Xochilt Rodriguez

e is Xochilt (Sochi) Rodriguez, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Southern California. I work with clients from anywhere in California via telehealth. I have been a social worker for 30 years and have experience working with all types of individuals and families with various issues. My approach to therapy is to first listen to my clients’ reasons for seeking therapy and establish the goals that he/she wish to accomplish. I believe that therapy involves growth and the development of a better understanding of the problems and the individual’s internal approach to them. The ability to master self-awareness and develop better insight into conflicts, stress, and other issues, and one’s reactions to them, is key to growing in therapy. I also have the philosophy that every individual is capable of improving their sense of self, purpose, and the ability to make the changes they need and want to live a more fulfilling and joyful life. No problem or issue cannot be resolved as long as one is willing to learn, be challenged, and be willing to apply new skills and thoughts to make the changes necessary to move forward. I most frequently use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, but I incorporate other therapeutic approaches into my sessions. I believe that much of what we feel begins with our thoughts and interpretations of what we hear and what we tell ourselves. I seek to help my clients understand the power of the subconscious mind and help them retrain their minds so that they can learn to master their thoughts and subsequently change their feelings and behavior. I also believe that to be mentally healthy, one must pursue a physically healthy lifestyle. One cannot separate working on improving the mind while ignoring the health of the body. I believe goal setting should be treated as a process. I think it's important to talk with my clients about where they are in their lives and where they want to be. Once my clients have an idea of what they are aiming for, I work on developing a plan of action on how to attain those goals. I think it’s important to write down one’s goals and review them daily. It’s also important to develop daily tasks or activities that contribute to accomplishing those goals. Some of those tasks can be very minor, such as waking up and thinking about things to be grateful for. Other tasks might require more energy and time, such as meditation, writing in a journal, reviewing goals, exercising, studying, or looking in the mirror, and speaking confidently to yourself with words of encouragement and praise. The purpose of this is to develop those activities into one’s daily life so that they become a routine. I have always believed that people don’t care what you know unless they know that you care. I aim to demonstrate a caring and compassionate communication style that allows my clients to share with me their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a nonjudgmental manner. I have been in the helping profession long enough to have heard so many horrendous stories and mistakes that it would be difficult to be shocked. I believe in open communication, which means that my clients should feel comfortable expressing themselves about the therapeutic relationship and my approach. I believe in challenging my clients to help them grow. However, I also believe in self-determination and respect when my clients are in their current dilemma. I think therapy is a serious process, however, being lighthearted and using humor at times could make the therapeutic relationship and the work involved easier to deal with.