Gabriel Fiallos-Encalada, LMSW
Bilingual Trauma Therapist
Trauma can be hard to put into words; I’m here to listen with patience and understanding.
If you’d rather start your journey with someone over the phone, call us at 313-288-2689.
Who I work with
Growing up, you might have been the one everyone else leaned on . . . to figure things out or to translate, even though you were still a child. Maybe, when doing something ordinary like hearing your baby’s cry, or interacting with your boss, it suddenly takes you back to childhood, where you learned that you couldn’t rely on the people who were supposed to keep you safe.
It’s possible you shoved these memories down, telling yourself they were no big deal or to avoid looking “weak.” Until you see them coming back up in ways you don’t like, maybe with anger toward your partner or an overwhelming sadness you feel when looking at your kid because you’re not who you wanted to be as a parent.
Many of my clients come to me after an a-ha moment when they realize what they went through really was traumatic, even if it wasn’t the explosive experience they associate with abuse. They recognize that they don’t feel like themselves, they aren’t enjoying their life, and they’re ready to make a change.
My areas of specialty
I’m a Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) specializing in trauma, including: abuse, domestic violence, childhood neglect, and abandonment. Many of my clients are immigrants and Spanish-speakers who often face real barriers to finding a therapist who understands both their language and their culture.
I feel comfortable doing therapy in English, as well as Spanish, and am open to working with all races, genders, and sexualities. I’m always learning and deconstructing my own beliefs so I can understand those who are different from me. More than anything, I’m here to listen, to understand what you're going through, and to help you build a path forward based on your needs and goals.
My background & training
I'm bilingual in Spanish and English and bring my own experiences working through multiculturalism into session. I trained originally as a clinical psychologist in Ecuador, then completed my Master of Social Work in the United States, where I've worked with those struggling with trauma and addiction. I also have experience working with homeless and at-risk youth transitioning into adulthood, and directly with survivors of intimate partner violence. That range of experience shapes how I show up: flexible, attentive to what you specifically need, and willing to meet you where you are.
My approach draws from psychodynamic and person-centered therapy, trauma-informed care, and CBT-based tools, with Relational Life Therapy (RLT) informing how I understand relationships. I'm also training to be EMDR-certified.
Insurance companies I work with
AETNA
Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO
Blue Care Network
Priority Health
United Healthcare/Optum