Dr. Dina Cuervo

After a free phone consultation and a decision has been made to schedule an initial session, I send the client intake forms to complete to help me better understand his/her situation. I also provide step-by-step instructions and tips to make the online therapy experience the best that it can be. The initial appointment is structured for the client to share their experience of what led them to seek therapy, their struggles and the impact it is having on their lives. Following this initial evaluation, I share my perception of the challenges and recommendations for therapy. We work together to devise a plan to achieve client’s goals. My goal is to help you navigate through your pain while providing support and a safe place for you to be vulnerable.

I have expertise on the impact of trauma across the lifespan which helps me to create awareness of how your brain has creatively re-wired based on your pain and experience so you could survive. Having this awareness provides new options for different choices and the opportunity to adapt to changes in a healthy way. Since trauma lives in the body, brain, and mind, I incorporate modalities to address all of these areas. I truly believe that the therapeutic relationship is vital to the process of therapy so I commit to being authentically present with you, which basically means I am the same person in the therapy room as I am outside, and that includes my humor and sarcasm. I will meet you with curiosity, not assumptions or interpretations, about your unique experiences. Together we will focus on the present moment while exploring relevant factors from the past that are impacting your current life. My goal is to help you move in a meaningful direction to cultivate the life you want to live according to your hopes and values.

When working with teenagers and young adults, I commit to provide a nurturing space while helping them overcome their challenges based on their developmental needs. Typically, therapy involves learning new skills and practicing these skills, since previous ways of solving problems are no longer effective.

Dina Cuervo, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of California. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Loma Linda University (APA accredited). She completed her doctoral internship at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in New York providing individual and group therapy to youth with substance abuse disorders, trauma, depression and severe behavioral issues. She completed her post-doctoral Fellowship at the University of California San Francisco-General Hospital consulting and performing clinical services to bring trauma sensitive practices to an urban inner-city school including mindfulness practices to teachers.

Dr. Dina has extensive training in Gestalt Therapy, which focuses on the individual’s unique experience in the present moment and how unhealthy behavioral patterns have been created to adjust to their environment. Although she is rooted in Gestalt Therapy, she has also received extensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in her early graduate career at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and postgraduate training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), both which enable people to heal from the emotional distress related to disturbing or traumatic life events. She also has training in neuropsychological evaluations and neuroscience and utilizes this knowledge to tailor interventions in therapy directly with teens and strategies for parents unique to their child’s experience. She also has advanced training and experience working with children who have Autism and addressing their diverse struggles and the impact on the family. 

Individual and family sessions are typically 50 minutes at a rate of $200. I do have limited sliding scale slots but that would be assessed on a case by case basis. I am not contracted with insurance companies, but I offer a Superbill which you can provide to the insurance company for reimbursement. The rate of reimbursement depends on your individual insurance plan. Also, you can use your Health Spending Account for payment. 

I have a vast experience spanning work with children who have been in the foster care system, have developmental disabilities, Autism, severe mental illness, such as psychosis and bipolar disorder, forensic issues, addiction, individuals trying to manage chronic stress, those adjusting to life’s transitions, and relationship issues. However, my clinical expertise and focus has become adolescents and adults experiencing depression, the negative impact of disturbing life events (i.e. trauma), anxiety, self-harm behaviors, and behavioral challenges.

Dr. Dina has years of experience working clinically with monolingual Spanish speaking families. She has led countless groups with teenagers and adults including crisis support groups for those impacted by the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, and support/process groups for teachers working with traumatized students to help them navigate challenges unique to this population and cope with the personal impact on them. 

The therapeutic relationship is key for growth and progress toward one's goals. Thus, I recommend assessing your comfort level with the potential therapist to ensure that it is a good fit and having a discussion if you are not feeling comfortable or getting your needs met. This also involves being open and sharing what you are looking for in terms of therapy.  

I recommend that clients consider their needs, their goals for therapy, what they are willing to commit to, and how much time they are willing to invest to moving toward the life they want to live.