based practices: Trauma-Focused CBT, Positive Parenting Program (Triple P), Seeking Safety and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (Asist)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of Illinois and California
• Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese

​Renata began her mental health career at Optimist Youth and Family Services, a residential facility for court-ordered youth in Los Angeles, where she worked as a Residential Youth Care Counselor. As part of a multidisciplinary team, Renata facilitated behavior groups to address defiance and poor conduct. By utilizing conflict resolution interventions, setting appropriate limits, and assisting individual therapists in clinical groups focusing on rehabilitation she helped at-risk youth develop necessary coping skills. 

​Renata continued her work with at-risk youth and foster children/adolescents at Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services in Los Angeles. 
During her tenure here, she provided outpatient, in-home and at-school treatment to youth struggling with trauma and its impacts on mental health.  Additionally, Renata conducted family therapy to minimize defiance and family conflicts as well as improve communication and the parent-child relationship.

Renata also established a curriculum for DCFS court-ordered parenting group designed to reduce parental anger and child abuse.  Once in Chicago, Renata worked at Hartgrove Hospital, an inpatient hospital for children, adolescents, and adults providing crisis management, individual therapy, and family therapy for those going through various mental health crises.

Prior to becoming a marriage and family therapist, Renata was a high school Spanish teacher at Crystal Lake Central High School as well as a volleyball coach. It was here that her passion for wanting to help others flourished and lead her into the mental health profession. 

Renata is a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).