Meet Iliana Tintos | Mental Health Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Iliana Tintos and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Iliana, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have been a licensed therapist since 2008. I worked in the community mental health field, working in inpatient settings and group homes for over 11 years before I entered into private practice. I struggled with the decision to enter into private practice, it was one that was not made easily but had to be made because of the growing demands of my personal life. But I have grown to embrace having this autonomy and that drove my decision to open up my own practice.

I went from feeling like I had ‘sold out’ to opening my own practice in 2021- two years after leaving community-based care. It has been my dream to help people seeking help navigating mental illness, dismantling generational trauma and building health for themselves and there families. It is not easy, but I try to provide quality services to people who may not otherwise afford therapy.
As a first-generation Mexican American, I know I have an intrinsic understanding of the unique challenges faced by minority groups, children of immigrants, and the systemic hurdles that remain fundamental obstacles for individuals and families across our country today. My personal experiences and professional education have allowed me to reach out and connect with others who may not have otherwise found a connection with a mental health provider- the idea behind starting my own business four years ago.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Building my practice had not been easy; I faced significant challenges and uncertainty about where to start. I would attribute my success to the unwavering support of my husband and the inspiration drawn from my own family of origin, who are small business owners. I believe I have overcome these hurdles by turning to resourceful, passionate people in the community and discovered a resilience and resourcefulness within myself that I had previously underestimated. That has been a big lesson for me, I do not know that I truly knew what I had in me.

I am most proud and excited about my desire to continue expanding, hoping to bring on board other clinicians who share our views and goals. My hope is to provide high-quality care to populations who desperately need it and often lack the means or knowledge to access it. What I want the world to know is that I am just getting started. I aim to create -at least a ripple- in the LatinX community that will lead to real change in by pushing past stereotypes surrounding trauma and mental illness, and inspiring deep, lasting healing within my community.

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.
I do not have too many different spots, I am a real creature of habit. I LOVE the food at Sophia’s Kitchen- a small Italian food restaurant in my neighborhood where I try and take everyone who visits. My family and I love to drive to Sedona for a night or a day trip. We love walking around, taking short hikes, visiting the creek and love to introduce our family to the red rocks and great food. My kids and I love Grasshopper Point. We love Spring Training and traveling to the different stadiums throughout the Valley. Salt River fields has the best Sonoran hot dogs.
I love brunch and have so many local spots we like- but our local Breakfast Joynt is walking distance from my house and every family member who comes in loves their french toast, The Vig is also a great familiar spot. Finally, Mekong Plaza and dim sum on a weekend is the other routine place for my family and I, love to walk over the bakery or the ice cream shop in the plaza after brunch. As you can tell, a lot of our favorite spots are centered around food, which I think is a part of my culture and passion for good food and good company.

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?
In my personal journey there are two clinicians who I truly value and admire. Mike Wilder is a therapist and mentor of mine who taught me so much about not only being a clinician, but as a human being. His direct, and at times rough delivery was always honest and rough around the edges but real and honest! His guidance and influence pushed me to grow as a therapist and I appreciate the growth he inspired in me by always striving to grow and holding himself to a high standard. You don’t always find mentors who practice what they preach.
Laura Greenwood is also a wonderful clinician in Arcadia who took a chance on me as a therapist in the private practice realm, giving me my first taste of private practice. She is a beautiful human being who is poised, empathetic, smart, and a business owner who values team, connection, and shared values. There was so much about her as a business woman that I strive to emulate. I want people in my practice to feel valued, to have safety and trust in me and to have a desire to grow with me because we share convictions and a mission, not because I sign their checks. It was while I was working with Laura that I decided to branch off and she was nothing other than supportive and truly so kind. I will always look up to her and be eternally grateful for the opportunities she gave me.
I also love and respect Daniela Ruiz, a wonderful, strong Latina therapist who shows up for our community and our practice everyday to help promote our work, our shared vision of therapy, care and support to our clients and our community. Finally, Anali Espitia who in a very short time stepped in to help our growing practice navigate big administrative challenges and streamline our affairs so that Daniela and I can do what we do. She is so talented and I have complete and utter confidence in her. Not to mention that both Daniela and Anali are truly such an inspiration as mothers, you cannot even imagine how truly amazing these two women are and how much they inspire me to grow as a mother and human being.

Website: https://www.scottsdaletrustedtherapy.com

Instagram: scottsdaletrustedtherapy@instagram.com

Image Credits
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