Nice to meet you

ABOUT ME

Hello! I am Dr. Bryan O. Rojas-Araúz, a bilingual bicultural Licensed Psychologist and Afroindigenous immigrant of Costa Rican and Panamanian descent. I spent my teenage years in the Bay Area, California, where I became a community organizer and DREAM activist.

As a scholar-activist, healer, speaker, educator, author, and co-founder of In Lak’ech Counseling, Education, & Consulting, I provide services rooted in integrating psychological practice with ancestral healing, indigenized frameworks, and social justice into trauma and culturally responsive therapy, education, and organizational change.

I specialize in working with global majority (BIPOC) communities, immigrants, men, first generation professionals, college students, couples and families. I am also a faculty member in the International Disaster Psychology: Trauma and Global Mental Health program at the University of Denver. I also provide immigration and mental health evaluations for refugees and asylum seekers.

My research emphases include Latine and Indigenous Psychological Wellbeing, Immigrant and DREAMer Experiences, Undocumented and Global Majorities Access to Mental Health and Education, Critical Consciousness, Trauma and Cultural Responsiveness, and Advocacy & Social Justice.

When I’m not working, I’m usually woodworking, blowing glass, or enjoying nature with my family and friends. My goal is to create healing spaces where you feel seen, heard, and empowered to thrive.

My Journey

Commitment to Healing and Diversity

As a bilingual, bicultural Afroindigenous immigrant, I bring curiosity and genuine care to my clinical work and supervision, honoring the diverse experiences of everyone I serve. To me, counseling and education are powerful tools for healing and vehicles for social justice.

I emphasize self-reliance, self-discovery, and collaboration—taking on the role of a compañero or fellow traveler who partners with you in a respectful, open dialogue. My approach integrates current therapeutic models with ancestral and cultural healing practices to support your whole being.

I understand the challenges and complexities of identity. As a man of color, immigrant, and first generation professional from a low resourced immigrant family, culture and identity have shaped my understanding of the World. Because of this, I strive to provide trauma and culturally responsive therapy and encourage dialogue about personal and cultural identities and experiences that influence our understanding. I became a psychologist to create a safe therapeutic space that honors us all and tailors interventions to your goals and needs.

My commitment is to cultivate a collaborative, safe, and accepting enviorment for all. My approach is social justice-oriented, affirming of your lived experiences, strength-based, liberatory, trauma and culturally responsive, and transformative—designed to foster lasting positive change. I welcome immigrants, women, LGBTQ+ clients, and anyone seeking a welcoming and judgement free space to heal and grow.

I would be honored to accompany you on your journey of healing and exploration. To learn more schedule a free consultation, I look forward to connecting with you.

EDUCATION

University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, Denver, CO

Pre-Doctoral Resident Primary Care and Community Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy, Counseling Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR

Spanish Language Psychological Services and Research Specialization

APA-Accredited Program

Dissertation: Undocumented Healing: Strengths and Resilience from the Shadows

Advisor: Ellen Hawley McWhirter, PhD.

Master of Science, Counseling, Family and Human Services, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR

Thesis: ¿Quien Soy y Adonde Voy? Ethnic Identity, Spanish Language Engagement, and Critical Consciousness

Advisor: Ellen Hawley McWhirter, PhD.

Master of Science, Counseling, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA

Specialization in Marriage, Family and Child Therapy Emphasis in College Counseling

Thesis: Living in Academia’s Multiple Margins: Counseling First Generation Female Immigrant College Students

Advisors: Rebecca Toporek, PhD; Alvin Alvarez, PhD.

Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

Minor in Child and Adolescent Development.

