Meet our Clinicians

Erik Sanchez is bilingual and bi-cultural licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience providing supportive services to adult, children and families throughout San Diego County.

Mr. Sanchez has extensive experience in treating a broad spectrum of mental health issues. He obtained his Master of Social Work from San Diego State University and shortly after was Licensed.

For the past two years he has been employed in clinical roles at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Previous to this Mr. Sanchez was employed by New Alternatives Inc., San Diego County Children’s Services Bureau, San Diego Hospice and the Institute of Palliative Medicine, San Diego Family Health Centers Community Clinic, and California Department of Corrections- Mental Health Services.

Mr. Sanchez has extensive knowledge and experience in the areas of child protection, adoptions, parenting education, chemical dependency, domestic violence, geriatrics, juvenile & adult offender, and military veterans. Mr. Sanchez' clinical background focuses on evidenced based models of therapy. This eclectic approach generates greater self-awareness, which creates personal growth, and promotes a process of healing.

Do you sometimes think that others seem to be “normal” or have the “perfect life?” Sometimes our lives seem so out of control that we feel that there is something wrong and we may become emotionally stuck. It’s in these moments that seeking professional help can be the first step to making some changes.

If you choose to establish a clinical working relationship with Carmen Cuevas, together you will collaborate, discuss and, YES, do some clinical WORK to help you resolve any issues causing harm/pain. Mrs. Cuevas means this by not just focusing on superficial solutions but with a goal of getting to the root of the problem and addressing it so that you can have the life you design for yourself; a life that you can have self-acceptance, peace and harmony because a “perfect” or “normal” life are not realistic goals.

Carmen Cuevas wants to work together, and help you discover your potential and abilities and help you “prune” toxic thinking or behavior to once again reclaim your life. She has over a decade of professional social worker experience in which she has primarily worked with individuals whom society has ridden off as unable to change in the most challenging environments; such as Child Welfare Services (CPS), HIV/AIDS (Patients), Medical and corrections. In all those environments the HOPE of transformation fuels her. Whether you choose her or not, she congratulates you for making the first step of investing in your life to get the mental health support you may need at this time.

Luis Contreras is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked with families and youth of diverse backgrounds over the past 17 years in various social service settings. Luis received his undergraduate education in Psychology from the University of California San Diego, and his Master’s Degree from San Diego State University in Social Work with an emphasis on direct practice with at risk youth and families.

Luis has extensive experience working with families involved in the Child Welfare Services system, as well with youth involved with probation through the delinquency system. In addition, Luis provided therapeutic services in both clinic and community environments and has provided parenting education courses for the past 9 years through Home Start using the Systematic Training for Effective Parenting curriculum.

He likes to work with clients as a collaborative team on creating an effective process empowering you to take charge of your future. His background has focused working specifically with foster, adoptive and biological families caring for children who have suffered from abuse, neglect, trauma and attachment issues.