About Liberty Velez, LMFT

A woman with dark, wavy hair smiling outdoors among green and pink flowering bushes.

Hi, I'm Liberty Velez

I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and EMDR certified therapist who works with adults who have difficulty finding ease. My goal is to help you stop dwelling on negative thoughts and start finding transformation and doing more of what you love.

Woman in black sports bra and shorts standing in ocean with arms outstretched, facing away, with foggy cityscape in the background.

My Journey To Becoming
A Therapist

I’m no different from the clients I see.
Like everyone else, I'm human.

I've been through both wonderful and difficult experiences that have shaped who I am and how I help.

Growing up in a tumultuous environment, I learned to navigate life's challenges with resilience and sensitivity. Like many trauma survivors, I developed a profound ability to empathize with others and read situations intuitively. These skills, honed through personal experience, have been instrumental in my journey to becoming a therapist.

While I didn't actively seek out these gifts, they have ultimately equipped me to guide others through their own difficult times. Through a combination of going to therapy, including EMDR, and pursuing my education, I have refined these tools to benefit both myself and my clients.

I won't sugarcoat it—this journey has been anything but easy and I'm not here to say that trauma made my life better. However, the process of healing has been transformative. I've experienced firsthand the challenges, the pain, and ultimately, the liberation that comes from healing. As someone who has emerged on the other side, I want to assure you that healing is possible.

I am deeply committed to supporting others on their path to healing and personal growth. It is my privilege to walk alongside my clients as they navigate their own journeys towards greater well-being and fulfillment.

Helping People Gives My Life Meaning

Being a therapist is fulfilling

I love helping people become healthier and more empowered and witnessing them achieve more fulfilling lives. The most rewarding thing about being a therapist is seeing a person walk away lighter, more free, and excited about their life.

People who know me often say that I am a good listener who can help people move through difficult and stressful times.

I Have A Genuine Interest In Others And Bring An Open, Non-judgemental Presence To Sessions

I have a natural ability to…

Sand dunes with ripples and patterns near the ocean under a partly cloudy sky.

  • Help people identify what they are feeling

  • Uncover what's under the surface

  • Sense what other people may be thinking and feeling

  • Be flexible on the path of discovering what's going on

  • Ask questions that help you move through feeling stuck

As a therapist, I embrace the following philosophies:

  • Survivors are not what happened to them.

  • Therapy works when both of us are committed to your healing.

  • Sometimes the small steps in the right direction end up being the biggest steps in the end.

  • People underestimate their ability to change.

    It’s possible to change.

    It’s possible to enjoy life again.

  • Even if we feel like we’ve lost hope, it’s possible to show up, commit to ourselves, and do what it takes to start feeling better.

Background

  • I received a BA in English from SFSU. Afterwards I also received a Masters degree from University of San Francisco in counseling psychology. I have over 10 years experience providing therapy in the San Francisco/East Bay Area. Before starting my own practice in 2019 I also worked in community mental health settings, hospitals, and behavioral health insurance.

    • EMDR - 2019 Parnell Institute: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Basic Training Course (Parts 1, 2 & 3) and 10 Hours of Consultation

    • EMDR - 2022 Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for Anxiety Disorders

    • EMDR - 2022 EMDR Therapy & Trauma Processing: Getting Back to Basics

    • EMDR - 2024 EMDR Therapy for Complex PTSD: An Integrative Approach to Treating Clients

    • ACT - 2022 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Focused ACT for Brief Interventions

    • ACT - 2021 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, ACT Bootcamp

    • IFS - 2023 Internal Family Systems, Mastering IFS for Trauma, Anxiety, Depression, Addiction and more

    • IFS - 2023 Internal Family Systems 6-Month Circle Program

  • I grew up in Southern California, where I was immersed in a mosaic of cultures. My upbringing, guided by my mother, gifted me with a deep curiosity about differences and an authentic way to be when engaging with others from varied backgrounds. Having to navigate cultural nuances all through-out my life, my experiences have shaped my humility and grace in understanding the different parts of myself as well as in how to interact with the world around me—a skill set that transcends traditional education.

  • During the pandemic I joined a competitive rowing team. It reignited my love for the ocean, fitness, and the city I live in. Whether I'm rowing, paddle boarding or jogging around the lake, you'll often find me seeking out opportunities to be near the water. There's something captivating about rivers and the ocean; they remind me of the simultaneous smallness and vastness of life. It's a reminder of how fragile life can be, yet how expansive and full of possibilities it is at the same time.

Photo of Horseshoe Bend, a meander in the Colorado River forming a horseshoe-shaped bend in the canyon, during sunset with colorful sky.