Dear Comunidad,
Life isn’t always easy — but understanding how to heal, grow, and build healthy relationships can make all the difference. For Latinx communities, these tools are especially powerful. Our community often faces unique challenges, from discrimination and intergenerational trauma to the struggles of adapting to new environments. These experiences can weigh on our mental health, but they don’t have to keep us from living happy and fulfilling lives.
[Lea esta historia en español.]
In response to the new presidential administration, El Tecolote is launching this mental health column tailored to San Francisco’s Latinx communities. This space is for you — a place to explore what it means to thrive as individuals and as a community. Together, we’ll talk about healing, self-care and embracing the strength rooted in our cultural practices and ancestral heritage.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Advice: I’m here to help answer questions like, “My mother enables my brother’s machismo — what should I do?,” “My daughter is asking me to use new pronouns — what does that mean?,” or even, “How can Latinx immigrants cope with the incoming administration?”
- Rituals and crafts: As a therapist who believes in using the tools our grandparents used for healing, I know how important our unique rituals are to the healing process. I’ll guide you through beautiful ancient traditions, like using herbs for healing, the significance of limpias, and other activities that help us stay rooted in our culture.
- Community Spotlights: I’ll introduce you to places of gathering and healing in our community, like group therapy sessions for trans immigrants, healing spaces for mothers, or meaningful ceremonies like the Alcatraz Sunrise Gathering.
Let me introduce myself: I’m Michelle Gutierrez, a bilingual, bicultural therapist of Colombian descent and a proud member of the El Tecolote family as a former Photo Editor. Now, as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I help individuals navigate challenges like anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, and life transitions. My approach is compassionate and collaborative — I believe in meeting people where they are and walking with them at their own pace toward healing and growth.
In this column, I’ll share practical tools, cultural insights, and answer your questions — think of it as a culturally rooted “Dear Abby.” Whatever’s on your mind, I’m here to help. You can write to me anonymously at consejos@eltecolote.org.
Together, let’s navigate life’s challenges, Comunidad. Let’s celebrate our resilience, embrace our traditions and create a space where healing and growth are possible for everyone.
Con cariño y esperanza,
Your Querida Consejera