“There are no individuals in the world only fragments of families”

-Carl Whitaker

Welcome!

I am Rita Garcia, a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified sex therapist with the American Association of Sexual Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT). I am also a certified supervisor with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Mental health therapy is a passion of mine, whether you’re seeking help with your struggles or come with a desire to learn more about mental health wellness, you are welcome.

Seeking therapy is a meaningful and courageous first step. You’re beginning a journey of change and growth that may bring about positive shifts within yourself or deepen connections in your relationships. Welcome to this path forward. You will never be seen as the problem, the problem is the problem and there are always strategies for understanding underlying emotions maintaining our struggles.

Perhaps you are interested in more guidance in the field of marriage and family therapy. As a systemic supervisor I have nineteen years of experience working systemically with individuals, couples, families, children and teens. Stuck cases are my speciality. My philosophy is that resistance met with compassion can open new worlds for the client and the therapist.

Garcia Marriage and Family Therapist uses evidence-based approaches to help clients gain insight beyond the individual level, exploring how relationships have shaped who they are.

About Me

Therapy is a collaborative process: you are the expert on yourself, and I bring expertise in therapy.

  • I approach therapy through a collaborative and relational lens, working with clients to understand their challenges within the broader context of their relationships and lived experiences. Drawing from collaborative therapy and systemic sex therapy, I partner with clients to explore how family dynamics, early life experiences, and past traumas shape present-day concerns, particularly in intimacy, authenticity, and communication. Together, we uncover unconscious patterns that influence choices and relational dynamics, fostering deeper connection and self-awareness. I support individuals and partners in navigating intense symptoms of anxiety and depression, and guide them through significant life transitions—such as career shifts, divorce, or entering college—with compassion, curiosity, and a commitment to shared meaning-making.

  • My path into this work was shaped early on by my own journey of self-exploration. During my undergraduate years, I often felt directionless—uncertain of who I was or how to shape my future. Psychology ignited a deep curiosity about identity, relationships, and what it means to feel whole and connected.

    After earning my Bachelor’s in Psychology, I became increasingly curious about how relationships influence our internal world. This curiosity led me to pursue higher education in a master’s and PhD program. That training affirmed my belief that self-awareness fosters both healing and purpose. I learned to help clients uncover and build on their strengths—often ones they didn’t realize they had.

    My personal journey continues to motivate my work today. I bring that same spirit of curiosity and respect into the therapy room, helping individuals, couples, and families explore the patterns that shape their lives and reconnect with their inner strengths. I use a warm and collaborative approach, grounded in clinical integrity and a deep understanding of both intrapsychic and relational dynamics.

    My experiences have deepened my understanding of how identity, environment, and community intersect with mental health.

  • Doctorate of Philosophy in General Family Therapy

    • National University

    • Major in General Family Therapy

    • Dissertation on “The Impact of Systemic Sex Therapy on MFT Avoidance of Sexual Discussions.”

    Long Island University-Hudson

    • Additional courses to meet licensure requirements for New York State

    Master of Arts

    • Seton Hall University

    • Major in Psychological Studies in Marriage and Family Therapy

    Bachelor of Science

    • Virginia Commonwealth University

    • Major in Psychology

  • IFS Institute-Level 1 Training completed, from September 22, 2022 to January 15, 2023

    Sex Therapy Postgraduate Training Institute of New York-March 21, 2015-October 15, 2016

Testimonials

  • “Before we found Rita’s practice, we had tried two couple’s counselors with poor results (the premarital counselor basically told us we were fine and started dozing off in our sessions, the second counselor had lots of superficial talk but did little to help us understand each other). Then we each tried individual counseling with our own counselors, thinking that by working on our individual selves we might be better together—but that was not enough. Rita was different. From the beginning, she explained that her goal would be to see us over the course of 2-3 months maximum to give us the tools we needed to break-free from the finger-pointing rut we were in. She didn’t want “regular” permanent clients. We didn’t want to be permanent clients, we wanted help building a strong foundation for our marriage that we could maintain and sustain for the rest of our lives. Rita gave us exercises with a clear structure for these hard conversations. These tools were very effective, but easier said than done. That’s why it was so valuable that she guided us through the exercises in her office before having us try it at home. By using her framework we were able to confront sensitive topics and problems without resorting to the blame game. She also helped us understand the fundamentals of how our childhoods shape our personalities and help inform our idiosyncrasies, what makes us tick and those character traits that can lead to conflict. Understanding each other’s needs through that with those fundamentals in mind gave us the empathy we needed to view the problem —and not our partner --as the problem. We heartily recommend Rita’s services to any couple seeking to heal the wounds in their relationship.”

    -G & M

  • “Rita has been an incredible resource in guiding our relationship to a more loving, understanding, and respectful place. She gave us many tools to help us interpret and appreciate our differences. This awareness has taught us how to communicate effectively and with empathy. She is unbiased, nonjudgmental, and approachable in her dealings with us as a couple and individually. So grateful we had her counseling when we needed it most.”

    -J & C