Suzanna Osuna Aissa, M.A., AMFT
I am a mother of two young children, a wife, nature lover, and artist. I raise my family in a tranquil community in South Placer County, near Sacramento. Cultivating a life of peace, joy, health, and freedom is paramount to my ability to show up for my clients in a full, compassionate way.
As an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, I have completed all of my graduate education and 3000 clinical hours, and continue to be supervised by Dr. Rachel Robbins as I prepare for the licensing exam.
My therapeutic work is grounded in our stages of development as human beings and attachment theory. I also prioritize helping my clients to develop a practice of connecting to nature in whatever way feels accessible. I firmly believe that a relationship to Earth and nature is critical to mental health, in spite of our virtual meetings.
Born and raised in San Diego, I lived in San Francisco for almost 8 years. Both of these places are “home” to me. I also spent a lot of time in Sinaloa, Mexico growing up as that is where my family is from. I love being outdoors, cooking, caring for my animals, and reading.
I am grounded, open-minded, and not fazed by much. It is a gift to share space for people to unpack their life experiences, ideas about the universe, unusual proclivities, or anything else that may seem difficult to talk about.
My Philosophy
It is never too late to start making choices that align with what’s actually important to you.
I am happy to work with any and all adult individuals (18+) and adult relationships (couples,, adult siblings, parents and adult children, separated co-parents, etc). I welcome people of all backgrounds and am particularly sensitive to the complexities of bi-cultural and immigrant upbringings, especially for people of color.
I have a keen awareness that all adults began as playful, creative children–and these qualities are still alive in each of us! My perspective as a clinician is trauma-informed. It is influenced by attachment theory: the idea that our earliest relational experiences have a profound impact on our later lives.
Education & Training
I completed my Bachelor’s at UC San Diego in Cognitive Science with an emphasis in clinical aspects. My work during and after college focused on supporting families of children with autism and adults with Alzheimer’s disease.
I changed my plans for a career in research to become a Marriage and Family Therapist. The emotional experiences of family members seemed to be missing from the work I had been doing, and I saw a need for support. I received my MA from the University of San Francisco. My program trained me as a largely psychodynamic clinician, with a strong practical skillset grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavioral Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Prior to forming my private practice, I worked in San Francisco’s Mission District as an early childhood mental health consultant. I worked with preschool educators and parents to help them understand the emotional needs of their young children and working with caregivers to process their own developmental experiences that might come up as they care for little ones.
Bachelor of Science, Cognitive Science
UC San Diego, 2014
Master of Arts. Counseling Psychology
University of San Francisco, 2019
Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Level 1 Training
The Gottman Institute, 2023