Evelyn Cruz, LMSW

Offered in both English and Spanish / Ofrecido en inglés y español

“We have a choice: to live or to exist.” — Harry Styles

Welcome

My path as a clinician started from a very human place: I know firsthand what it feels like to struggle with loneliness, to get trapped in endless mental chatter, and to carry the expectations of what your life, culture, and thoughts “should” look like. I’ve learned that true healing isn’t about constantly fighting yourself or fixing a ‘broken’ version of who you are. It’s about looking inward with love and curiosity to understand what your pain is trying to tell you—because every single day, you have a choice to finally choose you!

Taking the step to seek support is incredibly brave, and I want to commend you for being here! Together, we will create a shame-free space to welcome all of your emotions, shed the expectations, and untangle the noise at your pace. I would be honored to walk right alongside you as you step into your most authentic, confident self.

Education

I earned my Master of Social Work from the University of Houston and my Bachelor of Social Work with a minor in Psychology from Texas State University. Throughout my academic and professional journey, I have focused my studies and my heart on cultural family dynamics, human growth, and systemic stress.

My education truly came to life through the diverse communities I’ve had the privilege to serve. From supporting teens in intensive residential care, to working with unaccompanied minors who journeyed to the U.S. entirely on their own, to guiding college students through major life transitions—I have seen the wide array of challenges life can bring. Witnessing the immense resilience of the human spirit across all of these different spaces is exactly what shapes my clinical practice and fuels my passion for helping you feel empowered, seen, and understood.

My Clinical Focus

  • Anxiety and Overthinking

  • Depression and Loss of Purpose

  • First-Generation and Bicultural Stress

  • Family Dynamics and Generational Expectations

  • Grief, Bereavement, and Life After Loss

  • Life Transitions and Major Adjustments

  • Trauma and Systemic Stress

  • Self-Esteem, Identity, and Personal Empowerment

  • Teens, Emerging Adults, and Adults

My Approach

As a first-generation Hispanic therapist, I understand how culture, family expectations, and background shape how we navigate the world. My style is naturally curious, and I truly love getting to know the whole you!

Because everyone heals differently, I take an integrative approach, pulling from different tools like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Narrative Therapy, and Somatic (mind-body) practices to find exactly what works for you. This means we won’t just talk about your story; we will look at how your experiences have impacted the beliefs you carry today, while incorporating simple, body-based tools to help release stress that gets physically trapped in your nervous system. We will go entirely at your pace to unpack the heavy stuff, discover your resilience, and build everyday strategies that leave you feeling grounded, empowered, and understood.

If you are ready to take that next step, I invite you to reach out for a free, 15-minute consultation to see how we can best team up together.