Risa Vargas, MHC-F

A little bit about how I work.​​

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You might be someone who has learned to hold a lot — for yourself and for others. From the outside, you may seem capable, dependable, even put together, but internally, you feel exhausted from always being the one who steps up, smooths things over, or keeps everything from falling apart. Maybe you’ve been told you’re “too much,” or maybe you’ve learned to quiet parts of yourself to make space for everyone else. Either way, carrying it alone can feel heavy.

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My work is grounded in the belief that the ways you’ve learned to cope are not flaws, but adaptations. At some point, they helped you stay connected, safe, or valued. But what once protected you may now leave you feeling overwhelmed, unseen, or disconnected from your own needs.

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As an Afro-Latina therapist, I’m attuned to how culture, race, and lived experience shape the way we relate to ourselves and others—especially when you’ve had to navigate spaces where you feel unseen, misunderstood, or pulled between different parts of who you are.

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I work with adolescents, teens and adults navigating anxiety, depression, burnout, perfectionism, and interpersonal challenges. I also support LGBTQIA+ and gender-nonconforming individuals, with attention to the full complexity of each person’s identity. My approach is relational, warm, and collaborative. I draw from psychodynamic and attachment-based perspectives to understand your story and support meaningful, lasting change.

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Therapy with me is not about fixing you—because you are not broken. It’s a space where you don’t have to overextend, overperform, or have all the answers. It’s a place to practice being supported, build insight at your own pace, and reconnect with parts of yourself that may have been pushed aside.

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If any part of this resonates, I invite you to reach out. We can begin to make sense of what you’ve been carrying and move toward a way of being that feels more balanced, intentional, and aligned with who you are.