Jessica Rodriguez, LCSW
Founder & Therapist
Mi Historia
Hi, I’m Jessica Rodriguez, LCSW, a 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 understood my lived experience. This absence ignited my passion to create the healing spaces I once needed.
My moves from Los Angeles to Portland and eventually to St. Louis made one thing painfully clear: the farther I got from home, the fewer bilingual, bicultural, and BIPOC clinicians I saw in the therapy room. Families were navigating trauma, change, and identity without providers who truly reflected their culture or language. Recognizing this gap and seeing the rapidly growing Latine population in the Midwest, I made the intentional choice to remain in Missouri. I wanted to help expand access, representation, and culturally grounded care for communities that have long been overlooked.
Por eso fundé Cultura Care & Consulting. My practice offers trauma-informed, client-centered, and culturally grounded care that honors identity, language, and individual lived experiences. As a certified play therapist y DBT-trained clinician, I am dedicated to creating a space where you never have to explain who you are to be understood. I provide therapy in English and Spanish, always centering our work on trust, connection, and authentic humanity.
Mi Desarrollo Profesional
2016-2019:
Inicio de mi carrera en Portland, OR
My work in the mental health field began after graduating from UCLA in December 2016, when I relocated to Portland, Oregon in January 2017. I started my career providing crisis response, case management, and trauma-informed support to survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and human trafficking. These early experiences shaped my commitment to culturally grounded, trauma-informed care for youth and families navigating systemic barriers.
2019–2021:
Manejo de crisis en
Los Ángeles, CA
I returned to California in 2019 to work with a nonprofit supporting youth impacted by commercial sexual exploitation. My work included prevention and intervention groups, training partner agencies, and responding to crisis calls. This deepened my passion for survivor-centered care and strengthened my skills in advocacy, community partnership, and systems-level response.
2021–2023:
Maestría en Trabajo Social en
St. Louis, MO
I moved to St. Louis in 2021 to complete my Master of Social Work at Washington University. During my studies, I collaborated with Missouri legislators on the successful passage of Proyecto de Ley del Senado 775, which expanded survivor protections in state law. My graduate training focused on trauma, cultural responsiveness, and clinical work with children and adolescents.
2023–Presente: Brindando terapia en St. Louis, MO
After earning my MSW, I joined The Community Reach, where I provided bilingual, Medicaid-accessible therapy for under-resourced families. I later worked in Washington University’s Multifamily DBT Program, where I developed a 24-week & 12-week DBT curriculum, trained interns, and helped create a welcoming, trauma-informed therapy space for teens. Today I continue my work as the founder of Cultura Care & Consulting.
Mi filosofía: Persona primero, terapeuta después
Outside of therapy, I’m a plant-loving, first-gen Latina trying to make space for joy, rest, and community. I dream of one day owning a little coffee shop where healing and connection can meet over cafecito.
I value transparency, collaboration, and authenticity in every part of my work. Whether I am in session, facilitating a training, or consulting with schools, I show up with openness, cultural humility, and a deep respect for each person’s lived experience.
My relationships with clients are built on trust, connection, and the belief that we all deserve care that feels familiar, safe, and rooted in who we are. I show up fully as a human first, therapist second, and I am always learning, unlearning, and growing alongside the people I serve.
