Meet ANA MARCELA RODRIGUEZ | licensed marriage and family therapist founder of Therapy Works Counseling

We had the good fortune of connecting with ANA MARCELA RODRIGUEZ and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi ANA MARCELA, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factor behind the success of **Therapy Works Counseling** and its brand is **authentic representation rooted in lived experience**.

Therapy Works Counseling was born from a genuine, personal need: the desire to receive therapy in my own language, with someone who truly understood my cultural background. As a native Spanish speaker and a Mexican woman, I searched for mental health services that felt aligned with who I am—services where language was not a barrier and culture was not something to explain or justify. When I couldn’t find that space, I decided to create it.

Therapy Works was intentionally crafted for the Hispanic and Latinx community, with clinicians who are Hispanic, fluent in Spanish, and culturally competent. Representation is not an add-on to our work—it is the foundation of it. Our community deserves to feel seen, understood, and respected in mental health spaces, and that is exactly what we provide.

What sets Therapy Works Counseling apart is that it feels like home. It is a place where clients matter, where their stories are honored, and where mental health care is delivered with humanity, cultural understanding, and professionalism. This authenticity—combined with a deep commitment to specialized, high-quality mental health care—is what builds trust, strengthens our brand, and drives our continued success.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Therapy Works Counseling is more than a business—it is a mission that has grown into a trusted mental health home for the Hispanic and Latinx community. I’m incredibly proud to say that we are now in **year nine** of Therapy Works, and we continue to grow, expand our reach, and broaden the services we offer. What began as a personal vision has become a recognized and respected brand rooted in compassion, culture, and care.

What truly sets us apart is that we were **the first mental health clinic created by Hispanics, for Hispanics, in the Dallas–Fort Worth area**. From the very first phone call, our goal has always been for clients to feel the warmth of their hometown. Our administrative team, clinicians, and staff are all bilingual, with Spanish as our first language. Language is never a barrier here—it is a bridge. From the moment someone reaches out, they feel seen, understood, and genuinely cared for.

Building Therapy Works was not easy. Creating everything in Spanish—from our website and social media platforms to paperwork and clinical materials—was especially challenging nine years ago, when the tools and resources we have today simply didn’t exist. Much of it I had to build on my own. Finding clinicians who were not only highly qualified and specialized, but also **native Spanish speakers and culturally aligned**, was another major challenge. Representation mattered then, and it still does now.

Being a Latina woman entrepreneur also meant knocking on many doors—some of which never opened. There were moments of rejection, doubt, and exhaustion. What carried me through was **discipline, consistency, and an unwavering belief in the community I was serving**. I learned that growth is not linear, that resilience is built over time, and that staying true to your values is more important than taking shortcuts.

Today, Therapy Works Counseling has its own strong identity and reputation, and what warms my heart most is knowing that we are known for **compassion, care, and respect for Hispanic and Latinx immigrants and families**. I want the world to know that our story is one of purpose-driven leadership, cultural pride, and healing in our own language. Therapy Works exists because our community deserves mental health care that feels like home—and that will always be at the center of everything we do.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting the Dallas–Fort Worth area for a week, I’d want them to experience the city the way I do—full of energy, culture, great food, and a mix of classic Texas and modern vibes.

**Day 1: Downtown Dallas**
We’d start the morning with breakfast at a classic Texas spot in downtown—somewhere hearty and local. After that, we’d walk around downtown, taking in the skyline, historic buildings, and the overall rhythm of the city. Lunch would be at a traditional steakhouse, because you can’t visit Texas without a proper steak experience. In the afternoon, we’d head to one of Dallas’s major malls to shop and explore. As the evening sets in, we’d grab drinks in Uptown, followed by dinner at **Legacy West**, which has an amazing mix of restaurants and a lively atmosphere. To end the night, we’d enjoy the nightlife and catch a DJ set at **SILO**.

**Day 2: Arts & Culture**
This day would be all about culture. We’d visit the **Perot Museum**, spend time at the **Dallas Arboretum**, and explore the **Museum of Modern Art** in Fort Worth. It’s a perfect way to balance learning, creativity, and beautiful spaces.

**Day 3: Sports & Texas Pride**
No trip is complete without experiencing Texas sports culture. We’d go to a **Dallas Cowboys game** to feel the energy and excitement that defines the state. Even if you’re not a huge football fan, the experience alone is unforgettable.

**Day 4: Frisco & The Star**
We’d head to **The Star in Frisco**, stroll around, eat at one of the great restaurants, and soak in the atmosphere. It’s a great place to walk, people-watch, and really see how much the area has grown.

**Day 5: Exploring & Relaxing**
This would be a lighter day—more shopping, coffee stops, and casual exploring around different neighborhoods, enjoying what makes DFW feel both big and welcoming at the same time.

**Day 6: Nightlife & Local Favorites**
We’d revisit our favorite spots for drinks, try new restaurants, and enjoy the nightlife again—because Dallas always has something happening.

**Day 7: A Personal Touch
Of course, I’d finish the week by giving them a tour of something very close to my heart—**all four Therapy Works Counseling locations**. It’s a personal way to show them not just the city, but the work, community, and purpose that have shaped my life here.

For me, the most exciting part of Dallas–Fort Worth isn’t just the places—it’s the blend of culture, growth, and people that make it feel like home.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my shoutout first and foremost to the Hispanic and Latinx community—especially those who have trusted me and Therapy Works Counseling with their stories, their pain, and their healing. Your courage to seek help, often in the face of stigma, fear, or limited access, is the reason this work exists. You showed me that representation is not just important—it is necessary.

I also want to recognize the clinicians at Therapy Works Counseling Their commitment, cultural humility, and heart for this community make the vision real every single day. This work is emotionally demanding, and they show up with empathy, integrity, and professionalism, creating a space where clients truly feel safe and understood.

Lastly, I want to honor my own journey and the mentors, teachers, and books that reminded me that our identities are strengths, not barriers. The lessons on resilience, cultural pride, and healing across generations shaped my belief that mental health care can—and should—feel like home.

This story is not mine alone. It belongs to a community that needed to be seen, to professionals who chose to serve with intention, and to every person who believed that healing in our own language and culture is possible.

Website: https://www.therapyworkscounseling.com

Instagram: therapyworksana

Linkedin: ana marcela rodrguez magana

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Other: my personal web page www.anamarcelarodriguez.com