Welcome Steven!

We’re so excited to welcome Steven Avila to the Gather & Grow Family!

Steven is a California State University, San Bernardino alumn and writes:

Hello there, my name is Steven! I’m an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor at Gather and Grow OC.

I am an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor passionate about empowerment, advocacy, and curiosity. I aim to support folks on their mental wellness journeys by providing compassion, kindness, and acceptance.

I received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Gender & Sexuality Studies from California State University, San Bernardino. From there, I also received my Master of Science in Professional & School Counseling. I have interned at the Corona-Norco Unified School District, working with middle and high school populations with crisis counseling, academic support, college prep, social-emotional learning, and peer support. Before completing my Master’s, I worked at the Queer & Transgender Resource Center at California State University, San Bernardino, providing gender-affirming support for students, faculty, staff, and the community. My journey of becoming a counselor started when I was battling depression during high school. I was able to receive the support I needed through school counselors and seeing a therapist, which helped me see the importance of these roles.

In my experience as a gay man, I understand the importance of LGBTQ+ affirmation, which can correlate with anxiety and stress management. I am passionate about supporting and advocating for the LGBTQ+ community and being a pillar of support for anyone. I do this by utilizing a narrative approach, which helps folks understand their story by deconstructing harmful false narratives and pretenses that may have shaped our past experiences and traumas. For anyone to feel safe and heard, I give a sense of safety during sessions and help build a rapport to build a better connection. I am usually laid-back with a dorky sense of humor and a deep understanding of one’s experiences. This helps create a sense of security within my established relationships and connections.

I look forward to speaking with you and joining you on your journey.

Sincerely,

Steven

We’re so excited to have Steven on the team! Read more about his practice HERE.