About
Kelly Ventura Barrera
I see therapy as an archeological process. It can go from being extremely slow to fast, all of a sudden. It is guided by curiosity and the need or intention to rediscover that which, despite having always been there, has remained unnoticed. And as a result of your discovery, the notions you have about past, present and future can then shine in a new light. As archeologists, we will carefully brush the pieces of your stories, to unveil subtle aspects of your life that reveal your strengths and resources.
A little about me: I was born and raised in El Salvador, and I have lived in the US for about a decade. I know first-hand about the struggles of communicating intimate and complex feelings in another language. So, it is a great honor for me to offer therapeutic support in Spanish, Spanglish, or English.
I have lived in three countries so far, so being an immigrant and traveler is an essential part of my identity. As an undergraduate, I studied to become a social-community psychologist, and I was heavily influenced by Ignacio Martín-Baró and the school of liberation psychology. I will always be thankful to the children, women, and organized groups that allowed me to work with them during my formative years. In this journey, I fell in love with popular education, and I explored the field of critical pedagogy for some time. But as the saying goes, “all paths lead to Rome,” and my life and work experiences brought me back to the field of mental health.
What do I do when not in therapy? Most likely spending time with my tiny family, if possible, traveling either far or close. If I get some “me time” (as a mother, it can be difficult), I enjoy reading (all sorts of things, but I love discovering a good children’s book with illustrations that blow my imagination), listening to music, and watching films or TV shows. And if life is generous with time, I try gardening and baking. I am not excellent at either, but I just love to try.
