Alex Abarca, Owner and Director of Sacred Bonds, LCSW #24031

A seasoned behavioral health executive and clinical leader, he brings nearly two decades of Director of Behavioral Health leadership experience and direct clinical care. He has built, expanded, and led behavioral health programs in various profit and non-profit settings currently focusing on serving rural Sierra Nevada communities and beyond. His inclusive, relationship-centered leadership style combines operational accountability, clinical quality, strategic growth through staff development and recruitment, and advocacy for innovative care projects.

At Sacred Bonds, he serves as Executive Director and Lead Clinician, providing direct therapeutic services while overseeing the clinical growth and quality of care delivered by the practice associates. He directly supervises unlicensed clinicians, trains master’s-level student interns completing clinical hours, and fosters a collaborative team grounded in evidence-based, trauma-informed, and preventive behavioral-health approaches. It is through this collaborative work with our clients that we have been able to help those suffering from life's trials.  Always remember, looking for help is a courageous first step toward healing and growth. Together, we will build on that courage to strengthen your resilience and help you move forward with confidence.

Top Specialities: Trauma and PTSD, Depression, Parenting. 

• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
• Jungian and Psychodynamic
• Family Systems
• Somatic approaches
• And other modalities
• Clinical Supervision and Licensed Supervisors
• Sponsors and supervises practicum placements for master’s-level student interns, mentoring the next generation of professionals through structured hands-on experience.

*Fluent in Spanish

I'm an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW) with experience supporting individuals experiencing severe mental illness, crisis situations, and acute psychiatric needs within hospital settings. My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in creating a safe space where clients feel heard, understood, and supported through life's challenges.

I integrate evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Motivational Interviewing, Rogerian/Person-Centered therapy, and psychoanalytic principles, alongside somatic strategies and attachment-focused work informed by the teachings of Dr. Gordon Neufeld and Dr. Gabor Maté's Compassionate Inquiry trauma-informed perspectives. I believe healing happens through connection, self-understanding, and compassionate exploration of the experiences that shape us.

My background working with the Serious Mental Illness (SMI) population, combined with my experience in acute inpatient psychiatric settings, has allowed me to bring a balanced, grounded approach to even the most intense clinical situations. My goal is to help clients build emotional resilience, strengthen relationships, and reconnect with their sense of self in a meaningful and empowering way.

Top Specialities: Crisis Resolution, Trauma and PTSD, Mood Disorders

• Faith Based 
• CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
• Rogerian/Person-Centered Therapy
• ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
• And other modalities

*Fluent in Spanish

As human beings, we experience both deep pain and deep joy throughout life. My role as a therapist is not to eliminate pain, but to help you better understand it — with greater clarity, compassion, emotional balance, and self-awareness — so that healing and transformation can become possible. 

I am a holistic therapist specializing in trauma and attachment wounds rooted in childhood and early adulthood. I strive to create a space where you feel seen, supported, and gently guided as we explore the patterns and protective adaptations that may be shaping your life today. 

Healing often involves developing an honest and compassionate awareness of ourselves, including the ways we may unknowingly remain stuck in suffering. My approach is warm, genuine, and direct, balancing support with thoughtful challenge when needed. I believe meaningful growth happens when we feel both safe and empowered to look inward. Together, we can begin a journey toward deeper healing, self-connection, and the possibility of living more fully and authentically.

Top Specialities: Trauma and PTSD, Dissociative Identity Disorder, Spirituality. 

• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
• IFS (Internal Family Systems) and Inner Child Work
• CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
• Jungian and Psychodynamic
• And other modalities

Imagine feeling more at peace within yourself — grounded, present, and able to fully experience the beauty of everyday moments.

If you are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, stuck, fearful, emotionally exhausted, sad, or disconnected, therapy can offer a path toward relief, clarity, and healing. My goal is to provide a safe, confidential, and nonjudgmental space where you feel supported, understood, and empowered to create meaningful change in your life. Many clients begin to experience greater hope, insight, and emotional balance within the first few sessions.

I work with both children and adults, incorporating expressive approaches such as play therapy and creative arts to support emotional growth, self-expression, and healing. I believe empathy, curiosity, and compassionate understanding can create profound shifts in the way we relate to ourselves and others.

Healing also means learning to trust yourself, communicate your needs clearly, and create healthy boundaries rooted in self-worth and self-respect. In my book, "Boundaries to Freedom", I discuss how healthy boundaries can become a pathway to greater peace, authenticity, and more fulfilling relationships.

You are not defined by your pain, and you do not have to remain stuck in survival patterns. Growth is possible, and meaningful transformation can begin with a single step toward support.

Top Specialties: Behavioral Issues, Self Esteem, Codependency

• Play therapy
• CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
• Narrative therapy
• Person Centered
• And other modalities

My therapeutic approach is eclectic and depth-oriented, drawing from psychodynamic theory, attachment science, somatic healing, and trauma-informed practices to help clients move through emotional stuckness and reconnect with their authentic selves. I integrate Compassionate Inquiry, inspired by Gabor Maté, alongside Gordon Neufeld’s attachment-based developmental perspective to explore how early experiences shape emotional patterns, relationships, and survival responses.

Together, we work to understand the automatic emotional and behavioral patterns that once served as protection, approaching fear, anxiety, trauma, and pain with compassion rather than self-judgment. I believe healing happens not only through insight, but through safely experiencing and integrating emotions within the body and nervous system. Intellectual understanding alone is often not enough — true transformation occurs when something can be deeply felt, processed, and lived within the body.

