Meet Dr. Sophia!

Positionality: 
I identify as a Latina/Chicana, Mestiza, cis-het woman. As a first generation Chicana born to immigrant parents from Mexico, I have been raised in a bilingual and bicultural home. 
 

My Background & Approach:

Hello! I am Dr. Sophia Aguirre and I am a psychologist,  a mother, a wife, a business owner, and a proud first-generation college & graduate student. I am a recovering over-achiever/perfectionist who understands the challenges to create balance and maintain wellness as BIPOC professional.

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I created ACIP to provide outstanding, culturally-responsive, socially-conscious psychological services to all.  With over 15 years of experience, I have worked with a wide range of concerns, from relational and identity issues to trauma and systemic oppression. A common focus in my clinical work is helping individuals establishing healthier, more authentic relationships with themselves and with others. I am most passionate about working with adults who hold marginalized identities (racial/ethnic, gender, sexual and relationship structure minorities) utilizing an intersectional, anti-racist, social-justice lens.

 

My goal is always to create a safe, inclusive space where clients feel empowered to explore their unique experiences and heal in ways that honor their full selves. I would describe my approach as warm, genuine, and thoughtfully analytical. My style tends to be informal, direct, and transparent, with the intention of demystifying the therapy process. I strive to build a trusting, nonjudgmental atmosphere, fostering a therapeutic relationship that balances both support and challenge. 

 

While I am an empathetic listener, I am also actively engaged during sessions—offering observations, providing insights, and sharing practical feedback to help clients navigate personal challenges effectively. Many of my clients appreciate my open and direct style, which creates a sense of safety, as they never have to guess what I am thinking or feeling. This transparency helps to deepen trust and foster growth throughout the therapeutic journey.

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Theoretical & Clinical Orientation:

Although I integrate various psychotherapeutic methods and theoretical orientations in my practice, I work primarily from theoretical perspectives that emphasize the authentic relationships, individual strengths, and the potential for growth. Specifically, I have been heavily influenced by interpersonal, psychodynamic, and existential-humanistic theories, as well as multicultural, feminist movements in psychology. Interpersonal, psychodynamic, attachment, and existential-humanistic theories direct my attention to my client’s current and past relational dynamics as I strongly believe that human beings are primarily motivated by the need to establish and maintain relationships.  Liberation and Feminist psychology principles provide the foundation for exploring societal, cultural, and contextual factors and building resilience from an intersectional perspective.

 

My primary focus is on the here and now, but I explore my client’s past to provide insight on how early experiences and relationships continue to influence thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in the present. Achieving a deeper understanding of yourself will allow you to have more freedom and control over your life. Clients who work with me can expect to focus on their emotion, which means we will seek to accept and deepen an understanding of reactions to various emotions as a means to working through the pain.

Licensure, Certifications, & Fellowships

• Licensed Psychologist: Georgia #PSY004298 & Oregon #1925

• Certified Group Psychotherapist (Certification #053456)

• Fellow, American Group Psychotherapy Association

• PSYPACT E. Passport (Mobility Certification #4928)​

 

Education & Training

• Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, Auburn University, 2008

• ​B.S. in Psychology with Honors, The University of Georgia, 2000​

Clinical Specializations

Throughout my professional career, I have been committed to the pursuit of educational, training, and professional experiences that promote group psychotherapy and group psychology. In dedication to furthering my therapeutic skills, I attained the credential of Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP) awarded by the International Board for Certification of Group Psychotherapists.  In 2020, I was elected a Fellow of the American Group Psychotherapy Association, an honor and distinction recognizing outstanding professional competence and leadership within field of group psychotherapy.

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Professional Service & Membership

I am actively involved in my professional community and am passionate about advocating for social justice issues within the field of psychology and group therapy at local, regional and national levels. I currently serve as the Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force for the American Group Psychotherapy Association, and have previously served in a number of governance and leadership roles within the organization. 

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• Secretary, American Group Psychotherapy Association

• Co-Chair, Task Force for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, American Group Psychotherapy Association

• Co-Chair, Sanando Latinx Mental Health Professionals 

• (Past) Chair, Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee, Georgia Psychological Association

• (Past) President, Lane County Psychological Association (2013 - 2014)

• (Past) Board Member, Oregon Psychological Organization (2011 - 2015)

• Member:  Georgia Psychological Association, Atlanta Group Psychotherapy Society,  American Group Psychotherapy Society, National Latinx Psychological Association, American Psychological Association