

I work with creative, self-aware adults navigating anxiety & overthinking, grief, ADHD & other neurodivergence, relationship struggles, and major life transitions and reinvention — people in the middle of real change.
Therapy with me is grounded, direct, and collaborative. We slow down enough to understand what’s happening beneath the surface — and then we figure out how to move you forward.
I have a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling and have worked in inpatient rehab, community mental health, and private practice. And I've had several other careers before this: massage therapist, editor and writer, writing instructor, park ranger, all of which inform how I show up as a therapist.
Two decades of clinical excellence.
Dr. Cindy Ruelas-Tafolla's path to becoming a clinician began at age 13 with the sudden loss of her father — an experience that planted the seed of her life's purpose: to be the kind of support she needed during her own darkest moments.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society from UC Santa Barbara, her Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California, and her Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) from USC — completing it during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over two decades, she has served as a Medical Social Worker, Case Manager, and Behavioral Health Therapist — bringing doctoral-level depth, board-certified credentials, and genuine compassion to every client she works with.
I love this work. Twenty plus years in the field of psychotherapy, from hospitals, residential treatment, schools, outpatient clinics, crisis teams, to professional teams and now private practice, I offer a wide range of interventions.
If you're seeking family systems (internal and external), Couples & communication, Parenting & Co-parenting, Individual therapy, Trauma-recovery using EMDR, Brainspotting, Mindfulness and CBT, and Art Therapy, to support in identity exploration and archetypes, I'll meet you where you're ready to work. Even if therapy is new to you, or a familiar practice, we'll find where you are and what's in the way of where you want to be.
I have wanted to be a counselor from a young age. I received my undergraduate BA degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado and my graduate degree M.Ed clinical/ school counseling from the University of Phoenix. I also spent two years studying at the Denver Seminary to learn how to incorporate faith into counseling. I started out as a middle school counselor and also worked as a therapist in a counseling clinic. My passions are parent coaching, helping with anxiety disorders as well as depressive disorders.
Choosing a therapist can feel like a daunting and vulnerable step, and I want to honor the courage it takes to begin. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I work with adults ages 25 to 85, bringing a long, richly lived life experience that allows me to meet you with steadiness, perspective, and compassion. My approach is grounded in unconditional positive regard—I believe you are worthy of respect and understanding exactly as you are. I can’t fix anyone, but I am very good at helping people heal themselves from the wounds life brings and to navigate the changes that shape us all.
I have a heart to see breakthrough, healing, and freedom for my clients. I have 20+ years history of working with adolescents and adults with learning differences: neurodivergence, autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and executive functioning deficits. I have extensive experience working with individuals struggling with trauma, abuse, identity, and somatic issues.
I am a neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed therapist who specializes in working with children, teens, and families. I have extensive experience supporting clients with autism, adhd, anxiety, big emotions, and challenging behaviors. I also enjoy providing parent support and coaching.
As a parent of 2 neurodivergent children, I bring both professional expertise and lived empathy to my work. I offer telehealth (primary) in-home, and community-based sessions so I can meet clients where they feel most comfortable.


Headway makes it easy to find support for your mental health — from finding the right provider, to understanding costs, to scheduling with ease.