Introducing Jessica Rodriguez, LCSW
First-Gen, Latina, Therapist — Creating the Space I Never Had
My Story
Hi, I’m Jessica Rodriguez, an LCSW and first-generation Latina therapist. Growing up in under-resourced Black and Brown communities in Los Angeles, I rarely saw therapists who looked like me or truly understood my experience. This absence ignited my passion to create the healing spaces I once needed.
That’s why I founded Cultura Care & Consulting. My practice offers trauma-informed, client-centered care that honors cultural diversity, language, and individual lived experiences. As a certified play therapist and a specialist in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), I’m dedicated to building a space where you don’t have to explain your identity to be understood. I provide therapy in both English and Spanish, always centering our work on trust and authentic connection.
My Professional Journey
2016-2019:
Early Career in Portland, OR
I’ve worked at the intersection of clinical care and systems advocacy since graduating from UCLA in 2016. I began my career providing trauma-focused case management and crisis response for survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and human trafficking across the Portland, OR metropolitan area.
2019-2021: Crisis Case Management in
Los Angeles, CA
I returned to California in 2019 to work with a nonprofit in Los Angeles County that supports youth impacted by commercial sexual exploitation. My work involved facilitating prevention and intervention groups, training partner agencies, and responding to crisis calls. This experience deepened my commitment to survivors and inspired my passion for systems change.
2021-2023: Master of Social Work in
St. Louis, MO
In 2021, I moved to St. Louis to pursue my Master of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. During my graduate studies, I collaborated with Missouri legislators on the successful passage of Senate Bill 775 in 2022. I advocated for survivor-centered language, which is now reflected in the state law and protects trafficked minors from prosecution.
2023-Present: Providing Therapy in St. Louis, MO
After earning my MSW in 2023, I joined The Community Reach in St. Louis to provide bilingual, Medicaid-accessible therapy for immigrant and under-resourced families. I also served as a therapist in Washington University’s DBT multi-family program, where I developed and led curricula, trained interns, and helped design a welcoming therapy space for teens.
My Philosophy: Human First, Therapist Second
Outside of therapy, I’m just a regular plant-loving, first-gen Latina trying to make space for joy and rest. I dream of one day owning a little coffee shop where community and healing can meet over cafecito.
I value transparency, collaboration, and authenticity in everything I do—whether I’m in session, facilitating a training, or consulting with schools. My relationships with clients are built on connection, trust, and the belief that we all deserve care that feels familiar and safe. I show up fully—as a human first, therapist second—and I’m always learning, unlearning, and growing alongside the people I serve.
