A Fellow Human, Walking beside you.

Hi, I’m Sonia (she/her). I’m a licensed professional counselor (#9608) practicing in New Orleans, Louisiana. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, I moved here in 2017 in search of a deeper sense of belonging — and have come to call this city my home.

My academic background began at Bennington College, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, in addition to two years of studying photography at Art Center College of Design. I earned my Master’s of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of New Orleans in 2023.

Before becoming a counselor, I worked as a photographer- a path that first attuned me to the depth and complexity of the human experience. I felt especially drawn to portraiture, where the act of making an image became an invitation for someone to meet my gaze through the lens and offer a glimpse into something private, meaningful, and real. Those moments of shared vulnerability ultimately inspired me to pursue a more direct form of connection and care. That shift became a call to serve — to sit with others not just as an observer, but as a companion in their search for clarity, meaning, and wholeness.

As part of my clinical training, I worked at Bridge House, a long-term, inpatient residential facility for men navigating problematic substance abuse- first as an intern and later as a program counselor. That experience continues to inform my work with clients facing deep personal challenges, and has strengthened my belief in our capacity for growth, healing, and resilience.