One Shared Vision.
Two independent practices, connected by a shared belief that mental health care should feel human, culturally responsive, and accessible.
Our Story
Our paths into social work were shaped by where we came from, the people we’ve served, and the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to move forward.
We are both first-generation college graduates and first-generation professionals with master’s degrees in social work. We know what it means to build something without always having a roadmap for how to get there.
For more than a decade, we’ve worked alongside people navigating some of life’s most difficult circumstances— housing instability, trauma, mental health challenges, family stress, crisis, major life transitions, and the many barriers that can make change feel out of reach.
We have spent years listening to people’s stories, showing up in their communities, advocating alongside them, and helping them find a way forward when things felt overwhelming.
We didn’t start here by accident.
That experience shaped the therapists we became and ultimately, the practice we wanted to create.
Committed to the people we serve.
ROOTED IN ROCKFORDYEARS SERVING THE ROCKFORD COMMUNITY
10+
For the past 10 years we’ve had at the privilege of serving individuals and families throughout the Rockford community. Our work has taken us beyond an office, into homes, neighborhoods, and community spaces meeting people where they are and supporting them through some of the hardest seasons of their lives.
That experience taught us something we carry into therapy today. People are more than a diagnosis, a difficult chapter, or the circumstances they are facing. There is always a bigger story.
MEET SONIA & CLARA
independent therapists. Shared values.
Sonia Carrera-Castaneda, LCSW
Sonia is a bilingual, Spanish-speaking therapist who brings more than a decade of experience in social work and community-based care. Her work has included supporting individuals through complex life circumstances, mental health challenges, trauma, housing instability, and crisis. Working directly in the community, meeting people where they are and advocating for individuals with some of the greatest barriers to stability.
Her approach is warm, honest, and grounded. She works collaboratively with clients to understand what they’re experiencing, identify what may be keeping them stuck, and create meaningful change without losing sight of the person behind the problem.
As a first-generation professional and veteran, Sonia brings both professional experience and lived perspective to her work. She understands that our stories, families, culture, and experiences can shape the way we see ourselves and the world around us.
Clara Pasillas, LCSW
Clara is a bilingual therapist who believes feeling understood is often where meaningful change begins. Her style is compassionate, thoughtful, and down-to-earth. She creates space for clients to slow down, reflect, and work through things that can be difficult to say out loud.
As a first-generation professional, Clara understands the courage it can take to create a different path while carrying the expectations, experiences, and values that shaped you. Her goal isn’t to tell you who to become. It’s to help you better understand yourself, recognize your strengths, and move toward a life that feels more like your own.
We both come from families and communities where resilience isn’t just a word, it’s something we’ve lived, witnessed, and continue to carry with us.
We’ve both had to create our own opportunities, break cycles, and push forward despite the odds. That experience gives us a deep understanding of the courage it takes to ask for support and the strength it takes to keep showing up.