Estefanía Alvarez-Zumarraga, MA
(she/her)
Psychotherapist and Art Therapist
Services offered in English and Spanish

Areas of Expertise:

• Anxiety and stress

• OCD

• Trauma and PTSD

• Adults, youth and families 

• Identity and self-exploration

• Cultural differences, immigration, and acculturation

• Multicultural and bilingual mental health

• Emotional regulation and coping skills

Educational Background:

I hold a Master’s degree in Art Therapy and Mental Health Counseling from Adler Graduate School. And a bachelor’s degree  in Psychology from the University of Minnesota. My graduate training integrated mental health counseling and art therapy, providing me with a foundation in both traditional verbal approaches and creative methods for supporting emotional well-being.

I have also completed specialized training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which informs my work with clients who are seeking practical tools for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness.

Professional Experience:

I have experience supporting individuals navigating anxiety, stress, OCD, trauma, and other emotional and relational challenges. As a bilingual psychotherapist, I provide counseling in both English and Spanish and strive to create an environment where clients feel seen, heard, respected, and understood.

My professional expertise is grounded in a culturally responsive approach to mental health. I recognize that culture, family, identity, language, immigration experiences, relationships, and social environments can all influence how we understand ourselves and experience emotional well-being.

I particularly value working with clients who are navigating cultural differences, acculturation, identity development, or the experience of balancing different cultural worlds. I believe that effective therapy requires curiosity, openness, and a willingness to understand each client within the context of their unique lived experience.

Therapeutic Approach:

I believe therapy begins with feeling genuinely seen, heard, and understood. I work collaboratively with clients to create a warm, compassionate, and nonjudgmental space where they can explore their emotions, patterns, relationships, and goals at their own pace.

My approach integrates mental health counseling principles, art therapy, DBT-informed skills, mindfulness, and somatic awareness. I use these approaches to help clients develop greater emotional awareness, strengthen coping skills, and build a deeper connection with themselves.

Art therapy can offer an additional way to explore and express experiences that may be difficult to communicate through words alone. No prior artistic experience is necessary. Creativity can simply serve as another pathway for reflection, discovery, and healing.

As a culturally responsive therapist, I understand that there is no single definition of mental health or healing. I seek to honor each client’s cultural background, values, identity, language, and lived experiences while working together to identify what meaningful change looks like for them.

Whether we work in English or Spanish, my goal is to provide a therapeutic relationship where you can feel safe being your authentic self, gain practical tools for navigating challenges, and develop greater self-understanding and resilience.

About Me

I am an American-Ecuadorian artist and psychotherapist who values creativity, connection, and the ways our experiences shape who we become. My multicultural perspective has deepened my appreciation for the complexities of identity, belonging, and navigating different cultural worlds.

Outside of therapy, I enjoy spending time with my family, creating art, visiting museums and galleries. I love spending time in nature, traveling, and finding inspiration in everyday moments. I believe creativity can be a meaningful pathway to reflection, connection, and personal growth.