Lourdes Villanueva-Cruz, LMSW BIO:

We all face situations throughout life that can make us feel overwhelmed and in need of support, encouragement, planning or goal setting. This may involve family life transitions, a parent-child relationship, peer groups, marriage, divorce, social issues, or behavioral issues. I am a bilingual Social Worker/therapist and pastoral counselor, and I specialize in working with adolescents, young adults, adults and families. I am experienced in working with youth diagnosed with a variety of behavioral and emotional issues. I am also experienced in working with adults experiencing life stressors. Therapy helps us to deal with situations that we encounter in our life. I believe that within the client-therapist relationship, if we can feel safe, develop trust, feel heard, understood and respected, we have the foundations of what it takes to face our pain. In working together, you will find your inner strength and courage to overcome your fears, heal your pain and become the person you were intended to be. Christian counseling is effective for spiritual enrichment, strengthening one’s relationship with God, and overcoming or managing mental health issues like depression, anxiety and other issues. It also helps individuals in enhancing positive traits and feeling a sense of purpose in life. I attended Fordham University where I earned my master’s degree in social work with a focus in children and families. I also attended Liberty University, where I earned my master’s degree in religion with a focus in pastoral counseling.