Meet Doris
(she, her, hers)
Doris is a Latina Deaf Licensed Professional Counselor and a proud first-generation daughter of immigrant parents from Mexico and El Salvador. Her path into counseling was shaped by the meaningful support she received from a mentor during her first year of college, inspiring her to provide the same level of compassion, empathy, and validation to others.
Doris takes a collaborative and authentic approach to therapy, creating a space where clients feel safe to express their thoughts, emotions, and personal challenges. She values the importance of intersectionality and brings a culturally responsive, trauma-informed lens to her work. She is particularly attuned to the impact of systemic racism, discrimination, and racial trauma on mental health and integrates this understanding into her clinical practice.
Doris does not subscribe to a “blank slate” approach. Instead, she believes that authenticity strengthens the therapeutic relationship and fosters deeper connection, trust, and openness. She supports clients in exploring discomfort as a pathway to growth, offering both compassion and gentle challenge as they work toward meaningful change.
Her therapeutic style emphasizes building self-awareness, insight, and resilience. Through a collaborative process, Doris helps clients explore their experiences, better understand their patterns, and move toward alignment with their values and goals.
Doris is committed to providing care within a Deaf-centered, linguistically accessible, and culturally affirming therapeutic environment.
Doris embraces the belief, “Be comfortable with being uncomfortable,” viewing growth and healing as processes that often require engaging with difficult experiences in a supported and intentional way.
She is currently accepting clients in the District of Columbia and Virginia.
EXPERIENCE
Throughout Doris’ 15-year tenure in the mental health field, she has cultivated a diverse skill set in promoting individuals' overall well-being. Her journey began at the Lexington Mental Health Center for the Deaf in New York City, where she served as a mental health therapist from 2008 to 2010. During her time there, she provided counseling services to both the Deaf and BIPOC communities.
Doris has been a part of the Counseling and Psychology Services (CAPS) at Gallaudet University since 2011. Initially serving as a counselor and Coordinator of Services, she later transitioned into the role of Assistant Director of CAPS, a position she has held for the past four years. In this capacity, her focus has been on providing services to Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Students of Color college students.
Doris’ responsibilities extended beyond individual counseling sessions. She played a vital role in supervising interns and staff working towards licensure hours, ensuring they received the comprehensive guidance and mentorship needed. Doris has also been actively involved in outreach services, delivering presentations and training sessions to promote mental health awareness and support within the community.
SPECIALTIES
Doris takes an eclectic approach to therapy, incorporating elements from Reality Therapy, psychoeducation, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She customizes her treatment methods to align with the unique needs and objectives of each individual client. Additionally, she prioritizes recognizing intersectionality in her practice, valuing the significance of considering diverse cultural backgrounds, identities, and life experiences in the therapeutic journey.
EDUCATION
- Master of Arts, Mental Health Counseling, Gallaudet University, District of Columbia (2008)
- Bachelor of Science, Family and Children Studies, Gallaudet University, District of Columbia (2006)
