Meet Ernesto

(they/elle/he/el): Assoc. Marriage & Family Therapist
Adults, Teens, & Parents of Gender Expansive Children, Adult Children of (im)Migrants

Step Into Your Big Picture

The life you're living today can be a lot more than just difficult and exhausting.  As hard as it might be to believe, there is space for experiencing life a little lighter, creating fulfillment, and even feeling excited for what lies ahead. 

Living boldly, with less doubt and hesitation is closer than you think - I’m here to help you take the first step. Call today to schedule your free 15-minute consultation and start creating the change you deserve.

It’s time for a deeper understanding of yourself and relationships.

You feel stuck, distant from others, distant from your authentic self, and easily go back and forth from being overwhelmed to drained. You’ve reached a point where the “same old, same old” no longer feels bearable, finding yourself craving something more; A deeper connection with yourself, others, and the motivation to make a change happen even though you're still not sure what that ‘change’ is. Perhaps this is just the tip of the ice berg you find yourself on, and figuring out where to start can feel impossible. I see you, I see the weight you carry, and understand the grief.

Move Past the Binary and Pressure to Perform

Identifying and embracing a new pathway forward is possible! When working together, I aim to join your narrative as you learn the “how, what, and why’s” of what makes your healing and change worthwhile. We’ll address hidden barriers and patterns alongside new needs, hopes and values which seek to guide you into a new chapter of your life. A chapter filled with renewed purpose, confidence, self-compassion and clarity. Through support in navigating compassionate risks, I'll assist  you in developing skills, insight, and active strategies to create a future worth living. Our time together will not just be about managing challenges, but about transforming them into stepping stones towards self-compassion, fulfillment, and confidence. 

Rooted in Collective Care: Mental Health Support with a First-Gen, Queer, Latine Perspective

I've always been a “people oriented” individual - naturally gravitating towards folks who intersected with the many facets of my own identity (first gen, queer, Latine), but  also  those who have lived completely different life experiences than my own! This affinity towards  others has been rooted in ‘making sense’ of our  ‘human experience’ through collective care. Organically, I found myself on the path of  professional caregiving. After supporting folks for over a decade in different capacities of crisis work, within systems that make self-actualization harder for some of us, I’ve connected deeply with showing up for folks by joining them in reaching their self identified mental health goals. 

My educational background: Philosophy, Education, Family Development and Psychology. I have a Masters in Psychology from Pepperdine University. I am an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor #15422 and an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist #143628, and am supervised by Renae Johnson LPCC #6018 and Kristen Crowe LPCC #5451. 

I am fluent in Spanish and English

Creating life outside of therapy

I see myself as a creative thinker! Not only because of my art practice (stained glass and water colors) but also in my outlook on life - be it finding ‘creative’ ways to exploring authenticity or finding the ‘creative’ angle to fitting into a parking spot at Trader Joes on a Sunday. I see the power creativity holds in expanding our internal lives, and spilling out as external joy.

Questions About Insurance?

OSTC has partnered with Mentaya, a platform that helps clients get money back on out-of-network therapy sessions. To see if you qualify for reimbursement, click the button below.

Los Angeles In-person and virtual therapy for LGBTQ+ Adults & Teens.

If you are located in Los Angeles, our office are conveniently in the Silver Lake neighborhood.

If you are outside of the Los Angeles area, or just don’t want to drive. We offer telehealth sessions through out California.

OSTC is a LGBTQ+ therapy collective, where you never need to educate your therapist on who you are.