About

Sludos y bienvenidos, my name is Gerardo Alva Chávez. Whatever the reason(s) may be that led you to read this today, I am glad that you found us here at Desert Insight. I can understand how searching for a therapist, getting tons of results online, and picking someone can be daunting… and sometimes, down-right scary. Believe me, I’ve been there before. Funny thing is, I decided to become a therapist after meeting a mental health counselor who impacted my life! So, whenever I meet with a potential client, family, or couple, I think to myself: What would I want to hear if I were sitting across from a stranger who calls themselves a “therapist?” To this end, I think that the most common denominator amongst the people I serve is this: Am I human? The answer is a resounding “YES!!!” I’ve made mistakes in my life and I’ve attended both counseling and therapy services throughout my life. I’ve been sent to therapy as a child in both religious institutions and clinical settings. I’ve sent myself, at the age of 18, to therapy while I was at university because of feelings of loneliness, isolating, low self-esteem, and self-loathing. In my 20s, as I’ve come to learn more about who I am, I’ve gone to therapy for Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, anger issues, issues with my homosexuality, generational trauma, OCD, and so much more. While I may sound like a basket case to some, I promise that I am not. I am simply a person who is forthcoming with my faults as much as I am with my strengths. And that is the foundation of my work as “The Therapist.” I do the work that I do because I believe that every life is a story worth telling. So, if you are ready to do the work, I invite you to reach out today. I'll be here when you're ready. Gerardo Alva Chavez is a Associate Professional Clinical Counselor and is currently working under supervision of a licensed practitioner. Their CA license number is 7179. Their current employer is Faith Joleen Reyes from Desert Insight Family Therapy.