¡Hola! Hi and welcome!
¡Hola! Hi and welcome!
¡Hola! Hi and welcome!
¡Hola! Hi and welcome!
¡Hola! Hi and welcome!
I'm Dr. Cheli or Dr. Araceli López-Arenas. I earned my doctorate in Counseling Psychology along with a Masters in Public Health to help make the world a better place through physical and mental well-being.
I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in California (PSY33313) and a national Behavioral and Wellness Coach and Consultant. My work is grounded on behavioral health and well-being principles and I help highly motivated individuals get unstuck and take committed actions to reach their life altering goals.
My mission in life is to:
◆ Support highly motivated individuals achieve their life altering goals
◆ Reduce mental health disparities among underserved, Latinx, and BIPOC populations
◆ Help license-eligible psychologists pass their licensing exams while addressing the disparities in the licensure process and simultaneously increasing the number of first-generation, bicultural, bilingual, Spanish-speaking psychologists
Work with me
individual Psychotherapy
individual Psychotherapy
individual Psychotherapy
EPPP Licensing exam
individual Psychotherapy
individual Psychotherapy
Public Speaking
Public Speaking
Public Speaking
Consulting
Public Speaking
Public Speaking
ganas = desire, grit, resilience, perseverance
"Ganas" or "tener ganas" means having desire or urge to do something. The term was popularized by Edward James Olmos where he played Jaime Escalante, a math teacher in the movie Stand and Deliver. He is quoted to say, "You're going to work harder here than you've ever worked anywhere else. And the only thing I ask from you is 'ganas.' Desire...If you don't have the ganas, I will give it to you, because I'm the expert."
Throughout my educational and professional trajectory and influenced by my Mexican culture, "ganas" has been embedded in my way of being. Nothing is too hard, a challenge is always overcome, and when I feel like giving up (e.g., attaining my doctoral degree), somewhere somehow, I draw up the energy and "ganas" to keep going. In research, it's what we call grit, resilience, persistence, and perseverance.
I've met so many successful and driven people like myself, that sometimes find that it's a bit challenging or overwhelming to keep up our stamina with the amazing things that we do. We often find ourselves, "oh...I want to do this," "I plan to do that," or "I'll get to that sometime." Sometime doesn't exist. The time is now. I want to help you capitalize on your "ganas" and support you in moving forward with your goals. I've been thinking about coaching for a while and while watching my new favorite show, The Profit, I came up with the idea of "Ganas & Go!" Let's take your ganas...and go! Let's achieve your goals and dreams, because you have a lot to contribute to the world and universe. What do you have ganas for? What have you always wanted to do but were afraid to take the first step? What are you currently working on that you'd like to successfully complete?
If you happen to be struggling with your ganas, don't worry. I can be your Jaime Escalante. I've developed the expertise to guide you in the right direction and let's have fun while doing so!
Work with me
individual Psychotherapy
individual Psychotherapy
individual Psychotherapy
EPPP Licensing exam
individual Psychotherapy
individual Psychotherapy
Public Speaking
Public Speaking
Public Speaking
Consulting
Public Speaking
Public Speaking