A Fireside Chat With Ines Prado, LMHC

A Creative Path to Clinical Work

Originally from Guatemala, Ines envisioned a future in the arts. She wasn’t sure of where it would take her, but knowing her passion for creativity had to be incorporated.

It was her mother who first suggested she might be a good fit for a career in mental health. Since a mother knows best, she took a chance on that idea and began studying psychology in Guatemala.

Very quickly, she knew she was absolutely meant to take this path.

Ines found the perfect way to integrate art into her clinical work and decided to complete her master’s degree in Springfield for Art Therapy. She loved exploring how art and therapy could intersect, and she began shaping her expressive and individualized approach to healing.

Professional Experience Across Eco-System of Mental Health

Like many therapists right out of college, Ines began in the very necessary but challenging field of community mental health. Ines worked within the court system, in probation-related services that often involved substance cases and working with the Department of Children and Families (DCF).

Through these roles, she developed a strong understanding of how systems work—from documentation and reporting to the challenges clients face when they’re mandated into treatment.

One thing she’s especially mindful of is that everyone has their own story and background. Ines believes in meeting people where they are, whether they’re motivated for change or still figuring out if therapy is right for them.

A Trauma-Informed Approach

Ines describes her style as integrative and adaptable. Understanding that no single approach works for everyone, she draws from multiple evidence-based approaches depending on each client’s needs, including:

• Trauma-informed care
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Psychoanalytic and psychodynamic perspectives

Her trauma-informed lens is especially central to her work. Ines highlights that trauma is often misunderstood and overlooked; It’s not just extreme events, but any experience that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope.

At the same time, she maintains a balanced perspective that while trauma deserves empathy, it doesn’t remove accountability. Growth involves both understanding and responsibility.

Healing Through Creative Expression

Ines’s early passion for art continues to influence her work today. She recognizes that not all clients process emotions through words, and that creative expression can unlock more emotions than traditional talk therapy.

Art therapy techniques can help clients:

• Externalize difficult emotions
• Process experiences nonverbally
• Explore identity and self-expression
• Reduce pressure to “explain everything perfectly”

Ines believes it’s about giving clients more ways to be understood.

Cultural Identity & Bilingual Care

As a Guatemalan clinician who is fluent in both Spanish and English, Ines brings an important cultural and linguistic perspective to her practice.

She grew up immersed in both languages—watching English-language media while also participating in bilingual education—allowing her to connect with clients across cultural contexts.

For Spanish-speaking clients especially, being able to express themselves in their native language can make a meaningful difference in feeling seen, understood, and comfortable.

Her background also informs her awareness of how cultural values, family dynamics, and stigma can shape someone’s experience with mental health and therapy.

What to Expect in Session One

Ines aims to make therapy feel human.

Her first sessions are intentionally conversational:

• A relaxed, open dialogue rather than an interrogation
• Space to talk about what brought you in
• No pressure to retell your entire life story immediately

She’s especially mindful that many clients have been in therapy before and may feel exhausted from repeating their history. Instead, she focuses on building comfort and trust first.

Ines is also transparent about the therapeutic relationship. She encourages questions and sees herself not as an authority figure, but as a fellow human being with professional boundaries.

Building Goals That Actually Matter

Ines knows that successful treatment requires that the goals belong to the client.

She wants to know what you want to work on and what meaningful change looks like for you?

She also incorporates a harm reduction approach. Instead of immediately removing coping mechanisms, she explores their purpose. This may include questions like Why is this behavior helping right now? or What need is it meeting?

As long as clients are not harming themselves or others, she prioritizes understanding before change, thus creating a foundation for more sustainable progress

The Power of Being Personable

If there’s one quality clients consistently notice about Ines, it’s her ability to connect.

She believes that therapy only works if there’s a genuine human connection. Technical knowledge matters, but it’s not enough on its own.

Ines considers herself “honest to a fault” but avoids assumptions; she creates a comfortable and safe space for clients to be heard, and be themselves.

“You can know every theory,” she says, “but if you can’t connect with someone, it won’t land.”

Drawing Inspiration from Avatar: The Last Airbender

Outside of therapy, Ines is a fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and she often enjoys using the lessons it offers in her own life and in session.

The show uses each character to present complex emotional themes in a way that feels relatable and accessible. For Ines, it’s a reminder that growth often involves learning from what we don’t like, both in others and in ourselves.

She understands that not every piece of media is wholly suitable for any situation, but that it’s important to take what’s helpful, and let go of what isn’t.

Make a Therapy Appointment Today With Ines!

I very much enjoyed my time speaking with Ines Prado. Though her clinical, cultural, and creative experiences are impressive, I found her authenticity to be her greatest asset.

Her approach is a reminder that therapy isn’t just about techniques or diagnoses—it’s about connection, understanding, and the willingness to grow.

Contact us today if you want to book an appointment with Ines Prado for mental health counseling in Massachusetts. We offer both telehealth/online therapy as well as in-person therapy at our offices in Amherst, Springfield, Wilbraham, Natick, and Franklin Massachusetts. Call  (413) 343-4357  or request an appointment online today to get started.

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