Meet Alicia

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The many paths I have traveled enrich my work as a therapist.  I grew up in a small city on the Arizona-Mexico border. Ever since I can remember, I have been passionate about asking big questions: Why are we here? What's the purpose of life? What does it all mean? I have taken different routes to exploring the answers, from anthropology to philosophy and science. My questions have also led me to spiritual and healing paths, including Zen Buddhism, traditional Mexican healing, and Earth-centered devotions. My big questions eventually led me to my doctoral studies in counseling psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. The more I learn, the more I see that many of life's big questions are actually invitations to go inward and become more deeply aligned with our heart's desires.  It is by listening--truly listening--to our innermost guidance that we can begin healing ourselves and weaving a better world for future generations.

​Western Psychology Meets the Soul

As a Mexican American woman, I have been influenced by the study and practice of curanderismo,  or Mexican traditional healing.  Curanderismo comes from the Spanish word ​curar, which means "to heal."  Curanderismo is based on the worldview that everything is interconnected--mind, body, soul, humans, plants, animals, water, earth, air, and fire. Our wellness/illness is a reflection of our relationships to ourselves and all that is around us.  We tend to our areas of imbalance as a way to cultivate wellness.  
The soul's role in healing is ancient and integral to the time-honored medicine traditions of the world's Indigenous nations.  One of my passions is exploring how the field of Western psychology can become more inclusive and recognize the value of Indigenous contributions to the healing sciences and arts.  My dissertation research focused on the work of Indigenous healers and the powerful perspectives they have to offer Western psychology. Our global community is vibrantly diverse.  I believe our ways of healing must match that complex richness.
 
  • Licensed Psychologist, State of Texas, License # 37098
  • Ph.D. Counseling Psychology, University of Texas at Austin (APA accredited)
  • Pre-Doctoral Internship, Counseling Mental Health Center, UT Austin (APA accredited)
  • APA, Div. 35, Psychology of Women, Student Scholar Latina Award Winner
  • M.A. Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Only a medicine that deals with the whole being can
​effectively create a whole cure.
-Elena Avila