Good morning, everybody. This is Alyssa Cedillo from Tree of Life Counseling Center, and I just wanted to make you aware of some of your rights.

I attended a training today on Texas immigration and laws, and there are a lot of changes happening within our state. Please be advised that this is not legal advice, but I don’t want you to be uninformed or unaware. We’ll do our best to provide this video in Spanish as well.

Have you ever sat around and thought, What would I do in times of the Holocaust? During the Civil Rights movements? During times of injustice? I know I have.

I remember being a child, reading books and learning history. I remember walking through stores and being treated differently because of my looks, because of my ethnicity, because of whatever bigoted views that person had around me. And I remember always wondering: Who would stand by me? What would I do? Would I speak up? Would I be afraid?

At Tree of Life Counseling Center, we lead with vulnerability, authenticity, and courage.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ This is not always comfortable or easy and to be honest leaves me at times in a place where I feel empowered and restored and other times in a place where I desperately need rest to recover.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ One of the ways that oppression manifests in bodies of culture is in a charged nervous system. Many times, we are told that we are hyper-vigilant, that we have anxiety, that we are depressed, and many more dx. When in reality many of us are stuck living our lives in a body hurting from traumatic stress with little respite. With little space to rest.⁣⁣

Hello everybody.

So I have noticed an increase in the alpha male content or these like super toxic male dating strategy contents, where they abuse the term “setting boundaries” when what they're actually doing is exhibiting extremely controlling behavior within their relationships.

Alyssa: But we have these concepts that are often talked to us about imposter syndrome, and we hear a lot. I hear a lot of times from associates or people in training, people in universities who are students saying that they have imposter syndrome. So you even hear that from, you know, high-ranking CEOs.

Hello again everybody. This is Mauricio at Tree of Life Counseling, and this is going to be a slightly different video than what I normally do.

Today, I'm going to ask the Millennials and the Gen Xers to see who else remembers this. I have a very vivid memory of watching cartoons, watching television shows, and having there be a relatively consistently older character—like an elderly or a senior citizen character—who would complain about how easy the kids these days, quote unquote, have it. You know, the joke that I feel like I heard more than once was having to walk 15 miles in the snow uphill both ways every day just to go to school.

Why I No Longer Offer Empathy Without Boundaries

This truth has been with me for years—shaped by lived experience, reflection, a deep connection to culture, and a commitment to growth.

I spent many years freely pouring out empathy and compassion. In part, that was cultural—rooted in teachings and systems that told me all people deserve my care. But now, after years of reflection and unlearning, I’ve come to this:

I no longer share my light with those who choose to actively engage in harm. I no longer offer my spirit to those who contribute to the spiritual and emotional pain of others, or worse—who benefit from it.

It begins with a bachelor’s degree — typically a minimum of four years, but often longer depending on life circumstances. Many of us take breaks to care for family, work multiple jobs, or simply survive. These aren’t delays — they’re proof of perseverance. During these years, we build a foundation in human behavior, social systems, and emotional wellness, often through unpaid internships, community involvement, and juggling responsibilities few others see.

The Lesbian Community Has Always Been on the Frontlines of Care

While mainstream narratives often overlook it, lesbian communities have long been a backbone of resistance, healing, and survival.

To the therapists navigating grief that hides in the shadows—

The loss that can’t be named for fear of judgment.The ache of identity denied, the goodbye never given space.The mourning wrapped in confidentiality, legality, or survival.

At Tree of Life Counseling Center, we are guided by a deep commitment to justice, empowerment, and healing. As part of our ongoing efforts to make mental health care more accessible, culturally competent, and equitable, we are proud to introduce our Clinical Director, Alyssa Cedillo LPC-S, RPT-S. Alyssa is a leader dedicated to challenging oppressive systems and creating spaces for collective liberation. In this blog post, we’ll share more about the values, mission, and vision that shape our work under her leadership.

At Tree of Life Counseling Center (TLCC), we are deeply committed to fostering the next generation of healers. Through our graduate student program, we offer individuals a unique opportunity to receive counseling services from bright, passionate students in their clinical mental health programs. Under the supervision of licensed professionals and faculty, these students provide high-quality, compassionate care to our community.

ICE raids are not routine. They are not “just part of the system.”

Las redadas de ICE no son rutinarias. No son “parte del sistema”.

They are state-sanctioned violence—dehumanizing, destabilizing, and traumatic.

Son violencia avalada por el estado—deshumanizante, desestabilizadora y traumática.

Mental health matters—for all of us. At Tree of Life Counseling Center, we know that healing doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens in relationships—with people, with the land, with community, and sometimes, with the quiet (or not-so-quiet) presence of animals.

I did not enter the mental health field with ease—I fought my way in. The journey was not just about acquiring degrees, credentials, or professional titles. Initially it was about survival and a relationship with capitalism and colonialism I had to work my way through, with little guidance from institutions of learning or empathy.

Understanding the difference between signs and symptoms is foundational in mental health work, yet these concepts are often shaped by cultural context.

The recent actions by the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC) and the Texas LPC Board represent a disturbing turn in the mental health field. These bodies have chosen to align themselves with harmful, regressive ideologies that threaten the very communities we are committed to serving. Despite overwhelming opposition from mental health professionals, the board has opted to whitewash our professional standards and engage in a culture war.

The concept of masculinity refers to a social construct with some basis in human physiology. However, how we define what is masculine depends on several cultural and historical contexts.

I watch as those in power shamelessly parade themselves as the saviors of America while deepening the dystopian reality they’ve crafted.

Those who see you for what you are didn’t fall for it a hundred times before, and you won’t force us to now.

“As I prepare to travel to Houston today, I can't shake the feeling that I'm walking straight into a hornet's nest. I'm traveling alone as a brown-bodied woman through Texas—a state with a troubling history of police brutality—for a DEI award on a weekend marked by unrest. To top it off, I’ll be accepting the award in front of a room full of white bodies.