Hi, I’m Crystal Rodriguez, ASW
I’m a Philadelphia native who’s called Los Angeles home for the past 15 years. I’m also a first-gen Latina, coming from a proud Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Cuban family. Outside of sessions, I love creating! Whether it’s doing improv, writing, or singing, I try my best to make space for the things that bring me joy. Balance and self-care are so important!
As a non-traditional student, I earned my BA in Psychology from UCLA, and my MSW from Baylor University. Being in college in my 30s taught me two things: One—sometimes we need to get out of our own way and just take chances, and two—expecting anyone to have life figured out by a certain age is wild!
I came to this work through my own experience with learning to unlearn the thoughts and behaviors that were keeping me stuck. Doing so taught me that so often we carry beliefs that were handed to us. In sessions, I focus on helping you sort through what’s yours, what isn’t, and what you are ready to let go of.
My approach is direct, but gentle. I won’t let you stay stuck, but I’ll never push you somewhere you aren’t ready to go. I also work experientially, meaning, therapy with me can sometimes look more like doing and less like talking. Insight is wonderful, but without action, it’s meaningless. And we’re not about that here.
Experience
I have extensive experience supporting clients across a wide range of settings, beginning with my work at a residential treatment center for young adults. During my time there, I held multiple positions, starting as a Residential Counselor and eventually ending as a Life Coach. I collaborated closely with psychiatrists, therapists, education coordinators, and families while supporting LGBTQ+ young adults, neurodivergent clients, and individuals navigating complex mental health challenges.
My work included crisis intervention (including active suicidal intent), safety planning, and helping clients through emotionally intense moments. I also cofacilitated DBT skills groups, mindfulness, music therapy, and experiential/rec therapy groups, gaining hands-on experience in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness work.
Before graduate school, I worked at an alcohol addictions research lab at UCLA, where I engaged with participants from diverse backgrounds. That experience strengthened my clinical lens and taught me how to show up with sensitivity, curiosity, and awareness when working with vulnerable populations. It also helped me develop a deeper understanding of human behavior, motivation, and the ways people navigate change, all of which continue to inform my work as a therapist.
During my MSW program, I interned at a nonprofit serving adults with developmental disabilities—specifically, college students pursuing higher education. I also completed a clinical internship at a senior center, where I provided therapy to older adults both in-home and in person, and cofacilitated an evidence-based group for individuals struggling with hoarding disorder.
Across all settings, I’ve learned how to build strong therapeutic relationships, meet clients where they are, and support people through some of the most vulnerable and transformative moments of their lives.