Experience
Sal Avila is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) and Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) at Tonalli Therapy & Consulting, working under the supervision of Adriana Martínez, LCSW. He holds a Master’s from Saint Mary’s College of California and is EMDR trained. Alongside his clinical work, Sal serves as a wellness coordinator at a local high school, where he supports teens through anxiety, identity questions, and college decisions, and he has experience with neurodivergent youth and young people with disabilities. Sal sees clients in both English and Spanish, in person at Tonalli’s Walnut Creek office and online throughout California.
Specialties
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Trauma & PTSD (including EMDR therapy)
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Anxiety and depression
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Teen and Young Adult Stress (academics, performance, burnout)
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Identity, Culture, and Belonging
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Life Transitions and Grief
Client Focus
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Teens and Young Adults
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Children and Preteens
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First-Generation and Bicultural Individuals
Services / Modalities
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EMDR Therapy
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
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Relational and Person-Centered Therapy
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Culturally Responsive, Identity-Affirming Care
Education, Licenses, and Trainings
Degrees
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Master of Arts, Marriage and Family Therapy / Professional Clinical Counseling — Saint Mary’s College of California
Licenses
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Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) — #142989
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Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) — #15222
Certifications & Specialized Trainings
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EMDR Trained
A Bit About Me
Imagine your brain finally getting to rest. You make a decision without replaying it a hundred times. You walk away from a conversation without picking it apart for hours. The tight chest and the racing thoughts ease up, and you leave each week feeling a little more heard, a little less alone, and clearer on your next step. Whatever brought you here, my hope is that this becomes a space where you can put things down for a while and figure out what you actually want.
Is your brain always on, even at 2am? Maybe you’re overthinking a decision, replaying a conversation, or worrying about the future. Sometimes it shows up in your body too, like a tight chest or stomach problems the doctor says aren’t medical. I work mostly with teens and adults in their twenties and thirties dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship stress, identity questions, or big decisions about school, career, and what comes next. Some are also carrying painful memories from the past, whether or not they’d call it trauma. You don’t need to explain it perfectly. However it comes out is fine.
In a session, we sit, we talk, and I ask questions to help us both understand what’s going on and what you want to be different. Then we break it into smaller pieces and steps you can actually take. For trauma, I offer EMDR, which helps your brain process painful memories without retelling every detail. As a first-generation immigrant, I know what it’s like to navigate multiple identities, cultural expectations, and systems that weren’t built with you in mind. So whether you’re a teen figuring out who you are, a young adult carrying more than you let on, or someone ready to work through something that’s followed you too long, you don’t have to explain yourself here. We honor your story, your culture, and your strengths, and we go at your pace.
If you’re looking for a therapist in Walnut Creek or anywhere in California, Sal offers a free 15-minute consultation to see if the fit feels right. Reach out to book a consultation here.
