We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Karla Pineda. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Karla below.

Hi Karla, thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

The biggest risk I took was leaving a stable, steady-flowing practice to start Layers Counseling Specialists. I had a solid position with a reliable client base, so the thought of stepping away to build something from scratch was daunting. I worried about not having clients, facing potential income gaps, and whether I could handle the challenges of marketing and management. But underneath those fears was a drive for something more: I craved the freedom to create a different kind of practice—one where clinicians could grow, focus on their niches, avoid burnout, and provide truly specialized care to clients who needed it most. I wanted to build a system that supports both clients and clinicians, giving clinicians the opportunity to invest in their skills and create a positive impact in their specialty areas.

Looking back, the initial transition wasn’t as hard as I expected. Having been close to burnout, moving to a structure where I could manage my caseload was actually a relief. I also had a solid support system and savings that helped smooth the change. The most challenging shift, however, came when I began hiring, starting with our first clinician, Rachel. It was emotionally challenging—knowing that someone else was depending on me for their success and well-being within the practice. Taking that responsibility seriously, I worked hard to ensure she could find her client base.

Today, the most rewarding part is seeing how the practice benefits our clinicians and clients alike. We’re intentional with hiring, ensuring our clinicians are highly skilled, passionate about their specializations, and deeply care about their clients. It’s fulfilling to watch our clients receive top-tier care and feel confident recommending my team. This journey has taught me that the risk was worth every bit of uncertainty, knowing that Layers Counseling Specialists is a place where both clinicians and clients are fully supported.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My journey into mental health counseling began with my own experiences with depression and anxiety during high school and college. I was fortunate to work with a Latine therapist who profoundly impacted my life, and seeing someone who understood my background and culture made a lasting difference. It made me realize that if he could help people in this way, so could I. I wanted to become a counselor, hoping that by being a Latina mental health professional, I could help reduce the stigma around therapy in the Latine community and inspire others, just as he inspired me.

As I moved through my Master’s program, I encountered my own battle with OCD. The stress of school triggered severe OCD symptoms, and traditional therapy only made things worse. After finally being diagnosed and going through Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, I regained my life and decided that I wanted to specialize in OCD and anxiety. I wanted to help others reclaim their lives, to understand that with the right support, they too could find relief and healing.

At Layers, our mission is to fill gaps in mental health care. We specialize in areas that often go underserved, including OCD, anxiety disorders, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), ADHD, Autism, and trauma. Our team of clinicians is incredibly dedicated to their areas of focus, and we’re proud to offer services that address specific and often misunderstood challenges. For example, I work with adults with OCD and anxiety disorders, while my colleague Rachel specializes in OCD, anxiety, and ARFID treatment in kids and teens. We’ve also recently welcomed Jessica Edwards, who specializes in ADHD, Autism, and trauma, focusing on supporting neurodivergent individuals who might otherwise feel unseen or misunderstood in therapy.

A key factor that sets us apart is our Specialist and Focused Clinician model. This unique approach allows us to provide highly specialized care at various price points, making therapy accessible to more clients. Our Specialist Clinicians are deeply trained in specific areas and work with complex cases, while our Focused Clinicians are in intensive training and receive ongoing supervision to develop their expertise. This model ensures clients receive quality, tailored care while having options that align with their budget. It also provides our clinicians with the support they need to grow their skills within a structured, supervised environment, allowing us to meet our clients’ needs effectively and affordably.

What I’m most proud of is the impact Layers has on both clients and clinicians. We’re selective in our hiring, choosing clinicians who are passionate about their specialty, committed to learning, and who genuinely care about the people they serve. Seeing clients receive excellent care and connecting them with a therapist who fits their unique needs is incredibly rewarding. For anyone considering our services, I want them to know that Layers Counseling Specialists is built on empathy, expertise, and a commitment to making high-quality, specialized mental health care accessible to all.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The growth of Layers Counseling Specialists has really come from a blend of approaches. Networking with other mental health providers has been incredibly valuable, along with maintaining an active social media presence and the steady flow of word-of-mouth referrals. Each of these strategies works because they’re grounded in establishing ourselves as specialists in our areas of focus. Providers, clients, and referrers trust that when they send someone to us, they’re going to be well taken care of by clinicians who truly understand the issues at hand.

Our social media presence has also played a significant role. Through relatable, educational content and sharing our own lived experiences, we’re able to build a sense of safety and trust with potential clients before we even meet. By the time clients reach out, they already feel that we ‘get it,’ which lays a strong foundation for the therapeutic relationship. Ultimately, it’s this combination—expertise, community connections, and an authentic online presence—that has been most successful in helping us grow our clientele.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

If I could go back, I would choose this path over and over again. Every time a client graduates from therapy or expresses relief in knowing they made the right choice by reaching out to us, I’m reminded that this is exactly where I’m meant to be. Each of these moments reaffirms that specializing in OCD, anxiety, and the work we do at Layers Counseling Specialists is the right path for me. Seeing clients find hope and regain control in their lives is deeply rewarding, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

Contact Info:

• Website: www/layerscs.com
• Instagram: @layerscounseling and @karlapinedaocd
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlaapineda/

Image Credits

Images taken by Destynie Paige Photography at https://www.destyniepaige.com