Hi there! My name is Dr. Kiara Manosalvas, and I’m the founder and clinical director of Vida Sana Psychology & Wellness.

I know that meeting a therapist for the first time can feel intimidating, so I want to share a little about who I am and what brought me to this work.

I am an Ecuadorian-Puerto Rican-American woman, a first-generation college student, and someone with working-class roots. I share that not because therapy is about me, but because my experiences have taught me that for some clients, it matters to sit across from someone who understands what it feels like to navigate multiple worlds at once, to carry family expectations, or to feel unseen in spaces not built for you.

Like many of my clients, I grew up learning what it meant to carry strength for my family while also finding my own voice. As the eldest daughter, I often felt the responsibility to be “the strong one,” even when I was struggling on the inside. My relationship with my grandmother (or mamí, as I called her) taught me something different—that true strength comes from connection, tenderness, and allowing ourselves to be cared for, not just to care for others. Those lessons are at the heart of the work I do today.

I also know firsthand how stigma and silence can keep people from reaching out for support, and how hard it can be to find a therapist who shares your cultural values or lived experience. Those gaps motivated me to become a psychologist and to create spaces where Latinx, BIPOC, and marginalized communities feel seen, affirmed, and empowered in their healing.

I became the therapist I once needed: someone who could hold space for complexity, honor culture and identity, and believe in people’s capacity to heal even when they can’t see it themselves. My hope is that at Vida Sana, you’ll find not only a therapist, but a community dedicated to walking with you on your journey.