_edited.jpg)
Victoria Gonzales, MA, LPC
Owner and Therapist
Let's get one thing out of the way...
You already know the name of the practice. Therapy here isn't about nodding politely while you spend fifty minutes telling the same story over and over. It's also not about me sitting across from you pretending I have your life all figured out...I don't.
What I do know is that people make sense, even when they don't think they do.
Most of us are carrying around stories we never chose. Experiences that taught us to stay small, stay quiet, stay busy, stay perfect, stay on guard. Somewhere along the way those survival strategies started running the show, and now you're exhausted trying to understand why you keep ending up in the same place.
That's the work I love.
I'm endlessly curious about people. Not because I want to analyze every little thing you do, but because I genuinely believe there is a reason behind it. Your anxiety makes sense. Your anger makes sense. Your avoidance makes sense. Even the behaviors you hate about yourself probably started as something that once protected you.
Together we'll get curious instead of judgmental.
Sometimes that means slowing down enough to notice what's happening underneath the surface. Sometimes it means challenging beliefs you've carried for decades. Sometimes it means I'll "gently" call you out when your fear is masquerading as fact. And sometimes it means sitting with you in the middle of something incredibly painful because there isn't a quick fix, and pretending there is would be dishonest.
Before opening Kick in the Ass Counseling, I worked in child welfare, correctional mental health, behavioral health hospitals, and private practice. I've spent years working alongside people navigating trauma, grief, depression, anxiety, ADHD, personality disorders, relationship struggles, and life transitions. Those experiences taught me that healing doesn't happen because someone gives you the perfect advice. It happens when you finally understand yourself well enough to choose something different.
My style is direct, collaborative, and deeply human. I'll absolutely challenge you when I think you're selling yourself short, but I'll never shame you for the ways you've learned to survive. I'm also going to tell you the shit you need to hear—not just what you want to hear—because I know you can handle it. Therapy shouldn't feel like performing for someone who's judging you. It should feel like finally being able to put the armor down.
If you're looking for someone who will simply tell you what you want to hear, I'm probably not your therapist.
But if you're looking for someone who's willing to sit in the hard conversations, ask better questions, help you connect the dots, and occasionally offer a well-timed kick in the ass when you're ready for it, I'd be honored to walk alongside you.
You don't have to have everything figured out before you start.
You just have to be willing to get curious about the life you're living and the one you're capable of creating. YOU JUST HAVE TO SHOW UP FOR YOU.
Lauren Ryan, LCSW
Therapist
Hi, I’m Lauren.
Let’s skip the therapy stereotypes for a second.
If you’re looking for someone who’s going to sit quietly, nod, and give you a bunch of “mm-hmm’s” while you spin in circles, I’m probably not your therapist. If you’re looking for someone who will actually listen, be honest with you, and help you figure out what the hell is keeping you stuck, we might be a really good fit.
I believe growth requires asking tough questions and having uncomfortable conversations. I also know that trauma, change, and vulnerability can be scary as hell. My goal isn’t to throw you into the deep end and tell you to swim. My goal is to help you feel safe enough to approach the hard stuff while still challenging you in ways that actually lead to growth—not overwhelm your nervous system.
My style tends to fall somewhere between:
“Kick My Ass” ← → “Please Be Kind, I’m Going to Cry”
Some days you might need a gentle push. Some days you might need someone to lovingly call you on your shit. Most days are somewhere in between. My job is to meet you where you are and adjust from there.
I work with people who are tired of repeating the same painful patterns and ready to understand why those patterns exist in the first place. You can see how it’s showing up in your relationships, your self-worth, your decisions—you just don’t know how to break out of it yet.
I especially enjoy working with neurodivergent (ADHD and Autism), LGBTQIA+, and alternative-identifying individuals. As someone who identifies as queer and AuDHD myself, I know how powerful it can be to work with a therapist who actually gets it—without you having to explain every part of who you are.
My approach is collaborative, trauma-focused, and grounded in the belief that people are not the problem. The problem is the problem. Together, we’ll figure out what’s getting in your way and build practical, realistic ways to move forward.
I use EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients process trauma, build coping skills, and create lives that feel more authentic and aligned.
Whether you need a push, a reality check, or a softer place to land, I’ve got you. If you’re ready to do the work, I’d be honored to be in it with you.