About Me
Hi I’m Rafael Cazares, LMFT
I’m a first-generation Mexican American therapist who helps adults and couples work through anxiety, self-criticism, and relationship struggles so they can feel more grounded, confident, and connected.
Growing up, my experience of masculinity as a Latino man came with family expectations and unspoken rules about strength and responsibility.
Later in life, marriage, fatherhood, and loss brought those lessons into sharper focus. I learned how heavy those roles and expectations can feel, but also how much resilience and closeness can grow when we face them with honesty and care. Therapy gave me space to make sense of these challenges and to find strength in the very places I once felt weighed down. That same process now guides the way I help my clients.
How I Work
My approach is experiential, culturally sensitive, and trauma-informed. I integrate two powerful, evidence-based models:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) provides the framework and skills to change your relationship with painful thoughts.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) provides the process to heal emotional wounds and deepen your connection with yourself and others.
In our work together, I pay close attention to:
The mind → Using ACT skills to quiet self-criticism and racing thoughts.
The body → Noticing and easing the physical weight of anxiety.
Relationships → Using EFT to heal patterns of disconnection and strengthen trust.
I honor cultural strengths and family values while also creating space to explore new ways of living and relating that feel authentic to you.
Outside the Therapy Room
I’m a husband, father, and gamer who believes in bringing openness, empathy, and honesty into every relationship.
Ready to Begin?
If my story resonates, I’d be honored to support you. I meet with clients online throughout California.