Manuela González, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)

About

  • Pronouns: she/ella

  • Occupation and Specialty: Therapist

  • Location (Clinic/hospital): The Family Development Center

  • Location (City): Saint Paul

  • Offers Telehealth: Yes

  • Contact Information: https://www.thefamilydevelopmentcenter.com/scheduling

  • Bio: I am a bilingual, bicultural, second-generation Chicana with over ten years of experience working with diverse individuals, families, and communities. I provide individual therapy to adults 18+ and family therapy to adult children and their parents/relatives. I focus my practice on Black, Indigenous & People of Color (BIPOC). I am particularly interested in working with children of immigrants, immigrants, and members of the fat and LGBTQ+ communities. As a cis woman, I am committed to creating a safe therapeutic space for this community, especially Queer & Trans Black, Indigenous & People of Color (QTBIPOC).

    I am trained in Adaptive Internal Relational (AIR) Network Therapy, Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), and motivational interviewing and integrate a wide range of therapeutic approaches, including strengths-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), narrative therapy, mindfulness, harm reduction, self-compassion, and psycho-education.

Approach to care

  • What does it look like for you to provide care to patients in larger bodies? How is, or isn’t, your approach different from how you care for patients in smaller bodies? If you work with children, how is or isn’t your approach different when working with children?

    A trusting and supportive therapeutic relationship is very important, so I strive to create a judgment-free, respectful, and understanding environment. I take a relational, person-centered approach and a systems approach to allow each person to be seen within the context of their family, community, and cultural systems.

  • What is your perspective on how weight is or is not related to health?

    A person's weight is not related to their health, however, the way a person is treated based on their weight can have a significant impact on their mental health and wellbeing.

  • Finish this sentence: “Fat people are…” 

    glorious, and obesity is worth glorifying" - Da'Shaun Harrison

  • How do you, your clinic, and the healthcare system you work in use BMI (i.e BMI cutoffs for accessing certain services, BMI on charts and printouts, etc)? Is this flexible?

    N/A

  • If a patient declines to be weighed, how do you and/or your staff proceed?

    N/A

  • If a patient declines to discuss weight loss, nutrition, and/or exercise, how do you proceed?

    I strive to meet clients where they're at and if they do not want to discuss those topics, I respect that.

  • What does the physical accessibility of your office space look like? What kinds of accommodations are present for people in larger bodies? Are there things you wish were in place that are currently not? 

    The building has a ramp at the main entrance. Our office is on the third floor which is accessible via elevator or stairs. Lobby seating includes chairs without arms and couches.

  • What do you do to allow fat people to feel comfortable and welcome in your office? 

    The lobby is cozy and inviting. We provide complimentary water, coffee or tea, and accessible seating.

  • If you’d like to use this space to talk about any identities (gender, race, size, sexuality, etc.) you hold and how this relates to your care, please do so.