MEET
DR. PÈREZ PEÑA
Greensboro & Telehealth Office
¡yo hablo español!
Hola! I’m Angiemil,
I'm so glad you're here.
And that you’re beginning to imagine a better future.
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I WANT TO HELP YOU IMAGINE
Perhaps you’ve been feeling stuck lately. (Maybe it’s been longer than just lately). Unsure of what to do next. Frozen from making change. Afraid of what change might mean you need to let go of. Who that change may distance you from. Wondering if you’ll recognize your changed self.
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Your Future Self Is Cheering You On
Fear. Familiarity. Comfort. The unknown. These are just some of what can keep us from pursuing something different. Something better. Parts of us stay tricked into thinking that rocking the boat in any way might lead to everything capsizing.
It’s Okay To Be Curious About What Lies Beyond That Door
That You’ve Always Felt Was Closed to You
I know what it’s like to feel trapped in an identity or way of existing. That’s what led me to this work.
Experiencing the nonjudgmental space of therapy changed my life. It gave me permission to be myself and to create spaces for my past, present, and future selves to coexist and express themselves.
As a proud bicultural Dominican-American, I learned that it was OK to individuate into my own unique self while staying connected to and embracing my collective culture. Whether it’s relating to culture, relationships, adolescence, identity, or just whatever life happens to be throwing at you right now,
I want to help you walk through that door.
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It Is OK For YOU To Walk Through That Door
It’s OK for you to want more. To be curious about how things can be different.
AND how things can be strengthened so as to remain the same. Strengthened so that you are in a more grounded place to embrace who you are, embrace what life has presented to you, and embrace the ways in which you want to change.
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I work with teens, adults, and couples to facilitate growth in love for themselves, clarity about where they want to head in the future, and connection and embodiment to embrace where they are now.
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If you’re ready to begin imagining your future while embracing your present, I’d love to offer you the space to do so.
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Ready to imagine?
Want more specifics about my training and experience?
Read on below:
MY EDUCATION
I hold a BA in Sociology from the University of Centra Florida My Master's degree is in Couple & Family Counseling and my Doctoral degree is in Counseling & Counselor Education, both from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG).
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MY THEORETICAL APPROACH:
In life and in my work, I operate from a strength-based and holistic model. I work hard to understand you in relationship to your strengths and comprehend your problems in their entirety. When counseling individuals, couples, or families, I draw from techniques and concepts from Person-Centered Theory, Emotion Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems and Family Systems Theory, and Relational Cultural Theory. KI may also include interventions from other modalities and theoretical frameworks when appropriate. Above all, I believe an integral part to effective counseling is creating a safe space. I work hard with you, not for you, to create a space that meets your needs and helps clarify the areas in your life you wish to grow and develop further in. Specific to eating disorders and body image, I operate from a weight inclusive, Fat Positive, and Intuitive Eating approach and philosophy.
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I am trained in Brainspotting, a brain-based trauma protocol that helps clients identify, process, and release core neurophysiological sources of emotional/body pain, trauma, dissociation.
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PERSONAL:
In my free time, I enjoy road trips across the US, traveling opportunities when possible, connecting with family and friends (in-person or virtually!). In 2016, I had the chance to accomplish a dream of completing a 30-day pilgrimage to El Camino de Santiago de Compostela. When not working, you can find me reading a story to my nieces and nephews on a #zoomparty or playing a pick-up game of pickleball!
MY CREDENTIALS
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate
(NC# A12768), National Certified Counselor (# 755768), & Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. I am also trained as a SAFE Conversations Facilitator.
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MY EXPERIENCE:
I have nearly six years of clinical experience and have had the honor of working in several different settings with individuals of various ages, backgrounds, and presenting concerns. I have worked with individuals, couples, and families in each of those settings, and I have an unparalleled passion for working with adolescents.
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These settings include private practice with teens and adults, a non-profit organization with BIPOC individuals, a clinical agency with individuals, couples, and families, and a therapeutic boarding school for teens. I enjoy working with teens, adults, families, and couples facing depression, anxiety, trauma, stress, self-harm, eating disorders and body image concerns, life-stage transitions, intimate partner concerns, high conflict relationships, affair recovery, intimacy issues, acculturative stress.
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I currently work full-time as an assistant professor and director of clinical training for National Louis University. I supervise and work closely with counselors-in-training to develop a culturally-informed clinical practice.
In addition to my clinical work, I am a co-founder of Meaningful Lives CWS, non-profit organization committed to serving underserved clients - uninsured, underinsured, and never served clients - providing community access and resources at a sliding scale cost.