About
Ivette Aldana MS, LPC, NCC
I am a relational, Latina therapist who specializes in trauma (generational, childhood, and single/complex) and relational patterns.
I help adults – especially first-generation individuals and cycle breakers – connect with their inner world and safely work through trauma, stuck patterns, and life stressors.
Let’s work together to create a fulfilling, authentic life that you enjoy living and can embody.
How This Work Found Me
I am a first-generation Latina therapist, originally from Inglewood, CA and now based in Houston, TX. My cultural background deeply shapes and fuels my passion for supporting those navigating intergenerational and immigrant trauma.
I personally understand the impact of these experiences, having been engaged in my own therapeutic journey, including EMDR. I found myself living life on autopilot, struggling to slow down, pause, and rest. At the time, it was all I knew. I had watched my parents sacrifice and dedicate themselves to establishing roots in America. Eventually, the pressure caught up to me while on shift as a nurse during COVID. My internal experience screamed panic even when I appeared externally to be “okay.” This personal experience informs my work, allowing me to empathize deeply with the challenges and breakthroughs that come with healing from inherited family patterns.
I understand that the patterns we carry often developed for a reason and may have once helped us feel safe. At the same time, those patterns may no longer serve us in the same ways today. I especially enjoy working with first-generational adults and cycle breakers who are navigating generational patterns, relationship dynamics, and the pressure to hold everything together. I find meaning in working with clients from diverse backgrounds, identities, and life experiences who are committed to their personal growth and therapeutic process.
My goal is to create a space where you can slow down, better understand yourself, and make room for all parts of who you are. Together, we can give voice to what has been silenced, make space for what has been difficult to express, and cultivate greater acceptance for the parts of yourself you may have learned to hide or hold back.
When I’m Not in Sessions
I am still involved in my work as a registered nurse in ophthalmic surgical cases – I’m not quite ready to leave the nursing field and am not sure I ever will at the moment. To keep myself balanced, I am devoted to practicing my faith through serving, leading groups, and other daily practices. I am a feen for coke zero (you’ll most likely see me have one) and exploring different places to eat. I also enjoy watching movies, reading (currently on a historical fiction kick), and spending time with loved ones/my two beautiful corgis. Lastly, to keep myself active (as if it weren’t enough) I find a thrill in powerlifting training and competing.
My Specialties
*WHERE I DO MY BEST WORK
01 Generational Trauma
02 Childhood Trauma
03 First-Gen Experiences
04 Attachment Trauma
Therapy With Me is –
Healing from trauma happens most effectively within safe, attuned relationships. As a relational therapist, I prioritize creating a space where you feel seen, understood, and supported. This safety allows your nervous system to settle, making co-regulation possible and giving you the freedom to process intense emotions, explore past experiences, and build resilience. Together, we use the therapeutic relationship as a tool for healing, growth, and learning how to connect with yourself and others in ways that feel safe and authentic.
I take a collaborative approach to therapy, meaning we work together as partners in your healing journey. Rather than a one-size-fits all method, I listen closely to your goals, values, and experiences, and tailor our sessions to meet your unique needs. This approach empowers individuals to actively engage in their own growth, help foster self-awareness, and strengthen their ability to make lasting changes. By combining collaboration with trauma-informed care, nervous system attunement, and culturally aware practices, we create a supportive space where healing and personal transformation can thrive.
I am a chill, laid-back therapist who provides a safe, supportive space for adults navigating trauma and life stressors. My relaxed, nonjudgmental approach helps clients feel at ease when exploring difficult emotions, processing trauma, and working through stuck patterns. By combining calm presence with honesty, insight, and trauma-informed care, I help clients bring awareness to their internal experience, build resilience, and make meaningful, lasting change.
In therapy, I share gentle yet insightful observations to help bring unconscious patterns and blind spots into awareness. I “plant seeds” that support self-reflection, mindfulness, and personal growth between sessions, so your healing continues beyond our time together.
we are a
Good fit if . . .
– you’re committed to your process of exploration and growth
– you want therapy to feel like a genuine, reflective, collaborative experience
– you value honesty and direct feedback, delivered in a supportive way while being fully attuned to your unique process
Background + Training
Education
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, University of Houston – Victoria, TX
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Texas Woman’s University – Houston, TX
Accreditations
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP)
Eye Movement and Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR-Trained)
EFIT Essentials Trained (ICEEFT)
Parts Work Trauma Specialist (IFS-Informed)
Affiliations
National Certified Counselor (NCC)
ICEEFT Member
Texas Counseling Association