Rita Garcia -- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, AASECT Sex Therapist

MA, LMFT, CST, AAMFT Approved Supervisor

"I will create a safe environment where you feel understood, valued and not judged."

By using family therapy I can go further in treating and addressing problems. I believe that the individual can be better understood through the context of their relationships, I will use the theory of family therapy to explore family structures and lessons that were taught that could be contributing to current problems.  I work collaboratively with clients so that  during the treatment process they feel empowered by the changes we have created together. 

I have experience in treating children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder.  I have helped couples with communicating relationship problems by exploring their childhood experiences and unconscious choices when choosing a partner.  I have worked with individuals experiencing strong symptoms (from depression, mania and anxiety) to working with individuals experiencing stress from changes in life (new jobs, starting college, etc.) If you decide to meet with me I will create a safe environment where you will feel understood, valued and not judged. 

Testimonials

 

“Before we found Rita’s practice, we had tried two couple’s counselors with poor results (the premarital counselor basically told us we were fine and started dozing off in our sessions, the second counselor had lots of superficial talk but did little to help us understand each other). Then we each tried individual counseling with our own counselors, thinking that by working on our individual selves we might be better together—but that was not enough.

Rita was different. From the beginning, she explained that her goal would be to see us over the course of 2-3 months maximum to give us the tools we needed to break-free from the finger-pointing rut we were in. She didn’t want “regular” permanent clients. We didn’t want to be permanent clients, we wanted help building a strong foundation for our marriage that we could maintain and sustain for the rest of our lives.

Rita gave us exercises with a clear structure for these hard conversations. These tools were very effective, but easier said than done. That’s why it was so valuable that she guided us through the exercises in her office before having us try it at home. By using her framework we were able to confront sensitive topics and problems without resorting to the blame game. She also helped us understand the fundamentals of how our childhoods shape our personalities and help inform our idiosyncrasies, what makes us tick and those character traits that can lead to conflict. Understanding each other’s needs through that with those fundamentals in mind gave us the empathy we needed to view the problem —and not our partner --as the problem.

We heartily recommend Rita’s services to any couple seeking to heal the wounds in their relationship.” -G & M

“Rita has been an incredible resource in guiding our relationship to a more loving, understanding, and respectful place. She gave us many tools to help us interpret and appreciate our differences. This awareness has taught us how to communicate effectively and with empathy. She is unbiased, nonjudgmental, and approachable in her dealings with us as a couple and individually. So grateful we had her counseling when we needed it most.” - J & C

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Guidelines and Approaches Used

I have expertise in working with individuals and couples, As well as families.  

  • The title of Family Therapist indicates that I approach treatment by thinking relationally, which can be used with families, individuals, and couples.  

  • Clients can be understood in the context of their relationships.  

The client can also be the expert

  • Clients often start therapy with strengths they are not utilizing or not aware of.  I like to work collaboratively with the client using their strengths, which helps create a sense of achievement.  

  • Working collaboratively means I recognize the wisdom and resources a client possesses.  

  • You are an expert on you. 

The problem is the problem, the person is not the problem.

  • Family therapy will look at how the problem is effecting the client and separate it from being part of the client.  

  • The problems is not you, the problem is the problem.

  • Identity can be negatively shaped when the client sees the problems as themselves, or part of themselves.  

Motivation

I have learned, through my education and experience, that exploring mental health can help one discover a healthy and meaningful life path.  During my undergrad education at Virginia Commonwealth University, I struggled with the uncertainty of my future and often felt lost.  As I pursued my studies in psychology, I learned about thought processes and the effect of symptoms.  I started to use self exploration to address my own insecurities about my future.  I developed a better understanding of myself resulting in feelings of having a purpose and life direction. 

After receiving my Bachelor’s in Psychology I was motivated to explore how relationships can play a part in our thought processes by studying Marriage and Family Therapy at the graduate program at Seton Hall University.  In graduate school I learned more about the treatment of mental health in the context of family relationships and romantic relationships.  I was given a blueprint of how unrealistic and inappropriate thought processes can cause or increase feelings of anxiety and depression.  I learned how to identify the inner strengths clients possess that they are not aware of, and how to work collaboratively with clients to help them feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in their changes.  As I gained more knowledge about how to help others, I maintained the belief that understanding one’s self can lead to feelings of purpose and relief. 

I carried this belief with me as I treated clients in various settings during my postgraduate experience so that I could help others explore themselves and the changes they could make to improve their lives.  I have worked with low income families using in-home therapy, I've worked with adolescents in the juvenile justice system in San Francisco and Brooklyn, and I've worked in outpatient clinical settings in Brooklyn and Queens helping client’s with severe symptoms of personality disorder, Bipolar Disorder and severe depression. 

Education/Experience

Virginia Commonwealth University –Graduated December 2001. BA in Science, the main field of study was Psychology.

Seton Hall University-Graduated May 2005. M.A. in Psych Studies with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Long Island University -Additional courses to qualify for NY licensure, from 2009 to 2011.

Sex Therapy Postgraduate Training Institute of New York-March 21, 2015-October 15, 2016

National University-PhD program-Expected graduation in 2024.

IFS Institute-Level 1 Training completed, from September 22, 2022 to January 15, 2023

Sex Therapy Program, division of the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy-Faculty/Co-Supervisor September 2024

Volunteer Work
• Family Service Bureau (2003 to 2005)-Worked with individuals with dual diagnoses
• “Straight Talk” (2002)-Volunteer program through Planned Parenthood that taught sex education to teenage girls in a group home.