We are happy to announce that Valeria Lazo has joined CCIH as a Staff Therapist! With Valeria’s arrival, we have additional capacity for new clients seeking trauma informed treatment, including those interested in sessions in Spanish. Call our intake line at 773-754-7441 ext 2000 or request a call from us here.
Below is a brief interview with Valeria
Why CCIH?
I found CCIH while searching for a course, or anything, that would place me in a room with others who shared a vision of connection rather than division or hierarchy around therapeutic modalities. I don’t believe there is one “perfect” modality. If there were, I imagine we wouldn’t constantly be searching for the next “best” practice while also revisiting and reclaiming ancestral ways of knowing.
What initially got you interested in therapy?
I like to think psychology found me. I originally enrolled in a psychology course in college to fulfill a science requirement. I thought it might be easier than biology or chemistry. Instead, it completely changed the direction of my life.
For the first time, I felt I made sense and I wanted more of that feeling. It awakened my curiosity and helped me realize that if I made sense, then the people around me did too. Psychology became a way of understanding the world, connecting with others, and making meaning of human experiences. I was never much of a “small talk” person; I have always been drawn to deeper conversations and understanding people in profound ways – which made therapy a great fit.
What is your passion?
I am passionate about working with people whose stories of survival and identity are often overlooked. My work focuses on supporting individuals navigating the intersections of trauma, identity, belonging, and migration.
I have extensive experience working with immigrants across generations, unaccompanied immigrant youth, LGBTQ+ communities, and survivors of displacement, trafficking, and systemic harm. I deeply value creating spaces where people feel seen, understood, and connected to their own resilience; and for some, this is the first time they have known themselves in this way.
More recently, I have found myself especially drawn to working with family dynamics and life transitions. I enjoy supporting people as they explore questions around identity, relationships, parenthood, boundaries, and what building a meaningful life looks like for them. I value helping people move through stuck points in their lives with more curiosity, fluidity, compassion, and connection to themselves and others.
I feel deeply honored to be part of someone’s journey in this way and to walk alongside them as they make meaning of their experiences and move toward the life they want for themselves, just as others have done for me.
What do you like to do when you are not in session?
Each season of my life tends to bring different interests and ways of grounding myself. In this current season, I am enjoying unstructured time, leaning into play with my little beings, and spending weekends (and any opportunity) at farmers markets or reading books.
I enjoy resourcing myself through movement, including martial arts, Pilates, yoga, and running. I also love a good coffee shop with fresh pastries, spending time with family, and catching up with friends.
