About Me
My name is Crystal Manjarrez. I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor providing virtual therapy in Illinois. My work centers BIPOC and Latine women, GNC folks, and queer folks navigating intergenerational trauma, familismo, identity exploration, chronic illness, workplace stress, and major life transitions. This may present as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, difficulty setting boundaries, emotional exhaustion, chronic stress and burnout, perfectionism, or feeling disconnected from yourself or your community.
I am a first-generation Mexican-American and daughter of immigrants, and I bring both lived experience and cultural understanding to my work with BIPOC and Latine folks. As a Latina, I understand firsthand some of the mental health challenges our communities experience. I have seen the stigma around mental health treatment and the lack of access to mental healthcare. I understand the importance of having culturally informed and culturally humble practitioners in the mental health field. My passion is in providing culturally competent care, empathy, and understanding in order to foster confidence and healing.
My own journey with chronic illness and disability has shaped how I show up as a therapist. I’ve experienced firsthand the complexities of navigating medical systems, internalized and external ableism, complex grief, and ongoing life adjustments. Everyone’s experience with chronic illness and/or pain is uniquely their own, but there is something grounding about working with someone who /just gets it/. I don’t assume that shared identity or shared health experiences automatically make me the right fit, but I do understand how meaningful it can be to feel seen from the start.
As a self-identified “black sheep” and “weirdo,” I welcome, embrace, and enthusiastically affirm those who have felt a little different, outside of the norm, misunderstood, and any whose identities live beyond the mainstream. I am passionate about encouraging folks to embrace all parts of themselves, even those we’ve been taught to hide. You don’t need to leave parts of you at the door. I bring my full, authentic self to the work, and I encourage you to do the same.
My Approach to Therapy
I believe that individuals are inclined toward personal growth, and a strong therapeutic relationship built on trust and compassion can allow individuals to realize that capacity. Through this foundation of trust, I provide individuals with a space to explore how their past experiences impact their current realities. We also acknowledge how systems and forces outside of our control (racism, ableism, capitalism, sexism, neuronormativity, the patriarchy, etc.) play a role in our lived experiences. Together, we find ways to move forward and live a meaningful and fulfilling life. My belief is that pain and discomfort can exist alongside growth, joy, pleasure, meaning, connection, and self-compassion.
I utilize acceptance and values oriented modalities in my work such as Acceptance and Commitment therapy, which helps us make space for what we cannot change while moving toward what matters, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, which supports the development of mindfulness, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation skills. I also integrate psychodynamic therapy to explore how past experiences shape our current patterns and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to explore the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Beneath all of these approaches is my grounding in person-centered and multicultural therapy, which guides me to meet each client with empathy, cultural humility, and a deep belief in their capacity for growth.