You don’t have to be “on” when you walk into therapy with me. Whether you’re dragging yourself in after a brutal game, a long day at school, or feeling stuck in a swirl of perfectionism and pressure—I’m here to meet you where you’re at, no judgment. I’m Alex Salgado (she/her), a bilingual (English/Spanish) therapist with a dual Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Sports Psychology, and I specialize in helping people reconnect with their confidence, drive, and sense of self—both on and off the field.
Therapy with me is a space that’s open, collaborative, and “let’s be real” a little fun. I bring a high-energy, down-to-earth vibe to our sessions. If you’ve ever felt like your brain is going a million miles an hour or that you can’t quite meet the expectations (yours or anyone else’s), you’re not alone. I work especially well with teens, young adults, athletes, and people navigating neurodiverse thinking who are learning to manage anxiety, performance stress, self-esteem, and the complicated relationship many of us have with food, body image, or identity.
As a coach and athlete myself, I know what it feels like to be caught in the push-pull of wanting to perform at your best while also wrestling with burnout, injury, fear of failure, or feeling like you’re never “enough.” I’m passionate about integrating sports psychology principles with traditional therapy approaches to address everything from perfectionism and performance anxiety to relationship issues, mood disorders, and body-based shame. Whether we’re talking about the pressure of school or sports, the fear of letting people down, or navigating identity and belonging, I bring authenticity, accountability, and just the right dose of humor.
My approach is always client-centered and goal-oriented. I draw from evidence-based models like ACT, CBT, narrative therapy, and solution-focused strategies—but I tailor our sessions to what works best for you. One day that might mean tackling cognitive distortions head-on; another, we might need to slow things down and get real about what self-care actually looks like in your world. If that includes hydration, sleep, protein intake, or building a playlist to get through the hard stuff—we’re doing it.
I work primarily with clients 12 years and older, including teens struggling with anxiety, athletes navigating injury or burnout, perfectionists trying to loosen their grip, and people who feel like their brain works differently than everyone else’s. I’m particularly passionate about working with members of the LGBTQ+ community, Spanish-speaking clients, and those managing high expectations across school, sport, and life. You don’t have to be a star athlete or a top student to belong in therapy, just a human who wants something to feel better.
Clients often leave our work together with a stronger sense of self, sharper coping skills, and the confidence to challenge unhelpful thought patterns. I want you to walk away from therapy with me feeling like you can trust yourself again. That means healthier boundaries, improved relationships, a more compassionate inner voice, and a mindset that helps you move through life’s stressors—not freeze up in the face of them.
I swear when it helps, I laugh a lot, and I take your goals seriously, even if we work toward them in sweatpants. Whether you’re trying to bounce back from a setback, explore your identity, or stop beating yourself up, I’m here to help you figure it out—one real, energized, and empowering conversation at a time.
