Who is Perla?
Finding a right-fit therapist is hard. There are so many niche specialties, long waitlists, and profiles that all sound the same. My hope is that this page gives you a real sense of who I am so you can feel, “Yes, this is my person,” or, “Nope, I’ll keep looking.” Either answer is useful.
Some of the moments that shaped me:
Taking a teen kayaking on Lake Merritt for his birthday when it became clear his dad wasn’t going to show up. Again.
Advocating for a gender-fluid client to be placed with their chosen gender category in a room full of people who disagreed.
Recognizing undiagnosed autism in a 5-year-old who kept getting sent to detention, then sitting with his mother as she moved through grief, confusion, fear, and relief.
When I say my work is grounded in trauma and attachment, I mean it’s visceral, relational, and in-the-room—not just book learning. Today, that looks like paying attention not just to what you say, but how your body responds, how we relate to each other in session, and the attachment patterns that show up between us in real time.
Recovery & Substance Use
The second phase of my career was in recovery and with people living with moderate to severe mental illness—complex diagnoses, painful backstories, and hard-won, deeply meaningful changes.
In my heart, I’m anti-prohibitionist: I don’t believe that shame, fear, or blanket “just say no” messaging actually helps people heal or make grounded choices about substances. I’ve also had my own experience with addiction, so this isn’t abstract for me.
I believe your relationship with substances and altered states is personal and self-determined.
In practice, that looks like:
If your goal is to step away from an addiction, I have the training and experience to support you in that process.
If you’re experimenting with substances for personal healing or recreation, I offer a nonjudgmental place to talk it through, get grounded education, and make informed choices that reduce harm and increase the odds you actually get what you’re seeking from the experience.
I’m not here to shame you into abstinence. I’m here to help you be honest with yourself, understand what’s happening in your nervous system, and align your choices with your values.
Roots in Attachment & Trauma
I trained in the East Bay at CSU–Hayward with a focus on systems and diversity. My early work was with youth in active or imminent crisis, and that’s where the core of my approach was forged: trauma and attachment in real time, not just in theory.
Like many therapists, I was trained in CBT. But working with kids and families quickly showed me the limits of “teaching emotional literacy” in isolation. This was deeply relational work—building trust with kids, their caregivers, teachers, and caseworkers, anyone meaningfully involved in their lives.
Lived Experience & Identities
I also bring my own lived experience into the room. I identify as:
Cis, white, queer, neurodivergent, polyamorous, and a parent
Part of a mixed-race family
Someone whose politics are solidly left and who does not pretend oppression is “neutral” in the therapy room
Also, because I’m a human and not just a list of identities: I adore Miyazaki and adult cartoon series with complex story arcs. I’m a fool for anything hero’s journey. I love the texture of felt. I’m totally immersed in the science of chocolate chip cookies. I studied German, theatre, and fairy tales in undergrad. I was raised in Alabama and I’ve lived in Tennessee, Germany, Austria, New York City, Oakland, and Alaska.
What this actually means for you:
I won’t flinch at conversations about gender, sexuality, kink, non-traditional relationships, or “non-normative” identities.
I think a lot about power, safety, and belonging.
I care less about you being “normal” and more about you having a life that feels coherent, self-determined, and livable.
I celebrate your hobbies, special interests, and all the other special touches that bring you joy
If reading this gives you a sense of relief, recognition, or “okay, she might get me,” that’s a good sign we might be a fit.