Sonya Strickland, LCSW

I accept Self-Pay and I'm In-Network with several insurance plans, including Kaiser, First Choice Health, OHP-HSO, Pacific Source and Providence.

I am an experienced psychotherapist who is passionate about supporting clients through their journeys of self-discovery. I work with adults from a strengths-based perspective. The focus of my practice is working with individuals from underserved and underrepresented communities.

Since my youth, folks have gravitated to me to talk about their problems; it is an honor and my pleasure to help others. I’ve always known that my career would be as a helper for underserved and disenfranchised people, such as those in the BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and low SES communities. My interest in individuals and groups of people led me to major in sociology and minor in urban studies and planning in college. I went on to graduate school and earned an MSW (Master of Social Work). I began my career as a social worker in child protective services. I enjoyed the opportunity to assist people in getting through one of their most difficult life experiences, but my hands were tied due to the bureaucratic nature of working for the government. I wanted to be able to help people on a deeper level and began the two-year program to obtain clinical licensure and become an LCSW (licensed clinical social worker). I've been working as a psychotherapist since 2005.
Equity and self-determination are two of the core values that shape my approach to care. The focus of my practice is working with individuals from underserved and underrepresented communities. Dealing with equity discrepancies is a key factor in the lives of people of color, women, those with low socioeconomic status, immigrants, and the LGBTQIA+ community. I have lived experience as a person of color, a woman, and someone from a low socioeconomic background. I also have significant experience working with Latin X immigrants. Equity discrepancies play a significant role in a person’s sense of self-determination, which is the process by which a person controls their own life. We will examine structural and interpersonal equity factors that impact your personal sense of self-determination and implement strategies to improve it.

I consider myself to be a lifelong learner, and I'm particularly interested in therapeutic approaches, therapy topics, and cultural backgrounds, including African American, Latin X, and LGBTQIA. Some of my recent continuing education includes: Cultural Competency in Treating Trauma: A Relational Approach; Racism, Homophobia, and Sexism; Promoting School Involvement for Diverse Parents; Beyond Cultural Awareness; Smart but Scattered: Executive Dysfunction at Home and at School; Counseling and Treatment Tools for the Changing Face of Grief and Loss; and LGBTQ Youth: Clinical Strategies to Support Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. I hold a certificate in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for teens.