Welcome!

“When you choose to be authentic, you dare to be powerful.” – Anthon St. Maarten

I came to the field of psychology through a curiosity and fascination with the human mind. Through my education and personal life experiences, I have come to realize that one of the most important things in life is coming home to yourself. We are brought into this world where expectations about how to be or who to be are constantly thrown at us from the very beginning of life. I believe that through therapy we can learn how to navigate the uncharted waters of life and learn how to come to a place of joy and authentic expression. I believe therapy is a way to find that place of authenticity within ourselves.

My name is Stefani Rios (She/Her/Hers) I am currently an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist providing psychotherapy services at Blue Oak Therapy Center. I have 9 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults in various community mental health settings. I have experience providing in-person services and virtual therapy services via Telehealth.

My Approach:

The therapeutic approach that I take when working with clients is a holistic and integrative, client-centered approach. I tailor the type of work that I do with clients based on where they are in their healing process. I believe that therapy should be a collaborative process between the therapist and the client, with the client being the one who leads the process as I believe the client is the expert in their own lives. One of my main goals in providing therapy is to provide a safe and sacred space for the individual to be able to express their truest forms of themselves and to feel safe in exploring their vulnerabilities. I believe that the therapeutic relationship is one of the most important elements in the healing process and I strive to provide a sense of safety and containment. I strive to see, hear, and witness my clients from a space of gentleness and unconditional positive regard. Some of the types of therapeutic modalities that I integrate into my work with my clients are: Trauma-informed therapy, relational therapy, narrative therapy, social justice-informed therapy, play therapy, inner child healing, attachment theory, expressive arts therapy, archetypes and symbolism, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), mindfulness-based practices, and solution-focused therapy.

My Background:

 I was born and raised in the East Bay Area of California and I currently reside on Bay Miwok land. I am a cis-gender female who identifies as Latina/Mexican-American and I am a first generation college graduate on both sides of my family. I attended the University of California at Davis where I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Aging and Adult Development, and I received my Master of Arts degree in Holistic Counseling Psychology with a specialization in Transpersonal Psychology from John F. Kennedy University.

 I have experience working with:

 -Childhood trauma

-Posttraumatic stress disorder

-Intergenerational trauma

-Attachment issues

-Anxiety

-Depression

-Low self-esteem

-Life transitions

-Grief and loss

-Identity exploration

-Neurodiversity

-Spirituality

-Relationship issues

 All individuals are welcome here!