heart-strengthening therapy & community for the helpers.
mental health support
for first-generation women
heart-strengthening care & community.
a soft place to land and take off the armor.
Welcome to Planting Seeds Somatic Therapy, a virtual office offering somatic therapy, women empowerment groups, education & mentorship. A space for the helpers to be held, heard & supported.
As a first-gen Dominican, I, too, live y aquí y allá. For many first-gen folks, we have witnessed our parents’ hustle and survive. And we have done the same; we have learned to do so and have gotten really good at it.
However, our path is different; your path is different. Your body may be asking for different, for a slower pace, for more intention…for space to be.
The space I hold empowers you to thrive. Together through heart-to-heart conversations and connection, we cultivate a space grounded in love… love for yourself, your family, and your community.
My intention is to empower you as you grow a life that feels like yours, that honors you and your path- and in doing so, you also honor your community, ancestors, and little you.
I work with teachers, social workers, helpers, artists, writers, and caregivers, the brave hearts and passionate souls who have chosen the path of healing, not just for themselves, but for the collective.
In all the space I hold, the goal is never to fix or change you…It is to help you grow & thrive.
With Ancestral LOVE,
dariela <3
Meet Dariela Vasquez, LCSW
First-Gen Dominican Somatic Psychotherapist & Educator
Hi there, and welcome to my virtual office!
I am a first-generation Dominican woman, sister, daughter, friend, cousin, niece, community member & therapist.
As the only daughter of immigrants, I learned to hustle and to survive early on.
I learned how to take everything on, how to carry, shape-shift, and become who I needed to be in order to be loved, keep the peace, or survive another day. In my 20’s, the invisible symptoms of exhaustion, stored childhood trauma, and childhood grief caught up to me. My body experienced painful periods, depressive episodes, cystic acne, dizziness, headaches, migraines, and other symptoms. I felt uncomfortable in my body, and simultaneously, I felt far away from myself.
During this time, I learned how to care for my body and reconnected with myself. It was a dark time in my life, and during that time, I learned how to see in the dark. Grief became a teacher for me; I learned how to honor the seasons and cycles of life, and the interconnectedness of nature & community…I came home to myself over and over again.
As a space holder this time period informed my work, I learned how to honor each person’s process in a different way than I was taught in graduate school, it became clear to me that therapy, the therapy I believe in, isn’t about fixing or changing anyone, its about being a witness to someone’s jounrey and becoming a mirror for them to see themselves as love.
The space I hold is rooted in love…. in ancestral love… the love that sees you for who you are and doesn’t judge… the love that understands that life gets hard and that many things happen beyond our control.
If you are interested in learning more about my approach to this work as a client or if you are a mental health professional yourself, I invite you to reach out. I love people, and I’d love to connect.
I am here to serve.
<3
services & offerings
heart-strengthening therapy for helpers.
This care is about you connecting with you, with your body…and with your heart.
I offer weekly, biweekly, & monlthy sessions to support you on your journey in a way that honors you and your path.
I have over 10 years of experience in the field, working with women of color.
I specialize in
Grief/ Loss
Childhood trauma & Grief
Depression
Intergenerational trauma & Ancestral Healing
Body Trauma
Women's Health
First-generation Mental Health
Therapy for Mental Health Professionals
If you are interested and unsure if this type of care would be a good fit, I invite you to reach out and schedule a phone consultation below.
heart to heart, our monthly women’s empowerment circle
Heart to Heart is a monthly, open, virtual empowerment group for helpers.
This is a non-clinical group, a space where you are welcomed as you are.
This space is for teachers, social workers, creatives, artists, writers, and caregivers. The brave hearts and passionate souls who have chosen the path of healing, not just for themselves, but for the collective.
Each group will begin with intention setting and a somatic practice to drop us into our hearts.
This is a space to be in community, to be witnessed, and also to witness others on their own journey.
Each group will give space for group members to participate as they feel called to. This is a body-honoring space where we move at the speed of safety and come together to strengthen our hearts.
Heart to Heart meets every third Thursday of the month at 6 pm EST on Zoom.
The group runs for 90 minutes.
See below to register.
If you have any questions regarding whether this group is a good fit, schedule a phone consultation below.
coming soon <3……..
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Interested in learning more? Schedule a free 20 minute consultation call: