Alan Jassiel Vargas Berlanga has been with Waterloo Counseling Center since 2026. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate in the State of Texas and earned his Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from The University of Texas at San Antonio, where he also completed a Bilingual Counseling Certificate. Born and raised in Mexico, Alan immigrated to the United States at age 14, an experience that shaped his understanding of the complexities of navigating multiple cultures, identities, and family expectations. This lived experience continues to inform his passion for providing culturally responsive and affirming care to diverse communities.

Alan is passionate about therapy because he believes healing begins through genuine connection, compassion, and creating a space where individuals feel safe to explore their experiences. He considers it a privilege to walk alongside clients as they navigate life’s challenges, strengthen their understanding of themselves, and work toward meaningful change. Alan believes that clients are the experts of their own lives and strives to support them in identifying their strengths, building resilience, and creating lives that align with their values.

Alan enjoys working with adolescents and adults from diverse backgrounds, with a special passion for supporting LGBTQ+ individuals, Spanish-speaking clients, Hispanic communities, immigrants, first-generation individuals, and transnational families. His clinical interests include trauma, anxiety, depression, ADHD and neurodiversity, identity development, relationship concerns, self-esteem, grief, life transitions, and the emotional challenges that can arise from balancing different cultural identities and expectations.

Alan utilizes an integrative and collaborative approach to therapy, incorporating techniques from Person-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and trauma-informed care. He believes therapy should be tailored to each client’s unique experiences, goals, and values while honoring the cultural, relational, and systemic factors that influence their lives.

Alan strives to create a therapeutic environment that is warm, affirming, and culturally responsive, where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered to be their authentic selves. His background as a bilingual patient advocate in sexual health, where he supported individuals in accessing HIV care, gender-affirming services, and healthcare resources, strengthened his commitment to mental health equity and improving access to compassionate care for underserved communities. Alan is passionate about supporting clients through self-exploration, healing from past experiences, and developing skills that promote long-term well-being.

Outside of the therapy room, Alan enjoys traveling between the United States and Mexico, attending concerts, exploring new places, learning about culture and history, and spending time with his dog, Bean.