Catherine Rincon, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health CounselorLet’s Get to Know Eachother
Hey!! I’m Catherine Rincon and I’m a licensed mental health counselor in Florida. I’m also a cisgender Afro Carribean woman, an INFJ, a mother, a sister a happy wife, and a member of the human race – just like you!
More specifically, I am someone who lends an ear, perspective, encouragement, and support to those who feel alone in their pain.
My Story
I grew up in a household with parents from the Dominican Republic who sacrificed everything to give me and my sisters a home in America. My childhood was awesome! But I didn’t know about generational trauma, inherent shame, healthy expressions of womanhood, the struggles of first generation college graduates navigating higher education, attachment issues, and the challenges of being a black Latinx woman in America. Actually, I struggled with perfectionism and paralyzing anxiety for most of my life. It was easy to blame and make assumptions about myself instead of nurturing “Me” through the abuses, hardships, losses, and failures that have threatened to reshape me. Counseling has been healing for me. For these reasons I have devoted my life to helping others – like me – live their authentic selves.
I am well versed in partnering with people in navigating these personal challenges and coming out of it the person we aspire to be.
If you reference the boring psychology books they would say that my style of counseling is an accepting person-centered approach with a trauma focused lens. Aside from being your biggest supporter I hold expertise in cognitive/dialectical behavioral therapy, psychodynamic approaches, and solution-focused techniques. Translation: I believe in open communication with my clients so that we can confront what is stopping us from really enjoying the here-and-now.
My nerdy personal interests have centered around existential themes and practices of mindfulness. I also enjoy art, baseball, music, video games (guilty pleasure!), reading about people/cultures, long philosophical conversations, and connecting in the moment with my family. I have also made a daily commitment to do the work of openly identifying my own biases and experiences of race/gender/culture. I’m hoping to help you do the same.
My Values & Beliefs
Through counseling I have learned the following about myself, and I hope to impart these things to you:
I Am Worthy
I am worthy of connecting with others authentically.
Boundaries
Boundaries are important ways to create safe relationships
Self-protection
It is a form of self-protection to put my self-care and emotional needs first, not a waste of time.
Failure
Failure is part of the process of reaching my goals, not an indication of who I am
Bad Things
The bad things that have happened to me are only a small part of who I am.
Inner Critic
My Inner Critic, and all of my worries, are not always based in absolute trut
Values
I can accept my own values, identity and body image.
Cycle of Traumas
I can end the cycle of trauma and unrealistic expectations I endured growing up so that I can be present with my own children.
My Approach
My professional and personal experiences have taught me to address the difficulties of moving on from hard things that happen to us – past, present and future. I love to help people who are feeling very stressed and overwhelmed with negative thoughts throughout their days because I have been there.
Professional Credentials
Experience
- 20 years of clinical experience
- Masters of Science [MS] in Psychology, Albizu University
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Florida International University
- Post graduate experience with infants, children and families in low-income communities and the foster care system
- Specialty in suicide risk assessment and crisis intervention
- Cross cultural focus on Black indigenous and Other People of Color [BIPOC]
- Advanced post-graduate training in trauma and stress related issues
- Continuing education in women’s matters, LGBTQIA+/gender spectrum advocacy and racial trauma
- Member of the American Mental Health Counselors Association [AMHCA] and Florida Mental Health Counselors Association [FMHCA] since 2010
- Versed in Heart Centered Hypnotherapy and meditation training with the Wellness Institute, 2020
Expertise
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Trauma/Stress
- Life adjustment issues
- Processing sexual or physical abuse
- BIPoC issues (E.g., racial trauma)
- Parenting and postpartum support
- Attachment difficulties
- Non-Monogamy, Kink & Polyamory Affirming
