Dr. Denise Garcia, PSY.D., LMFT
As a psychotherapist and mama of two angels (one with me and one in Heaven), I am dedicated to supporting caregivers in the early stages of parenthood, from the prenatal period and newborn babies to toddler-aged children, through various challenges. I aim to provide a safe and compassionate space for you and your partner to explore and heal.
My Story
I've unknowingly been developing my passion for this dream career. I often thought, What would it be? Who would I work with? What service will I provide?
Then, my first daughter was born, and I became obsessed with all things related to being an intentional/conscious/respectful parent. Using my knowledge from years of post-graduate education, clinical experience, and training, I created an outline for my signature parenting mindset. I became pregnant with my second daughter, Lourdes (LULU), 9 months after my first daughter was born and was diagnosed with CDH, which ended up taking her from us one month and ten days after she was born. The pain that came with my Lulu’s loss was torture and led me down a path that felt familiar but one that was very unique at the same time. I went on a journey where I felt the intense pain that comes with losing a baby and the realizations I had about those who have suffered inexplicable losses like the one I have experienced.
At the end of 2023, I returned to work and decided to get trained in EMDR. The implementation of EMDR allows me to have a unique perspective on grief and loss that I want to use to help others experiencing grief and loss across the spectrum of what grieving the loss of someone or something can mean. For example, the grief that comes with the loss of a pregnancy, infertility, loss of a relationship, and the loss of a loved one.
Experience
I became a therapist in 2015 after receiving a master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.
After graduating, I began working as a DIR Floortime Specialist, focusing on treating children on the autism spectrum and their families. During this time, I developed a deep understanding of sensory processing and how it can benefit children with diverse neurological capacities. I learned that everyone has unique ways of relating to others, regulating emotions, and experiencing the world. A specialized sensory diet can significantly help with overstimulation, sensation seeking, irritability, and other sensitivities children face.
During my seven years in community mental health therapy, I had the privilege of attending some of the best conferences and training sessions in Los Angeles. I participated in top-tier conferences on treating children from birth to five years old and trauma intervention. These conferences covered the neurology of young brains and early childhood psychology. Over these seven years, I had the opportunity to treat countless children and parents, gaining invaluable experience.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, while on maternity leave, I was motivated to pursue my Doctorate. This period allowed me to refine my therapeutic skills and understand how children express emotional challenges in school. I learned how psychological needs impact learning and information retention. Issues such as bullying, unbalanced parenting styles, or changes at home can cause learning, memory, and focus challenges for children. Additionally, I gained the necessary knowledge to teach, which is another passion of mine. The developments in therapy have equipped me with the awareness to assist others in their learning process.