ZARINA MORENO, LCSW-S
I’m Zarina (she/her/ella)—a bilingual therapist and someone who knows what it’s like to make yourself small just to feel safe.
I came to the U.S. from Mexico at 12 and landed in the Rio Grande Valley, where nearly everyone looked like me, but I had to learn how to speak a new language—and a whole different cultura. I spent years trying to perform perfection, to belong, to survive. Like so many of us, I was raised on silence, strength, and *“no llores”—*taught to push through rather than feel.
I became a therapist because I wanted to be the person I needed growing up—someone who helps you feel seen, safe, and like you’re allowed to take up space.
Now, with 9 years of experience and a trauma-informed, relational-cultural lens, I help women reconnect to themselves. That means learning how to tune into your body, listen to your nervous system, and stop carrying the emotional labor of everyone around you. Whether you're navigating anxiety, cultural identity, first-gen pressures, people-pleasing, or generational trauma—you're not alone, and you're not broken. Your body is simply asking to be heard. Es tiempo de dejar atrás lo que no es tuyo.
In my work, I blend evidence-based tools (like CBT + ACT) with deep emotional attunement and somatic-based practices, always honoring your pace. I’ve supported teen survivors of violence, first-gen college students, women processing trauma, and so many others who were taught that rest is lazy and boundaries are selfish. I'm here to help you rewrite that story.
I like to joke that I’m an “elder emo”—you’ll usually find me in all black—but people always tell me my energy is warm, radiant, and grounded. When I’m not in session, you’ll find me reading late into the night, playing video games, binge-watching K-dramas, and traveling with my husband and our pup, Bertha. I'm a proud supporter of Latina foundations and women-owned businesses, and I believe in a world where healing is accessible, culturally responsive, and radically empowering.
Because you deserve peace. In both languages. In both worlds.
lover of
anime / astrology / coffee / FANTASY NOVELS / feminism
My Mission
To create a safe, inclusive space for people of color—especially those navigating complex identities like being bilingual, bicultural, LGBTQ+, or neurodivergent. Whether you're breaking generational cycles or just trying to feel more like yourself, you deserve healing, pride, and relationships rooted in trust and self-respect.
My values
Authenticity. I show up as my full self, and I want you to feel safe doing the same. I'm honest, real, and not afraid to sit with you in the hard stuff—without judgment or pretense.
Community. I deeply value connection. Healing doesn’t happen in isolation, and I believe in the power of shared stories, cultural pride, and creating space where you know you’re not alone.
Empowerment. I’m not here to fix you. I’m here to support you in reconnecting with your own voice, building self-trust, and learning that healing is about presence—not perfection.
My SUPERPOWER
With 9+ years in practice, I bring both clinical experience and lived perspective as a millennial, bilingual therapist who speaks your emotional language. I get the cultural code-switching, the quiet burnout, the pressure to be everything—and I’ll help you name it, challenge it, and move through it.
my SERVICES
Come as you are—whether it’s your first time in therapy or you’ve been on this journey for years, I offer compassionate, non-judgmental support through individual, group, and walk-and-talk sessions.
Let’s OWN Your Story
You are the author of your life—and that means you get to decide what comes next. We carry so many stories from our cultura, our families, and our past—stories about what it means to be good, strong, worthy, or “enough.” But healing invites us to pause, reflect, and choose what still belongs.
I’m passionate about helping you reconnect with your voice—shaped by your culture, community, and lived experiences—and own your story with language that empowers, not limits. One of my favorite reads, Rest is Resistance, reminds us that in a world where women of color are expected to carry everything, rest is a radical act. You don’t have to hustle to be worthy. You just have to begin.