About Me

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Hi! I’m Pilar. I’m a Master of Social Work student at the Smith College School for Social Work, completing my clinical internship at Portland Mental Health and Wellness. What drives my work is a deep conviction that our mental health is inseparable from the social and economic conditions we live within. Injustice takes a real toll, and marginalized and underserved communities too often carry heavier mental health burdens as a result. I came to this field wanting to offer care that takes those realities seriously, and to walk alongside people as they make sense of their lives and reclaim their sense of possibility.

Therapeutic Approach

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My work is relational and psychodynamic, grounded in the belief that healing happens in connection and that understanding our patterns can free us. I’m also informed by liberation psychology, which sees personal healing and freedom from oppression as intertwined. I aim to be warm, curious, and collaborative, working alongside you rather than above you, and honoring your own knowledge of yourself.

My hope is that clients leave feeling more understood, less alone, better resourced to cope, and more empowered to liberate themselves from what holds them back. I especially welcome trans and queer people, people of color, adults navigating life transitions, and anyone seeking to heal in the face of oppression.

Outside the Office

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Outside of work, I’m a visual artist and love making things by hand, especially sewing. I also enjoy listening and dancing to electronic music. Creativity, imagination, and curiosity shape how I move through the world and how I show up for my clients.

I am supervised by Jenn Wimmer, LCSW, PWS