Selected Certificates & Trainings:

Circle Keeper Training 2024

Certified Integrated Gestalt Therapist 2024

Trauma Focused -CBT Consult 20 hour Certification 2022

Secondary Trauma Resiliency Training 2021

Intensive Cross-Cultural Communication and Mindful Facilitation

PUBLICATIONS

Werther E., Rojas-Araúz, B. O. & Atiliano, R., (2022) Somos Fuertes Pero También sufrimos - La Salud mental de hombres Latino: (We are strong but we also suffer- The mental health of Latino Men) in E. Delgado-Romero Latinx Mental Health: From Surviving to Thriving. IGI Global.

McWhirter, E.H., Yarris, K., & Rojas-Araúz, B. O. (2021). Description and Pilot Evaluation of a Dreamer Ally Training for Higher Education Staff and Faculty. Journal of Social Action in Counseling and Psychology.

Cadenas, G., Peña, D., Minero, L., Rojas-Araúz, B. O., & Lynn, N. (2021). Critical Agency and Vocational Outcomes Expectations as Coping Mechanisms Among Undocumented Immigrant Students. Journal of Latinx Psychology.

McWhirter, E.H., Cendejas, C., Fleming, M., Martinez, S., Mather, N., Garcia, Y., Romero, L., Ortega, R. I., & Rojas-Araúz, B. O. (2020). College and career ready and critically conscious: Asset-building with Latinx immigrant youth. Journal of Career Assessment.

McWhirter, E.H., Rojas-Araúz, B. O., Ortega, R. I., Combs, D., Cendejas, C., & McWhirter B. (2019). ALAS: An Intervention to Promote Career Development Among Latina/o Immigrant High School Students. Journal of Career Development, 46(6), 608–622.

Toporek, R. L., Sapigao, W., & Rojas-Araúz, B. O. (2016). Fostering the Development of a Social Justice Perspective and Action: Finding a Social Justice Voice. In C. M. Alexander, J. M. Casas, L. A. Suzuki, & M. Jackson (Eds.), Handbook of multicultural counseling (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.

Rojas-Araúz, B. O. (2014). “I Am” poem on the Latinx immigrant experience in the U.S. In G. L. Orozco, W. L. Lee, J. A. Blando & B. Shooshani (Eds.), Introduction to multicultural counseling for helping professionals (3rd ed.) (pp. 117-118). New York, NY: Routledge.

Books In Progress

Toporek, R., Aluwhalia, M., Bines, D., & Rojas-Araúz, B. O., (In Press) Workbook for Social Action for Counselor, Psychologist, & Helping Professionals Through Strength, Solidarity, Strategy, and Sustainability. Cognella Press

Manuscripts In Progress

Rojas-Araúz, B. O., Combs, D., & McWhirter, E.H. (In preparation). Dreaming of careers: Career counseling with undocumented students, transferable skills, and other solutions.

Rojas-Araúz, B. O., Chronister, K., & Combs, D. (In preparation). Living in academia’s multiple marginalizations: Counseling first generation female immigrant college students.

PODCAST, FILM, & VIDEO WORKS

Rojas-Araúz, B. O. (2020). Duck Tails: Stories from around the O. Podcast

Rojas-Araúz, B. O. appearing in Toporek, R. L., Ahluwalia, M. K., & Robey, E. (Producers). (2019). Helping Counselors and Psychologists as Advocates and Activists: Strength, Solidarity, Strategy and Sustainability. Alexander Street Microtraining Associates. Alexandria, VA.

Rojas-Araúz, B. O. (2019). UO DREAMer Scholarship. https://duckfunder.uoregon.edu/DREAMers

Rojas-Araúz, B. O. (2018). Mapuche Warrior. Documentary presented at Community Alliance of Lane County Environmental and Indigenous Rights Defense, Eugene, OR.

Rojas-Araúz, B. O. (2018). 10 Stages of Genocide. Documentary presented at Introduction to Documentary Filmmaking Screening, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR.

Combs, D. & Rojas-Araúz, B. O. (2017, June). DREAMless. Documentary presented at Latino Roots Documentary Film Screening, Eugene, OR. https://vimeo.com/221658847