Healed from Anxiety, stress, depression and trauma

Welcome to Healing Waves Therapy, where we provide culturally aware care that honors how your body learned to survive and supports you in learning how to thrive.

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We are currently In-Network with BCBS commercial plans, BCBS Blue Value, & BCBS PPO Plans, Aetna commercial plans, Aetna SHP, & United Health Care/Optum commercial plans.

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Meet Our Diverse Team of Therapists

  • A woman with dark curly hair smiling, wearing a light gray blazer and jewelry, against a light purple background.

    Teresa Merchán, Ph.D., LCMHC

    BILINGUAL OUTPATIENT THERAPIST Available In-Person (Raleigh, NC) & Telehealth

    Specialties: Cultural Trauma, Immigration-Related Stress, Anxiety & Depression, Complex Trauma, Intimate Partner Violence, Grief & Loss, Women’s Mental Health, Racial & Cultural Identity, LGBTQ+ Affirming Care, Life Transitions, Emotional Regulation, and Coping Skills

  • A woman with shoulder-length dark hair and highlights, smiling, wearing gold hoop earrings, a white sleeveless top, a black and gold necklace, and a tattoo on her arm, against a plain light background.

    Tamara Vazquez, MSW, LCSWA

    BILINGUAL OUTPATIENT THERAPIST
    Available In-Person (Raleigh, NC) & Telehealth

    Specialties: LGBTQ+ Affirming Care, Depression & Mood Disorders, Trauma & Adverse Childhood Experiences, Abuse & Neglect, Substance Use, Behavioral Concerns, Military-Connected Individuals & Families, IDD-Affirming Care, Life Transitions, Emotional Regulation, and Coping Skills

  • A woman with curly black hair smiling, wearing a yellow top and blue denim jacket against a light purple background.

    Irma Castro-Vergara, MSW, LCSWA

    TELEHEALTH BILINGUAL THERAPIST
    Telehealth Only

    Specialties: LGBTQ+ Affirming Care, Anxiety, Relationship Challenges, Life Transitions, Stress Management, Emotional Regulation, Self-Esteem & Identity Exploration, Cultural & Spiritual Integration, Mindfulness-Based Coping, and Adjustment Concerns

  • Portrait of a woman with long curly brown hair, light skin, wearing a pink top, a green jacket, and a multicolored knitted infinity scarf, smiling against a plain white background.

    Charlotte Shoneman, MSW, LCSWA

    OUTPATIENT THERAPIST
    Available In-Person (Raleigh, NC) & Telehealth

    Specialties: Anxiety & Depression, Trauma & Stress-Related Concerns, Relationship Conflict, Communication Skills, Poly- and Consensual Non-Monogamy-Affirming Care, LGBTQIA+ Affirming Support, Emotional Regulation, Identity Exploration, Life Transitions, and Values-Based Coping Skills

  • A woman with short dark hair and light makeup smiling at the camera, with a teal background.

    Kamaria Faison

    MSW GRADUATE STUDENT Available In-Person (Raleigh, NC) & Telehealth

    Specialties: Substance Use & Addictions, Harm Reduction, Intergenerational & Complex Trauma, Cultural Trauma, Anxiety & Depression, Identity Exploration, First- and Second-Generation Experiences, Refugee & Asylee Support, LGBTQIA+ Affirming Care, and Coping Skills

  • A woman smiling with dark, wavy hair, wearing a teal T-shirt, white pants, and jewelry, standing against a light background.

    Jessica Garcia, MSW, LCSW

    FOUNDER
    Available In-Person (Raleigh, NC) & Telehealth

    Specialties: LGBTQ+ Affirming Care, Generational & Cultural Trauma, Childhood Trauma & Attachment Wounds, Mother Wound Healing, First-Generation Experiences, Eldest Daughter Dynamics, Anxiety & Depression, Complex Interpersonal & Family Relationships, Boundary Setting, Racial & Cultural Identity, Life Transitions, and Holistic Coping Skills

  • A smiling woman with a nose ring and curly black hair, wearing a gray shirt, in front of a plain, light-colored wall.

    Estephanie Linares

    CLIENT CARE & ADMIN SUPPORT COORDINATOR

    Estephanie is a proud daughter of Salvadoran immigrants, born and raised in Raleigh, NC. She is a non-traditional student at NC State University pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Social Work, driven by her passion for mental health and social justice. As a volunteer with Healing Waves Therapy & Counseling, she is inspired by the team’s dedication and the meaningful impact they make in the community.

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How we can help you thrive

Individual Therapy

Our individual therapy provides a culturally attuned space to explore your experiences, reconnect with your body, and move from survival toward thriving.

Couples Therapy

Our couples therapy offers a culturally attuned space for partners to understand each other more deeply, and work through patterns that may be creating distance in the relationship. Through a somatic and relational approach, we support couples in improving communication, healing unhealthy relationship cycles, and strengthening connection as they move toward greater understanding, safety, and growth. Bilingual therapy in English and Spanish is available.

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Group Therapy

Our group therapy services offer a supportive, community-centered space to heal, connect, and grow alongside others who share similar experiences.

Women’s Retreats

Raíces & Renacimiento is a women’s retreat created to offer space for rest, reflection, and reconnection. Rooted in cultural connection and community healing, this experience invites participants to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and nurture renewal through mindfulness, movement, and collective care.

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Supervision & Consultation

We offer consultations for clinicians and organizations seeking to deepen their expertise in working with the Latino community, first-generation experiences, and professional development.

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Speaking Engagements

Speaking engagements are available in topics regarding mental health, mental health within the Latino community, self-compassion, & trauma.

EXPLORE OUR SERVICES

Your journey to healing…

01

INITIAL CONSULTATION

The initial consultation is a supportive first conversation focused on understanding your story, honoring how your body has learned to cope, and determining how we can best support your healing.

02

A PERSONAL PLAN

Each personal plan is tailored to your needs, honoring your body’s wisdom, culture, and readiness for change.

03

HEALING AND THRIVING

Healing and thriving can look like feeling safer in your body, responding instead of reacting, and reconnecting with parts of yourself shaped by culture, family, and lived experience.

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If you grew up being the strong one, the responsible one, the one who held everything together… this space may be for you. Our Inner Child Healing Gathering will explore compassion practices and gentle reflection to reconnect with the parts o
Every relationship goes through difficult seasons. Communication can become harder, the same arguments repeat, or life transitions create stress between partners. Couples counseling can help you slow down, understand each other more deeply, and rebu
Our Spring Retreat sold out faster than we imagined… and my heart is still full from the women who said yes to themselves. Because of that, we are opening a Priority List for our Fall 2026 Raíces & Renacimiento Women’s Retrea
 

Our Office Location Details

Address: 5102 Oak Park Rd Unit A Raleigh NC 27612

  • First Floor

  • Free parking available

  • Complimentary coffee and tea

Interior view of an office or waiting area with white walls, a small wooden cabinet, a green potted plant, a framed picture, and a blue and white patterned rug. A glass-paneled door leads to another room decorated with pink flowers and hanging decorations.
Office waiting room with a beige sofa, two brown armchairs, a round wooden coffee table with tissues, a tall white floor lamp, a wall clock, a potted plant, and decorative pillows.
A cozy living room with a white armchair, a white sofa with colorful pillows, a wooden coffee table on a patterned rug, and a bookshelf near a window with green curtains. There's a small side table with a plant, a decorative wall piece, and a desk with a chair and a plant on it.
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If you’re looking for therapy that honors your body, culture, and lived experience, we welcome you to contact us to schedule a consultation.

You’re in the right place…

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