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Claudia Galván, LPC

Hi, I’m Claudia

I’m a bilingual Mexican-American, Native Houstonian, and parent to a spirited teen daughter. Outside of therapy, I find joy in the things that help me stay connected to myself—dancing cumbia, merengue, and salsa, or getting lost in a good suspense, horror, or historical fiction novel.

I know what it’s like to hold many roles at once, care deeply for others, and still try to carve out space for yourself somewhere in the middle of it all. That understanding shapes the way I show up in the therapy room—with warmth, curiosity, and compassion.

The name of my practice, CAYA, stands for “Come As You Are.” It also happens to be my nickname. “Come As You Are” is at the heart of how I believe therapy should feel: a space where you don’t have to perform, have everything figured out, or show up as anything other than who you are in that moment.

As a relational therapist, I prioritize building a strong, trusting therapeutic relationship as the foundation of our work. I believe there is something profoundly healing about having our pain acknowledged—being witnessed with compassion and curiosity is where healing begins.

Reach out to schedule a free consultation and take the first step.

Contact

Values

As a first-generation Latina, I understand the complexity of navigating multiple worlds — balancing family expectations, cultural values, responsibility, and identity. I know what it feels like to carry both pride and pressure at the same time.

I believe none of us develop in isolation. We are shaped by our relationships, culture, family systems, faith, and the broader communities we move through. These experiences influence how we see ourselves, connect with others, and make sense of the world around us.

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I strive to offer care that is anti-oppressive, affirming, and respectful of people from all identities, cultures, and backgrounds. Your lived experiences and the parts of your identity that matter to you are an important part of understanding your story.

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My Approach

I believe healing happens in spaces where you feel safe, respected, and deeply understood.

Therapy is a process of making sense of your experiences and reconnecting with your inner resources—not about “fixing” you, but about understanding the ways you adapted in order to survive and get through difficult experiences.

Healing also requires a systemic approach. That means we don’t just look at symptoms — we explore how family dynamics, culture, identity, religion, and lived experience have shaped your story.

These principles guide my work, alongside evidence-based and experiential approaches that help uncover and shift the patterns that keep you stuck—so insight can become meaningful, lasting change.

  • Also known as Parts Work, IFS is an approach that helps us explore your emotional inner world with curiosity and compassion. We work to better understand the different parts of you that developed to cope, protect, or manage difficult emotions, creating more balance, self-understanding, and internal connection.

  • EMDR is a trauma-focused therapy that helps the brain process and heal from distressing or overwhelming experiences so they feel less emotionally activating in the present.

  • Somatic therapy gently includes the body in the healing process. By paying attention to nervous system responses like tension, shutdown, anxiety, or overwhelm, we help your system begin to feel safer, more grounded, and more regulated over time.

    I also incorporate psychoeducation around the nervous system and Polyvagal Theory to help clients better understand how trauma, stress, and relational experiences can impact emotional and physical responses. Many clients find it empowering to understand that their reactions are not “wrong,” but adaptive responses shaped by their experiences.

  • Relational Life Therapy is an approach to couples work that focuses on understanding the deeper relational patterns underneath conflict, disconnection, and communication struggles. RLT integrates attachment, trauma, and relational dynamics to help couples create more honest, connected, and secure relationships.

Professional Credentials

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas. (#94211)

I am registered as a Florida Registered Telehealth Provider (#8060).

I hold a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

And, a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development & Family Studies.

I am trained to provide EMDR therapy and parts work.

I’m committed to ongoing learning, consultation, and advanced training in trauma-informed therapies so I can provide thoughtful and effective care.

Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to learn more.

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