GRIS ALVES (She/Her)
Counselor/Therapist, Compassionate Inquiry, Trauma Informed Mindfulness Teacher
In-Person in San Diego, CA 92104
Online in Mexico, Multiple States
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont
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Multiple Canadian Provinces
Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland And Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon
I offer compassionate, trauma-informed online therapy for individuals seeking healing, clarity, and meaningful change. My practice is rooted in mindfulness, somatic awareness, and evidence-based therapy, and I am certified in Compassionate Inquiry®, a trauma-informed approach developed by Dr. Gabor Maté that supports deep emotional processing and nervous system regulation. Clients often reach out when they feel overwhelmed, disconnected from themselves, or ready to move beyond survival patterns related to anxiety, depression, addiction recovery, grief, or trauma. Therapy with me is collaborative, culturally sensitive, and grounded in safety, helping clients reconnect with their inner wisdom and build lasting emotional resilience.
Client Focus
Age Specialty: Adult, Senior, Teen, Young Adult
Demographic Expertise: Hispanic / Latino, Men, Women clients.
Languages: English, Spanish
Treatment Approach
- Existential / Humanistic Therapy Encourages people to explore meaning, freedom, and authenticity in their lives. It focuses on personal growth and living in alignment with one’s values.
- Family Systems Therapy Looks at problems within the context of the family as a whole. It aims to improve communication and balance in family relationships.
- Internal Family Systems (IFS) Helps clients heal by working with different ‘parts’ of themselves, like inner critics or wounded children. It fosters harmony within the self.
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Combines mindfulness practices with CBT to prevent depression relapse. It helps people notice thoughts without judgment and respond more calmly.
- Multicultural Therapy Acknowledges the role of culture, race, and identity in mental health. It values diversity and adapts treatment to each person’s background.
- Music Therapy Uses music listening, songwriting, or rhythm exercises to support healing. It is effective for stress, emotional expression, and cognitive challenges.
- Somatic Therapy Helps clients notice how emotions are stored in the body. It uses breath, movement, and awareness for healing trauma and stress.
- Transpersonal Therapy Integrates spirituality and higher states of consciousness with psychology. It encourages growth beyond the individual self.
Education & Credentials
GRIS ALVES Compassionate Inquiry, Trauma Informed Mindfulness Teacher
- Female
- License # Somatic Based Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner
- Licensed in Compassionate Inquiry Therapy Practitioner
- Practicing Since 2015
Education: I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Art and a Master’s in Thanatology, and I am a Certified Compassionate Inquiry® Practitioner trained in the method developed by Dr. Gabor Maté. I am also a Mindfulness and Meditation Certified Teacher through UC Berkeley and a 500-hour Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher, integ
Finances
Fees
- Average Session Fee 175.00 per session
- Out of Network
- I do not work with insurance
GRIS ALVES Practice Details
Therapy Sessions
- Available In-Person in San Diego, CA 92104
- Available Online for residents of Mexico, Multiple States Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont , Multiple Canadian Provinces Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland And Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon
- Online Therapy Details: Via Zoom
My therapy practice is rooted in Compassionate Inquiry®, a trauma-informed approach developed by Dr. Gabor Maté that supports deep self-understanding, emotional awareness, and nervous system regulation. At the core of this work is the belief that your symptoms, behaviors, and coping strategies are not signs of something being “wrong,” but intelligent responses to past experiences—often rooted in early or childhood trauma.
I specialize in working with trauma and addiction, with a particular focus on childhood and developmental trauma and how it shapes patterns such as anxiety, depression, emotional reactivity, self-sabotage, people-pleasing, and substance use. In our work together, we gently explore the emotional and somatic roots of these patterns with curiosity rather than judgment, creating space for insight, choice, and healing.
Alongside Compassionate Inquiry®, I incorporate somatic, body-based awareness to help clients reconnect with the sensations, emotions, and signals held in the body. Trauma lives not only in memory, but in the nervous system, and learning to safely notice and regulate bodily responses is a key part of lasting change.
I also provide psychoeducation about how trauma works—how it impacts the brain, nervous system, attachment, and behavior—so you can better understand yourself with compassion rather than shame. This understanding often brings relief and clarity, helping clients recognize why certain patterns developed and how they can begin to shift them in sustainable ways.
Therapy with me is collaborative, paced with care, and grounded in safety. Rather than offering quick fixes or external solutions, I support you in reconnecting with your own inner wisdom, resilience, and capacity for healing. You already carry the answers within you; therapy is a space to gently uncover them, build awareness, and create new ways of relating to yourself and your life.