Dr. Robin Alfaro, DSW, LCSW

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, speaker, and educator from South Central Los Angeles, and my work sits at the intersection of mental health, culture, and liberation. I specialize in helping people understand how shame, trauma, and identity shape the way we move through the world, and more importantly, how to break free from the narratives that were never ours to carry.

My approach centers the idea that shame is not an internal flaw; it’s a social tool. So many of the struggles we label as “personal issues”, anxiety, depression, perfectionism, people-pleasing, emotional shutdown, are actually responses to systems that have conditioned us to self-police. Colonization, patriarchy, capitalism, racism, and family legacies all leave emotional imprints that look like self-blame, fear, and chronic survival mode. I support individuals in understanding those patterns, healing their nervous system, and reclaiming their own voice.

In my clinical work, I integrate trauma recovery, somatic and mindfulness-based practices, inner child healing, and identity-affirming frameworks. I work with adult survivors of relational trauma, first-gen and immigrant communities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and anyone navigating the emotional weight of cultural expectations. I’m especially passionate about helping people break cycles of shame passed down through families, communities, and institutions.

As a speaker and educator, I create accessible, engaging conversations about mental health that resonate across backgrounds. My talks explore:

-Shame as a form of social control
-Internalized stigma and identity
-Trauma and the nervous system
-Healing from colonization, patriarchy, and systemic harm
-Intergenerational survival strategies
-Culturally-rooted approaches to wellness
-Reclaiming authenticity and emotional freedom

Across all my work, therapy, teaching, podcasting, I aim to create spaces where people feel seen, grounded, and empowered to rewrite the stories they were given. Healing isn’t about becoming someone new; it’s about coming home to yourself.

If you’re looking for a therapist or speaker who blends clinical expertise, cultural analysis, and real-world empathy, I would love to connect.

Dr. Robin Alfaro, DSW, LCSW