Alina Gastesi-De Armas, LMHC

Alina Gastesi-De Armas is a licensed mental health counselor with 28 years of experience. She speaks English and Spanish and focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, and depression. She frames the first step toward change as a brave choice and offers steady support through that process.

Alina believes each person knows their own story and brings strengths into therapy. She uses that foundation to help people build on what already works. Sessions are practical and straightforward, focusing on everyday tools that make life feel more manageable.

Her work includes helping people cope with major life changes and sharpen communication when relationships feel strained. She also addresses worries like social anxiety, problems with guilt and shame, difficulties forgiving oneself or others, and finding life purpose and self-love.

Across sessions she draws on several evidence-based approaches, tailoring what she uses to the needs and preferences of the person in front of her. This can mean learning new ways to handle strong emotions, changing unhelpful thinking patterns, or clarifying values and goals to guide action.

People can expect a collaborative, respectful style that centers their own goals. Alina aims to help clients leave sessions with clear next steps and tools they can try between meetings. She works with English and Spanish speakers and accepts international clients.

How therapeutic approaches fit with online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people notice what matters to them and take small steps toward those values. It focuses on action and accepting uncomfortable feelings rather than struggling with them. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behavior and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress. Client-Centered Therapy centers the person's own experience and strengths, with the therapist offering empathy and support while the client leads the pace and goals.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about their needs, goals, and preferences and will suggest approaches that fit. Decisions about which methods to try happen together, and plans can change as progress is made.

The original biography does not specify which online session formats are offered, so confirm current options before booking. Many people find remote sessions make it easier to fit therapy into busy weeks, shorten travel time, and allow quick check-ins between in-person visits. Online sessions can also let someone meet with a licensed professional who speaks their language even when they live far away. Ask about available formats and scheduling when you complete the matching questionnaire.