Staff Spotlight: Tania Castillo, AMFT – Lead Therapist

Today we’re highlighting lead therapist at BrightQuest San Diego, Tania Castillo, AMFT! Learn more about Tania, what drew her to the mental health field, and more in this Q&A.

What drew you to this field?

Growing up, mental health; or even the simple act of asking for help, was often viewed as a sign of weakness or brokenness. In my culture, people were expected to carry their pain silently, no matter how heavy the burden was. Witnessing this unspoken suffering was heartbreaking and it was a motivation to want something different for myself and my family, which led me to becoming a therapist. 

Why are you passionate about helping people with severe mental illnesses?

There is profound beauty in witnessing someone heal and evolve beyond a former version of themselves. Watching them rediscovering how to engage in the beauty of life inspires me.  

What modalities do you use when working with clients? Do you have a favorite and why?

 I’ve found that structural therapy is most effective in my family work, while motivational interviewing, CBT, and narrative therapy are the approaches I use most often with individuals.

What do you wish more people knew about your profession?

What makes someone a good therapist isn’t just the knowledge they bring into the room. It’s the depth of their experiences, the commitment to their own self-work, and the ongoing process of personal healing they engage in.

What makes you excited to be a part of the BrightQuest family?

What makes me excited is looking back and seeing how much BrightQuest has taught me. I have grown alongside so many individuals, and I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else. The friendships and experiences I’ve gained out of this is something I will forever be grateful for. They have supported my growth and given me various opportunities to continue to grow into the clinician I am today.