Meet Paola Andrea Rodriguez of Life Discovery

Today we’d like to introduce you to Paola Andrea Rodriguez.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Paola Andrea. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born in Bogota Colombia. To me, Bogota is a gray yet beautiful city with a magnitude of culture and opportunities. Living in Colombia in the 90’s, I quickly realized that peace did not come easy, and the terrorism in my country was something that I became familiar with at a young age. Still, those experiences inspired my need to understand the human mind and its actions. I became an observer and began to be curious about my people, my country, and myself. I was able to find purpose and meaning in a time of chaos. When I was 13 years old, my parents began their journey to the United States. Adapting to a new culture and seeking my own identity helped me grow and create new skills to become who I am today. Psychology was simply an explanation to my experiences. It became my purpose, my message, and my passion.

Has it been a smooth road?
Smooth? No. I come from a family who has modeled hard work. My father and my mother arrived to the United States with three children. My father started from nothing and he became more than something. He embedded in me the value of determination, persistence, and confidence in who you are and what you do. My mother taught me kindness, compassion and infinite love. Finding love within my home was the “smooth” part of my journey, which allowed me to focus on the harder aspects of life- self-identity, failures, and vulnerabilities. I believe that we can’t progress unless we struggle, it is those challenging experiences that teach us the greatest lessons. I have invested the last 17 years of my life into the field of psychology. I think one of the most important lessons that I have learned about myself, is the importance of self-care. At the onset of my career, I worked in the foster care system. It was unpredictable, and I often felt helpless. The helplessness consumed me, and it began to affect my relationship with myself and others. It took some time, vulnerability, and reflection to dig deeper, and since then, life has continued to reassure me that if I don’t take care of myself, I cannot take care of others. I aim to be better at what I do, and only hope that I can continue to pursue my dreams and stay true to my values. Fortunately, I have always had the love of my family, and perseverance and purpose have kept me grounded.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Life Discovery is simply a vision of what lives in my mind, heart, and spirit. I am passionate about my work because I believe in my practice – it’s applicable to all of us. A lot of what I practice and teach my clients, I have used myself to overcome my life’s natural, and inevitable, struggles. I have built Life Discovery with the idea that it is a healing space for the community. The goal is to help people see the positive that lives within and help them live the life they have always envisioned.

The therapy I practice is a combination of many techniques I have learned along the way. Being in different environments has allowed me to have a large tool kit, and I am able to apply the tools in a client specific way. Working with two other clinicians who have also had a wide breadth of experience makes Life Discovery a client centered, dynamic place to heal. We focus not only in improving our clients’ lives but also in continuing to grow as clinicians. There is a humbleness about our practice that allows for this, and I believe that makes us different.

I am specialized in the field of sexology. I am a Nationally Certified Sex Therapist, and I focus on educating and guiding my clients on this topic. I also have engaged in educating other clinicians and the public this on topic, through the use of social media, attendance and presenting at conferences, and doing workshops for people who want to learn more and engage in conversation around the topic of sex and relationships.

I have been doing psychotherapy for a long time, but when I began my sex therapy training I realized that relationships, intimacy, and sexuality are a vital part of the self- which is often an area that is left unexplored in many therapeutic interactions. My favorite part of being a sex therapist is providing a nonjudgmental space and normalizing the client’s experience. When I feel the energy shift and feel the ease in the room, it is priceless.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Miami is a vibrant and creative city, full of passion and flavor. It constantly inspires me and reminds me of who I am at the core. I have met and learned from many people in my field doing amazing things with innovative ideas. It is a city that helps me grow. Miami’s strong Latin culture challenges views on therapy due to biases, and yet, times are changing. People are more open to talking about themselves, and it’s a great change.

I would definitely advise other clinicians to start in Miami. I am doing so myself after spending some time in Boston. Always being open and willing to make mistakes, taking risks, and opening myself to collaborate and learn from others has been crucial to my transition here. For anyone that is just starting out, I would emphasize that if an opportunity shows up, take full advantage of it. Advocate and fight for what you want. In life, opportunities are part of the journey but how we utilize them is a choice. If you believe in yourself, everything else will fall into place.

Contact Info:

• Address: 5201 Blue Lagoon Drive Suite 920 Miami, FL 33126
• Website: www.lfdiscovery.com
• Phone: 7867194721
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: LifeDiscoveryPsych
• Facebook: Life Discovery

Image Credit:
Marcia Lorena Delgado

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