Bonnie Aguiar

Hi there! I'm Bonnie Aguiar, a licensed clinical social worker practicing in the state of California. I work with adolescents and adults of all ages grappling with a diverse array of challenges using a warm, approachable, empathetic, and heart-centered style of therapeutic engagement.

My approach

I am a devout believer in the innate, unconditional worth of every human soul and the ever-present hope for personal growth, developing loving relationships with oneself and others, and living deeply meaningful lives despite the hardships, messiness, and suffering we might encounter in our lives. I incorporate a focus on your individual strengths and how your strengths can be utilized to propel momentum toward positive change while fostering a powerful growth mindset that any challenge can be overcome step-by-step through pertinent skill building, persistence, and taking action on your values. The mental health research underscores the power of empathy and attunement as one of the most powerful vehicles for therapeutic change, and I am committed to empathizing with you and understanding who you are through compassionate, attentive, and active listening and engaging you with thought-provoking questions and exploration of your internal world while simultaneously being an unrelenting voice of hope and belief in your potential. My therapeutic approach borrows from an eclectic blend of interventions proven in mental health research to be helpful including motivational interviewing, attachment therapy, psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, dialectical-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, internal family systems, schema therapy, trauma-informed care, exposure and response prevention, and much more.

My focus

I have almost 6 years of experience working with incarcerated male adults in the California prison system, 2 years of experience working with children and youth in the foster care system, 1 year of experience working with aging adults, and 2.5 years working for a therapy outpatient clinic in a medical setting for all ages and all types of mental health conditions. I have worked with personality disorders, substance use disorders, chronic medical illnesses, depression, anxiety, bipolar, schizophrenia, social anxiety, developmental trauma, military trauma, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic attacks, postpartum issues, life transitions, grief and loss, suicidal thoughts and attempts, non-suicidal self-injurious behavior, and more.

My communication style

I cultivate trust and encourage your willingness to take emotional risks through fostering an emotionally safe, empathetic, curious, and non-judgmental relationship with you. I carefully listen to how your current challenges and patterns are connected with your past life experiences while exploring new pathways forward.

My journey to mental healthcare

I have wanted to work in mental health since I was in middle school. I majored in psychology as an undergraduate, took a year off to work in a mental health setting, and then pursued my master's in social work. I have been working in mental health for over 16 years. I have always had a keen interest and heart for people and am in love with the experience of getting to know someone deeply and journeying alongside them as innately valuable and richly fulfilling. It's always a supreme honor and privilege to witness people overcome their challenges and blossom in ways they never expected.

My goals for you

I encourage you to dream big and reflect on what is most important to you. I partner with you in a collaborative way to identify what destinations you want to reach, identify which paths you'd like to use to reach your desired destination and break down your longer-term goals into smaller, manageable, shorter-term steps that lead to significant gains over time. I also expect and normalize unexpected setbacks and detours that happen along the way as part of the journey.

My first session with you

Our first appointment is all about getting acquainted with each other. I will review informed consent, confidentiality, and its limitations and get to know a little about what brings you into therapy. I will be conducting an intake assessment which is akin to taking snapshots of a lot of areas of your life and background including your childhood history, family history, substance use history, mental health history, trauma history, relationship history, exploring current challenges and mental health symptoms, and initial goal setting.