Nature and somatic experiences are an important part of my philosophy around healing. My companion animal, Bear, has deeply reinforced this truth for me over the last 13 years: there is wisdom in slowing down, attuning to ourselves, and reconnecting with the natural world. Nature has a unique way of reflecting us back to ourselves. When we are willing to sit honestly and compassionately with what emerges, meaningful transformation can occur.

Top Specialities: Trauma and PTSD, Spirituality, Law of Attraction

• Jungian and Psychodynamic
• Motivational Interviewing
• Compassionate Inquiry - Dr. Gabor Maté
• And other modalities

Sometimes my clients come to me after trying therapy numerous times before; sometimes they have never stepped foot in a therapist's office. Sometimes they have read every self-help book they can find and sometimes they have just begun to admit to themselves that they may not be able to cope with their struggles alone anymore. No matter where they are in their journey, I meet them with empathy and acceptance. I believe everyone is doing the best they can with the knowledge & tools they have, and everyone has the capacity to experience a richer, more fulfilling life.

Using integrative interventions from various therapy styles, I help clients experiencing symptoms such as excessive worrying, intrusive thoughts, low mood, discontent, or post-traumatic stress. I provide a compassionate, nonjudgmental space for clients to feel heard while helping them identify and access their vision for a better future. I don't tell you what to think or believe, but I will help you reflect on the alignment of your values and behaviors and then implement desired change.

Top Specialities: Trauma and PTSD, couples work, life transitions. 

• DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)
• ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy)
• Somatic approaches
• And other modalities

Are you going through a challenging time and need an objective, yet caring counselor to listen and guide you forward? Lani Kwon, APCC, MA, RYT specializes in healing from trauma, depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges, as well as supporting LGBTQIA+, intimacy and sexua wellness, and disabled persons. Certified in the Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM) Protocol for PTS & PTSD, as well as trained in Mindfulness-based therapies, CBT, Art and other evidence-based techniques, Lani helps you empower yourself.

Top Specialities: LGBTQIA+, Trauma and PTSD, and Intimacy & Sexual Wellness Therapy.

• RTM (Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories) Protocol for trauma recovery
• Person-centered
• Solution-focused
• Mindfulness-based practices
• And other modalities

My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in genuine human connection. My therapeutic style is integrative, relational, and deeply person-centered, and I strive to create an environment where clients feel seen, heard, understood, and emotionally safe enough to show up as they are. I value helping clients reconnect with the present moment, viewing presence as more than just a coping skill, but as a way of reconnecting with life itself. Part of my work is helping clients feel more in touch with themselves, their relationships, their environments, and the moments in life that feel meaningful. I tend to naturally notice patterns, relational dynamics, and the narratives people carry about themselves and their lives. Often, these stories develop through painful experiences, loss, trauma, chronic stress, or relationships where someone felt unseen, dismissed, or emotionally alone. Part of my work is helping clients better understand those patterns while also recognizing the resilience, strengths, and survival strategies they have developed along the way. I deeply value the resilience people carry and consider it a privilege to support clients through vulnerable and meaningful parts of their lives. 

Top Specialties: Eating Disorders, Substance Use Disorder, Life Transitions

• Person-Centered
• Narrative Therapy
• Culturally Grounded Care
• And other modalities

Life is full of challenges and sometimes we need additional support to get through them. I approach therapy as a collaborative and deeply human process—one rooted in curiosity, compassion, and respect for each person’s unique story. Together, we can explore how to heal from the past and shift negative thoughts and feelings to build a life that feels meaningful and aligned with your values. Ultimately, I seek to help people improve the quality of their lives, however they define it.

I work with individuals, couples, and families navigating a broad range of issues including anxiety, life transitions, grief and loss, relationship difficulties, identity exploration, substance abuse, domestic violence, and depression using a variety of evidence-based practices.

I view this work as an ongoing journey—both for my clients and for myself—and remain committed to continual learning, growth, and deepening my understanding of what it means to be human.

Top Specialities: Individuals, Couples, and Families/Parenting

• Values-based practices
• Strengths-based practices
• Mindfulness-based practices
• And other modalities

I strive to meet clients where they are emotionally, mentally, and therapeutically. I value active listening, open communication, and the development of a strong therapeutic alliance to help clients feel heard, understood, and empowered. I believe that every individual possesses a unique personality, life experience, and way of processing emotions. At times, individuals may struggle to communicate effectively, feel misunderstood by others, or encounter personal challenges that those around them may not fully comprehend. Rather than providing direct advice, I collaborate with clients to identify strengths, develop insight, and progress toward their goals while enhancing communication skills, emotional awareness, and healthy coping strategies.

My therapeutic approaches are tailored to meet each client’s unique needs and are designed to support emotional regulation, self-awareness, and long-term personal growth. If you find yourself at a difficult crossroads in life and are struggling with stress, sadness, anger, or the overwhelming demands of daily life, I am here to support you in identifying solutions that align with your needs and goals. Although I cannot promise to eliminate hardship or challenge, I am committed to helping you develop the tools, insight, and resilience necessary to move toward healing, personal growth, and a more meaningful and fulfilling life.

Top Specialities: Trauma/PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) 
• Trauma-informed CBT (T-CBT)
• Motivational Interviewing 
• And other modalities