Meet Our Clinical Director at Tree of Life Counseling Center – Alyssa Cedillo LPC-S, RPT-S
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.
A Commitment to Justice, Empowerment, and Healing
Alyssa Cedillo's journey is rooted in a lifelong commitment to justice and healing. With a focus on dismantling oppressive systems, her work is driven by a passion for making a positive impact, particularly for marginalized communities. The goal isn’t just to provide mental health care—it’s to create spaces where people can heal, grow, and reclaim their authentic selves without fear of judgment or exclusion.
At the heart of this work is the belief that every person deserves the right to be seen, heard, and valued. This principle informs every aspect of our approach to therapy at Tree of Life Counseling Center. From the way we listen to our clients to how we structure our programs, Alyssa is committed to ensuring that everyone who walks through our doors feels supported in their healing journey.
Decolonizing Mental Health Practices
One of the core values of Alyssa Cedillo is the importance of decolonizing mental health practices. This concept goes beyond simply integrating cultural sensitivity into therapy sessions—it challenges the very systems that have historically marginalized certain communities. Alyssa works tirelessly to create an environment where decolonization is actively pursued and embedded into every aspect of care.
In practical terms, this means constantly examining the mental health systems at play, both in our community and in the broader field. It involves confronting how these systems have been built on values that may not serve or align with the lived experiences of our clients, particularly those from historically and intentionally disenfranchised communities. Through this lens, therapy becomes not just a tool for individual healing, but a means of collective liberation and social justice.
Creating Safe and Authentic Spaces for Healing
At Tree of Life Counseling Center, we believe that true healing happens in spaces where individuals feel fully accepted for who they are. Alyssa brings cultural competence and authenticity into the therapeutic process, ensuring that everyone feels safe to be themselves. This isn’t just about being non-judgmental—it’s about actively working to create an environment where all aspects of a person’s identity are valued and understood.
Through a trauma-informed lens, Alyssa works with the team to provide care that is both inclusive and responsive to the unique needs of our clients. Whether it’s addressing the challenges of systemic oppression, navigating personal trauma, or supporting clients through life transitions, we prioritize an approach that is compassionate, empowering, and healing.
The Importance of Self-Reflection and Growth
As a practitioner, Alyssa emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and personal growth. It’s not enough to just provide healing services—we must also consistently examine how our own actions, biases, and practices align with our values. This includes recognizing and addressing the ways in which we, as individuals and as a collective, contribute to or dismantle systems of harm.
Self-reflection is an ongoing process, one that requires humility and vulnerability. As part of the leadership at Tree of Life Counseling Center, Alyssa is committed to growing alongside the clients we serve, acknowledging that healing is a mutual process that involves both practitioner and client. This commitment to personal growth and accountability ensures that we remain connected to our mission of collective liberation.
Building a Better Future, Together
Alyssa Cedillo embodies the roles of both healer and disruptor. Through her leadership, Tree of Life Counseling Center remains a space where healing is actively pursued and transformation is always within reach. This work is not just about treating symptoms or resolving issues; it’s about creating a better world for everyone, especially for those who have been historically marginalized and intentionally disenfranchised.
Whether through therapy, community engagement, or our advocacy work, the mission is clear: we are committed to challenging the status quo, disrupting oppressive systems, and creating a future where all people, especially those most affected by injustice, can heal, thrive, and live authentically.
At Tree of Life Counseling Center, we are proud of the intentional effort we put towards dismantling systems of oppression alongside the community. Under the leadership of Alyssa Cedillo, our Clinical Director, we are committed to ensuring that healing, justice, and access to care are within reach for everyone. Alyssa often says, "We rise together!"—a reminder that the journey toward healing and liberation is one we walk alongside each other. We invite you to join us in this shared journey, where collective liberation is not just a vision but a reality we create together.
