About me...

Welcome! My name is Sandra Ascencio. I would like to share a little bit about my story and the reasons I became a therapist. I was 9 years old when I immigrated to the US with my two brothers. I was happy to be reunited with my mother. As I grew up I pursued my studies in psychology at CSU - DH (Go Toros!) and then transferred to UCLA. Throughout this time I worked at a community mental agency. I was a clerk. It was here where my interest in mental health developed. I remember being 18-19 years old and I would get called in to translate conversations between therapists and Spanish speaking clients, mostly Latinx women, mothers of young children. I clearly remember hearing these women's stories. I remember that they looked at me and locked their eyes on me. I did not know it then. I was in some ways their therapist. They spoke to me and were vulnerable with me because they felt safe. I looked like them. I spoke like them. I spoke their mother language. I understood their immigration stories, their culture, their customs. Not only that but I could see myself in them. I decided then, that there were not enough therapists that looked like me, or spoke like me, or understood what it meant to be in between two borders of the dominant culture and the culture of Mexico/Central America, of generations, of faith and ancestry. I completed my Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Minor in Applied Developmental Psychology (AKA Child Development) at UCLA. I then pursued higher education that would allow me to become a psychotherapist. I completed my Masters of Social Work at USC and have continued my work and training with children, families and adults. As a Latinx therapist, I get to connect with many people of all walks of life and I am honored to witness their healing journeys.

My areas of interest are around trauma, depression, and anxiety. I have advanced training in Trauma Focused Cognitivie Behavioral Therapy, EMDR and Brainspotting. 

In addition, I provide mental health evaluations/reports for immigration:

-Hardship

-Asylum

-VAWA

-U-Visa

-T-Visa

Certifications/Trainings:

• Certified in Brainspotting by Brainspotting Training, LLC.
• Trained in Immigration Evaluation by Immigration Evaluation Training Center
• Trained in Feedback Informed Care
• Trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) by EMDR Institute
• Certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) by the Academy of Cognitive Therapy
• Certified in Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP)
• Certified in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

Follow me on Facebook: @sandra.ascencio.therapy, 

Instagram: @sandra_ascencio_therapy

"This review is definitely past due! Sandra, is patient, kind, compassionate, and a knowledgeable clinician! My daughter was at a very tough time in her life as a pre-teen transitioning into a teen until she started seeing Sandra. During the weekly sessions my daughter started building a report with Sandra and confided in her with her feelings and thoughts. In a couple months I saw a change in my daughter, from her positive attitude to her behavior. I am forever grateful for Sandra! Thank you for your support, we truly appreciate you! "

- Carrie S.