Brandon Vélez Ríos

Dr. Brandon Vélez-Rios is a pre-licensed therapist that enjoys helping people identify what they care about most in life, and assisting them in overcoming adversity. His goal is to co-create a therapeutic space where you feel comfortable talking about those things we rarely share with people. As a first-generation Hispanic & gay therapist, he is familiar with many of challenges minorities face. He strives to use his identities to better relate to his clients and offer competent and culturally sensitive interventions.

He has been trained in cognitive behavioral approaches (CBT, ACT and DBT), and he incorporates motivational interviewing. For over 3 years he has provided services to people of all ages living with HIV and other chronic health conditions. Other additional areas of clinical interest are mood disorders, anxiety disorders, geek therapy, sexual orientation and gender identity development, kinks and fetishes, and working with Latinx clients.

Dr. Vélez-Rios completed his pre-doctoral internship at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, and he enjoys working with emerging adults and college students. When not working, he loves spending his time trying new foods, connecting with friends, playing videogames, listening to music, and watching series and movies.