Gabriela Polanco
Marriage and Family Therapist Associate
As a bilingual Marriage and Family Therapist Associate with a master’s degree from Houston Christian University. With extensive experience working with trauma survivors and LGBTQ+ individuals, Gaby is dedicated to providing compassionate and effective therapy tailored to each client's unique needs. Specializing in couples counseling and family therapy, Gaby helps families navigate complex dynamics and life transitions, fostering healthier relationships and personal growth. Known for a warm and empathetic approach, Gaby creates a safe space for clients to explore their challenges and build resilience. Outside of the therapy room, Gaby enjoys spending quality time with family, traveling to new destinations, and watching sports.
Committed to making a positive impact, Gaby continues to empower individuals and families to achieve their goals and improve their overall well-being.
Specialties
Couples Therapy
Gabriela Polanco provides couples therapy that helps partners address relationship issues, improve communication, and resolve conflicts. She works with both individuals to identify problems, understand underlying emotions, and develop healthier ways to interact. She may cover topics like trust, intimacy, emotional support, and conflict resolution. The goal for couples therapy is to strengthen the relationship and help both partners feel heard and understood.
Premarital Counseling
Providing premarital counseling, Gaby helps partners discuss important topics such as communication, finances, family dynamics, expectations, and conflict resolution. The goal is to strengthen the relationship, address potential challenges, and ensure both individuals are on the same page before making a lifelong commitment. Premarital counseling promotes a healthier, more successful marriage by fostering understanding and providing tools for managing future obstacles.
Individual Therapy
Gaby helps address personal challenges, mental health issues, or emotional struggles. Focusing on self-exploration, healing, and personal growth. Common topics during sessions may include anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, and relationship issues. Gaby provides a safe space for the individual to explore their thoughts and feelings, offering support, coping strategies, and insights to help improve overall well-being and emotional health.
Family Therapy
Focusing on improving communication and resolving conflicts within a family unit. Gaby involves all or some family members working to address issues such as misunderstandings, behavioral problems, or emotional challenges. The goal is to strengthen relationships, enhance problem-solving skills, and foster healthier family dynamics. Gaby also aims to create a supportive environment where family members can express their feelings and work together to overcome challenges.
Attachment-Based Work
During attachment-based therapy, Gaby focuses on understanding and healing the emotional bonds between individuals, often exploring how early relationships with caregivers shape behavior and emotional patterns in adulthood. It helps clients recognize and address attachment issues, such as insecurity or difficulty forming healthy relationships, by fostering a safe and supportive therapeutic relationship. The goal is to improve emotional regulation, build trust, and promote healthier connections with others by addressing past attachment wounds and developing more secure attachment styles.
Trauma-Informed Relationship Work
Trauma-informed relationship work focuses on understanding how past trauma impacts an individual's relationships and emotional responses. Gaby does a great job creating a safe, supportive environment where both individuals can explore how trauma influences their behaviors, communication, and connection with others. The goal is to help clients build trust, heal emotional wounds, and develop healthier patterns in their relationships, while being mindful of the impact trauma can have on intimacy, boundaries, and conflict resolution.
Life Transitions and Stress Management
Life transitions and stress management helps individuals cope with significant life changes, such as career shifts, moving, or changes in relationships. Gaby works with clients to identify sources of stress, develop healthy coping strategies, and navigate these transitions with resilience. The goal is to reduce anxiety, increase emotional well-being, and foster adaptability during challenging times. Gaby emphasizes self-awareness, problem-solving skills, and stress-reduction techniques to help individuals manage change more effectively and maintain balance in their lives.