ABOUT ADRI

A woman with long, wavy brown hair, blue eyes, and makeup, smiling, wearing a patterned shirt with blue, yellow, and white colors and a mustard yellow knitted vest, standing against a plain light-colored wall.

My name is Adriana, but you can call me Adri.

I offer telehealth therapy to anyone residing in California and provide in-person therapy in Los Angeles through the group practice A Place to Turn. I offer 10-minute free consultations to see if we’re the right fit.

I am a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist practicing under the supervision of a licensed therapist. I graduated from Phillips Graduate Institute with my Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy. I earned my undergraduate degree in Art History and Visual Arts from Occidental College, with a focus on Studio Art.

Since childhood, strangers and friends alike would share with me complex experiences of trauma, shame, and guilt. I could help somewhat, but I wanted to be more knowledgeable and effective, especially since I felt it was my calling to serve others. Before attending graduate school, I expanded my knowledge by enrolling in IPEC’s coaching program, one of the most rigorous and respected life coaching programs available. Additionally, due to my interest in helping single people and those in relationships connect to their erotic selves and work on creating their most expansive and pleasurable sex lives, I studied under Jaiya Ma and Ian Ferguson in their Erotic Blueprints Coaching program; I completed the program and was certified, but no longer practice under their license.

I am a cisgender and multiethnic woman. My father is an immigrant from Ecuador, and my mother grew up in Los Angeles, with roots in Irish, English, and French descent. Although I have lived in Southern California for most of my life, I spent a few years of my childhood in Ecuador. I strive to practice cultural humility by staying informed and educated, and recognizing that you are the expert of your own life and experiences.

I specialize in working with high achievers, perfectionists, neurodiverse individuals (ADHD, autism, and OCD), relationship therapy, and sex therapy. I am currently working on my sex therapy education through the Sexual Health Alliance, and I completed Gottman Level 1 training. I have additional training in serving people who practice consensual non-monogamy, kink, and/or BDSM. I chose to pursue further training in sex therapy because it is a taboo topic for many mental health professionals and clients alike. I want to de-stigmatize conversations about sex and pleasure and become a resource where you can discuss a variety of challenges that you may be experiencing regarding your sexuality, sexual preferences, sexual challenges, and relational challenges.

I'm an intuitive and empathetic listener and a fierce accountability partner. I’m adept at recognizing unique gifts in people and creating a safe and supportive environment. I take an eclectic approach to therapy, combining postmodern approaches such as narrative therapy, solution-focused brief therapy, and person-centered therapy. I take an easygoing yet direct approach to treatment, incorporating a touch of humor, focusing on your strengths and resources, and compassion. I gently guide you toward your therapy goals, adapt to your needs, and welcome feedback to tailor your treatment.

When I'm not working, I enjoy doing the New York Times crossword and spending time with my loved ones, who include my two cats, Eddie and Mina. Additionally, I enjoy reading, painting, doing escape rooms, thrifting, gardening, and sewing.

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  • M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy, Phillips Graduate Institute, Encino, CA

    • Alpha Chi Honor Society Member and graduated with a 4.0 GPA

    • Capstone Research Project: “The Effects of Shame and Stigma on the Development of Social Supports for Intimate Partner Violence Survivors.”

    • Elected Saturday Cohort Representative

    • Elected Speaker at Graduation

  • B.A. Art History and Visual Art, Emphasis Studio Art, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA

EDUCATION


RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE


Sex Therapy and Relational

  • Sex Therapy Certificate, Sexual Health Alliance (certification currently in progress)

  • Gottman Level 1: Bridging the Couple Chasm, The Gottman Institute

  • Sexual Attitude Reassessment (SAR), Sexual Health Alliance

  • 2-Day Conference: Keeping the Spark Alive Summit Weekend!, Sexual Health Alliance

  • Sex Therapy 102, The Institute for Sex Positive Therapy

  • Treating Out of Control Sexual Behaviors, The Institute for Sex Positive Therapy

  • Becoming Comfortable with Kink: BDSM and Beyond, The Institute for Sex Positive Therapy

  • Becoming a Poly-Informed Clinician, The Institute for Sex Positive Therapy

  • Queering Identities: LGBTQ+ Sexuality and Gender Identity, University of Colorado (Coursera)

  • SAR: Sexual Attitude Reassessment, South African Medical Association

Trauma

  • 40-Hour Domestic Violence Counselor Training Course, Casa de Familia

  • Child Abuse & Neglect Mandated Reporter Training, Mental Health & Social Workers

  • The Columbia- Suicide Severity Rating Scale, The Columbia Lighthouse Project

  • Motivational Interviewing – Foundational Course, Psychwire

  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, TF-CBTWeb2.0

OCD

  • Fundamentals of Exposure-Based Therapy for OCD and Anxiety Disorders, NOCD Academy

  • OCD Subtypes: Identification and Treatment, NOCD Academy

Life Coaching

  • Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner (ELI-MP), IPEC, 2018

ADDITIONAL TRAINING & EDUCATION


  • California Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (CAMFT)

  • American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT), Student Member

  • Alpha Chi National College Honor Society, Member since October 2023

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS