In addition to being a generalist, Dr. Canales has developed five areas of interest.

Transitions
Life is a sequence of developmental milestones as well as in-between moments. Sometimes we are not prepared to deal effectively with these changes and transitions. We could think of them as gross adjustments, when a person requires a new definition of oneself to cope with the unavoidable circumstances.

Immigration
Whether it is an expected or unexpected move within the US or coming from abroad, movement requires a cultural adaptation. Psychotherapy is useful in understanding the nuances of environmental change, particularly as relationships have to start anew. Our social fabric, specifically attachment relationships, are essential to our wellbeing. When these change, it is helpful to acknowledge the internal experience and external demands, grief, and notice how one reorients to the new.

Dr. Canales has a wide perspective of personal and research-based knowledge in regards to acculturation issues. She is bicultural and fluent in Spanish and English. Experiences that include transition also include:
Moving into college
Becoming a parent
Losing a loved one or part of yourself

Women’s issues
In our present times, there is a lot of pressure on women to conform, be of service, be silent, or be someone else. Assertiveness, looking the part, and living triumphantly are discouraged. At the same time, being a self-made woman today comes with various challenges. Societal and personal expectations create a sense of isolation and disconnection from oneself.

Embodied psychotherapy offers a supportive space for women to connect with themselves, regardless of their life journey. This includes high-achieving women who balance their careers and family or women who have chosen to be single and powerful. My invitation is to women who are:

-Balancing personal life with family demands
-Body issues and Disordered eating
-Post and Perinatal problems
-Birth trauma
-Problems attaching to a new born
-Post-Partum Depression (PPD)

Spirituality
All suffering requires spirituality, a way to understand pain that transcends the linear, physical, and concrete understanding of our existence. The relationship with the sacred and supernatural is a significant source of strength, no matter the religion. However, many people have suffered religious trauma or have been wounded by a particular congregation.

Embodied psychotherapy can liberate unfulfilled emotions and longing while revitalizing the self for new discoveries.

Adolescents
Adolescence is a stage of life marked by both vulnerability and wonder. Even though several brain areas reach new heights, such as creativity and processing speed, others need years to continue developing, like impulse control. Adolescents bring immense creativity and fresh perspectives to life. They increasingly rely on their peers and seek autonomy, which can clash with the previous structures that shaped their behavior. Their experiences are expressed through socially constructed symbols that make each generation unique. Their struggles and victories are deeply felt. Working with adolescents is a privilege like no other.
I see clients ages 14 and up and often include their family system to facilitate parental training. Among general concerns, I specialize in:
· Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
· Conduct disorder
· Attachment disorders
· Adjustment problems
· Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
· Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
· Intermittent explosive disorder