About Dr. Sonya Rodriguez
Family Therapist for Families with Teenagers and Young Adults in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
I’m a family specialist. I have a PhD in marriage and family therapy and specifically work with families who have teenagers and young adults who are struggling.
I help families repair, recover, and thrive.
My passion is to walk beside families and share in their hard work and in their joy! I am a specialist not just because of my degrees, training, and experience but also because I care.
My Journey to Become a Family Therapist
My interest in helping families with teens and young adults grew out of the struggles in my own family growing up and our family therapy experiences. This experience fueled my curiosity about humans in relationship and shaped my decision to become a licensed family therapist.
My Mission
A good friend and I jokingly (and not always jokingly) say, “We do hard things.” I love to challenge myself and others in growth to overcome and walk into the euphoria of conquering something difficult!
My Strengths
I am so flawed, and I mess up! I am a firm believer that it’s not how we mess up but how we recover. Our mistakes and imperfections do not define us. It’s how we shift from these mistakes into growth and connection that matters.
You will find me to be direct, honest, and empathic. I also am playful and have an adventurous nature.
I’ll challenge you when needed, help you find solutions, and support you in trusting your decision about what is best for your family.
My Philosophy
I am a Family Systems and Attachment Based therapist and coach. I follow behind giants utilizing some of the most effective relational therapy methods based on research, including:
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Attachment Based Family Therapy (ABFT)
- Bowen Family Systems Therapy (BFST)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR informs my work from a neurobiological and physiological lens. This is what happens physiologically in our bodies when experiencing crisis or trauma and how to clear our mind and body of emotional debris.
These methods help family members learn to calm their nervous systems and emotional thinking, giving way to more empathy, understanding, and openness.
I also am an experiential therapist – we’ve got to play a bit!
My approach when working with your family in your home or nature [link to Services page] is unique and highly effective.
I work primarily with families in intensives because they enable you to make faster progress than the typical 50-minute weekly sessions.
I see how your family functions in real-time and space and help you make adjustments in the moment. This means we can cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time!
Professional Experience
I have many years of experience working with families and adolescents in various settings, including nonprofit organizations, wilderness and residential programs, and in my private practice.
I’m an adjunct Professor at Northcentral University and supervise Master’s level Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) students in clinical skills.
Professional Memberships
- American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT)
- Texas Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (TAMFT)
- Relational Therapist of Dallas (formerly DAMFT)
- National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP)
- Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare (OBH)
- Association of Experiential Education (AEE)
Community Leadership and Involvement
I’ve been involved in a wide range of volunteer and leadership activities throughout my life. This has included work with refugees, mental health organizations, youth-focused initiatives, schools, churches and schools.
I’ve been a board member and fundraiser, camp counselor, lifeguard, water safety instructor, divemaster and master scuba diver, ropes course facilitator, NIA dance instructor, and girl scout leader outdoor trainer.
A Bit More About Me
I was born and raised in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex. We moved our young family to Europe and then raised our kids in the mountains of Colorado. I’m currently based in the Dallas area.
My DNA is wired for adventure. I love to be challenged and explore new places. I participate in various adventures-hiking high mountains, skiing down the bumpier sides of the mountains, riding roaring rivers, races and events that take training of the mind and body.
I’m an avid traveler. I’m a pilot and a future astronaut, so you’ll find me at Oshkosh. I also cherish girlfriend lunches, healthy cooking and hydroponically growing food.
The most rewarding accomplishments of my life are being married for over 30 years to a political refuge and experiencing the rewards and challenges of raising 4 teenagers who are now incredible young adults.