Hi, I’m Rafael Cazares.
I Built the Space I Wish I Had.
I help First-Gen men and couples navigate the gap between where they came from and where they are going.
The Gap in the System
I became a therapist because I recognized a gap in the mental health world. Too often, therapy feels like a space designed for someone else.
Traditional models often miss the specific weight of First-Generation expectations, the nuance of cultural silence (or machismo), and the crushing pressure to succeed not just for yourself, but for your whole family.
I know that weight because I have carried it.
I understand what it feels like to achieve the success you were supposed to want, only to realize you don't know who you are outside of the "hustle." I founded my practice to help men and couples stop just surviving their success and start actually living it.
Who I Work Best With
I work best with clients who feel "in-between." You don't fit the stereotype of someone who "needs help"—you are high-functioning and resilient—but you are tired of carrying it all alone.
The Armored Provider:
You have the career and the accolades, but you are white-knuckling your way through the day. You are the safety net for everyone else, but you have no place to crash when you are tired.
The Emerging Cycle Breaker:
You are building a life different from the one you saw growing up, but without a roadmap, you feel lost. Imposter Syndrome and old family narratives are making you play small, keeping you from owning the success you’ve earned.
The Cultural Navigator:
You are trying to be a modern partner while navigating traditional expectations (or machismo). You want to connect with your spouse and break the cycle of silence, but you don't know how to open up without feeling weak.
Real Talk Over Clinical Jargon.
My Style: Warm, Direct, & Practical.
I believe therapy works best when we can be real with each other. That means we might laugh, we might be direct, and we will definitely get to work.
I am not the "blank slate" therapist who just nods silently. I bring my full self to the room. While I prioritize our human connection above all else, I also ensure you leave with practical tools to use in the real world.
My goal is to use evidence-based frameworks (like ACT and EFT) to give you the emotional roadmap you never got growing up. We don't just talk about the past; we build a strategy for your future.
Credentials & Training
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT #150588)
M.S. in Counseling - Marriage and Family Therapy, California State University Northridge
Trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)