Helping First-Gen Adults Navigate Emotions, Relationships & Cultural Expectations
Hi, I’m Rafael Cazares, LMFT
I’m a first-generation Latino therapist who understands what it’s like to grow up in a home where emotional needs weren’t always seen, named, or supported. I specialize in working with men of color, first-gen professionals, and adults who feel the weight of cultural and parental expectations to be strong, silent, or successful.
You may look like you're doing well on the outside—but inside, anxiety, depression, or relationship stress can feel overwhelming. You might find it hard to express what you feel, open up to people close to you, or even identify what you need. In therapy, I help you reconnect with your emotional world and move toward a life that feels grounded and aligned with who you are.
I also welcome others who resonate with these experiences—women, queer folks, or anyone navigating cultural identity, emotional disconnection, or high expectations of self.
Does This Sound Familiar?
You wake up feeling low, unmotivated, or emotionally drained—and you don’t always know why.
Your thoughts race from the moment you open your eyes, leaving you overwhelmed before the day begins.
You struggle to open up or trust others, especially when past wounds or family dynamics feel unresolved.
You carry the pressure to be strong, successful, or “put together,” even when you’re hurting inside.
Some days, you just want to shut down or disappear for a while.
If this feels familiar, you're not broken—and you don’t have to go through it alone.
You Don’t Have to Carry It Alone
Many of my clients are navigating anxiety, depression, or relationship issues shaped by upbringing, culture, and the roles they’ve been expected to play. Maybe you were taught not to talk about emotions, to stay quiet when things felt off, or to push through no matter how much it cost you inside.
Therapy offers a space to slow down and tune in. Together, we’ll make sense of what you’ve been carrying and help you move toward self-trust, clarity, and connection—both within yourself and with the people who matter most.
To support that process, I draw from evidence-based approaches that help you explore emotions, build resilience, and move toward lasting, meaningful change. Ready to get started?
My Approach to Therapy
My work is grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and trauma-informed care. I support clients in noticing and shifting the patterns that keep them stuck—especially when those patterns were learned as ways to survive growing up in environments where emotional expression wasn’t safe or supported.
You don’t have to perform, fix everything, or go it alone. Therapy can be a space where you get to be honest, supported, and fully human.
Feeling ready to take the next step?
Whether you're navigating anxiety, relationship stress, or the weight of unspoken expectations, you don’t have to keep holding it all alone. If what you’ve read resonates, I’d be honored to support you.
You can find my contact info below when you’re ready to reach out.