We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Claudia Gonzalez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Claudia, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Leaving the safety of a job with full benefits and a consistent salary to start my own practice felt like a monumental risk. I was lucky enough to have the financial support of my partner, who believed in my vision and has supported my professional goals from day one. I had a lot of doubts and felt increasingly anxious and stressed when I quit my job. A couple of years later…I can not even imagine working a regular 8-5 and giving up all the flexibility, freedom, work-life balance, and creativity opportunities that having my own practice affords. The sky is the limit!

Claudia, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

We know how stressful it can be to have multiple providers and doctors’ appointments in different locations. Navigating a bureaucratic healthcare system can be overwhelming, most certainly when you finally decided to get help. We conveniently offer both psychotherapy and medication services in-house. Our therapists and psychiatrists work together to ensure excellent care and give our patients peace of mind.

Dr. González is an island girl who dared to dream big. She is a Clinical Psychologist in the state of Georgia, owner and founder of Goal Mentality, a private practice where she specializes in helping young professionals who feel disconnected, isolated, and burnt-out, create a plan for success in relationships and work life.

Dr. G. has extensive experience working with immigrants, LGBTQ+, and diverse populations who often face challenges related to minority identity stress and adjustment to different cultures. As a native Spanish speaker, and an immigrant herself, she has sought out expertise in bilingual and culturally responsive mental health. She is passionate about helping other strong Latina women take the necessary steps to succeed in relationships and life in the US (the struggle is real).

Dr. G. draws from contemporary psychodynamic theory and evidenced-based treatments to inform her work with clients. She earned her bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Havana, Cuba, and her Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree from Albizu University, Miami campus. She completed her internship and postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School teaching hospitals.

Yup, she is a high-achiever and she knows the pain.

My story:
“I grew up In Cuba, the single Communist country in the Caribbean, ruled by the same government for almost 60 years. Cuba’s national hero, “the apostle,” is José Martí. His most quoted statement is “I have lived in the monster, and I know its entrails,” referring to his period of political exile in the United States. As Martí, I can also say that I have lived in the monster, but that I love its entrails. My new home gave me a voice. It taught me the meaning of freedom of speech, religion, and choice. During my acculturation process, I learned to navigate through both cultures. I assimilated the new values while staying true to my island, the place where it is summer all year long, resilience is the motto, and the people use humor to cope. I dance to the Latin beat and work in a New York minute. My bilingual and multicultural self has contributed to the development of my professional identity and remains an asset in the therapy room.”

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Money stories are the ones that I have had to change. Believe it or not, we all have a narrative regarding money based on our upbringing. I grew up in a communist country with a lot of scarcity so coming to the USA and opening my own business represented a radical shift for me. I learned about the abundance versus scarcity money mindsets and how they can impact our financial and business decisions. Switching to an abundance mindset has really allowed me to collaborate and partner with other medical and mental health providers in my area. Helping each other out and sending business both our ways.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

Absolutely! I would stay a psychologist. I already had the opportunity of making a switch if I would have wanted to. I studied psychology at the University of Havana, Cuba and when I immigrated to the USA to start my life from scratch, I could have picked any other field. I remember having a lot of conversations with people at the time, wondering and questioning whether I should go back to school to pursue my doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology or select a different career path. Clearly, I chose Psychology again. Serving others, and helping people overcome anxiety, depression, and job burnout while building successful and meaningful relationships is at the center of my practice. It is my purpose.   

Contact Info:

• Website: https://goalmentality.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goalmentality/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoalMentality
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudia-gonzalez-305018224/

Image Credits
https://www.shotbysomi.com/ Somi Studios