Marcela De La Cruz, M.A., LCSW 138403

Licensed Clinical Social Worker 

Bilingual Trauma Therapist

EMDR Practitioner 

Phone: (805) 830-9638

marcela@irimiyacounseling com

¡Hola y Bienvenidxs! My name is Marcela De La Cruz (she/her/ella), and I am a trilingual, bicultural, trauma-focused Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I provide therapy in English, Español, and Spanglish — creating a space where clients can show up fully as themselves, in whatever language feels most natural and comfortable.

As a first-generation Mexican-American, I have a deep rooted passion in working with the Latinx comunidad and other first-generation individuals navigating the lasting impact of trauma, life transitions, and cultura expectations. I am deeply passionate about supporting adult survivors of childhood trauma, particularly women who are carrying the long-term effects of emotional neglect, sexual abuse, domestic violence, family dysfunction, parentification, or growing up in environments where emotional needs were minimized or dismissed.

My work centers on female trauma survivors who are often navigating complex layers of cultural identity, family responsibility, generational trauma, and survival-based relational patterns. Many of my clients are high-functioning on the outside while internally carrying unresolved trauma that continues to impact their nervous system, relationships, and sense of self.

Somatic Therapy is my primary approach to healing and includes EMDR, Parts Work, and Inner Child Work. I believes trauma lives not only in the mind, but also in the body, and my work focuses on helping mujeres reconnect with themselves safely and compassionately. Through a gentle and collaborative process, clients begin to understand their nervous system responses, heal wounded parts of self, and develop a deeper sense of safety, self-trust, and emotional regulation.

My therapeutic approach is grounded in culturally responsive, trauma-informed care that recognizes the unique experiences of first-generation Latinas raised in culturally traditional Hispanic households. I work from an understanding that experiences such as emotional neglect, high familial expectations, emotionally unavailable or hardworking parents, and intergenerational survival patterns can deeply impact identity, self-worth, emotional regulation, and relationships.

I integrate awareness of cultural dynamics such as machismo, marianismo, and generational trauma into the therapeutic process, helping clients explore how these experiences have shaped their nervous system responses, relational patterns, and sense of self.

Starting therapy can feel intimidating, and it’s completely normal to feel nervous in the beginning. While there are moments of deep emotional work, I also believe healing can include laughter, warmth, connection, and genuine human moments. Sometimes healing looks like crying, sometimes it looks like laughing and saying, “ay no, that really was a lot.” Both are welcome here.

I show up authentically in the therapy room — bubbly, humorous, grounded, and compassionate — while also holding space for the sensitive and serious parts of your healing when needed. I understand the importance of feeling culturally understood and not having to constantly explain your experiences, family dynamics, or cultural expectations. Whether we’re speaking English, Español, or Spanglish, my goal is to create a space where you can show up fully as yourself — sin pena, sin juicio, and without feeling misunderstood.

If you are healing from trauma and looking for a therapist who can hold both the heaviness of your experiences and the humanity within them, I would be honored to support you in your healing journey. Cuando estés lista, I invite you to reach out to schedule an appointment.