The Bluest Iris, PLLC, is the long-held brainchild of Alexandra Miranda-Castillo who prides this private practice in being Black-owned, Latina-owned, Queer-owned, and Woman-owned. This practice, like Alexandra’s services are “for us, by us”. The name of the practice was conceived in inspiration from “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison and “All the Bearded Irises of Life” by Alice Walker. As Alexandra strives to help those suffering from the weight of ugly narratives imposed on them by oppressive systems, she calls on the quote from The Bluest Eye, “Beauty was not simply something to behold; it was something one could do”. The love between queer people has been described as “a revelation” by Alice Walker, “like seeing a bearded iris for the first time”. That is the feeling every client receiving services from The Bluest Iris should walk away with when their time in therapy has concluded.
About Me
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About Me *
Alexandra Miranda-Castillo is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (or systemic relational therapist, as she likes to call it!), who specializes in helping people from marginalized communities who are struggling with complex trauma to unburden themselves from disempowering social narratives. She is a New Haven native of African-American and Puerto Rican heritage who comes with over 8 years of experience in the mental health field and has been planning to be a relational therapist for even longer. She strives to use culturally responsive, liberatory, and anti-oppressive frameworks to guide healing in marginalized communities. She has served clients from the African diaspora, Latino, South Asian, mixed-race, second and third-generation immigrants, autistic, ADHD, non-monogamous and polyamorous, sex workers, blended families, and more communities. Alexandra calls upon years of personal experience as well as professional experience in therapy clinics, private practice, clubhouse model psychosocial rehabilitation, supported employment, and group home young adult services.
Services
Telehealth Services for CT Residents Only
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❁ Adolescent therapy (13-17)
The teen years can be incredibly turbulent with common mental health issues including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and gender dysphoria. Developmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can become more noticeable in the adolescent years. Our clinicians are prepared to support your teen’s development into young adulthood through compassionate psychotherapy sessions, adjunctive family therapy sessions, and comprehensive collaborative care with academic and medical professionals.
❁ Adult therapy (18-65)
The different stages of adulthood can bring various mental health issues associated with stress, burnout, relationship changes, identity changes, career shifts, and grief. These issues can cause anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and the onset of more severe conditions. Let us help you address your mental health concerns with patience and compassion.
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❁ Pre-marital
Thinking about getting married? Already engaged? We can help you establish a strong foundation for your marriage by helping you build communication skills, healthy conflict management, identify shared values, and even address the interactions between mutual mental health issues.
❁ Marital
Couples in long-term relationships and marriages can naturally hit bumps in the road due to identity changes, life stage adjustments, issues with extended family, and more. Early intervention can help you get your relationship back on track. We encourage you to reach out as soon as possible!
❁ Non-monogamous/polyamorous
It can be difficult to find providers familiar with non-monogamy and to address concerns specific to these relationship styles. Therapy can help you create relationship agreements, build trust, establish boundaries, decide your preferred relationship style, and all of the same benefits you get from couple counseling.
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❁ Nuclear families
Families have their own life cycle stages from when you first build your nest to when your nest becomes empty again. Our family therapists are uniquely trained to look at your family system as a whole to resolve conflicts, establish healthy boundaries, and build resilience for the challenges life may bring.
❁ Divorced/blended families
Relationship changes can bring a lot of stress and emotional turmoil, more so when children are involved. Our therapists can support your family with separations, co-parenting skills, managing conflict, and navigating attachment concerns with children and all caregivers.
❁ Polycules
Every polycule is as different as the constellations in the sky. Therapy can support your relationship agreements, relationships between metamours, balancing your New Relationship Energy (NRE) with your time management, and much more.
Disclaimer: Please note that although we are trained as Marital and Family Therapists, a clinician can only provide one service per client (e.g. your family therapist cannot serve as an individual therapist to each family member; your individual therapist cannot begin couple counseling services with you and your partner). This is to ensure your confidentiality and prevent dual relationships. Services must be split between each provider. If another provider cannot take on your case for any reason, we will provide referrals outside of the practice. We thank you for your understanding.
