Hola, I’m Dra. Terry
I’m Dra. Maria Teresa Orozco — but you can call me Terry.
I’m a proud primera generación daughter of Mexican immigrants, a grief-informed first-gen coach, and a mentor for people navigating grief, identity, work, school, and life after loss.
This space was created for those of us who carry big dreams while also carrying grief.
The ones trying to show up for work, school, family, and themselves after losing someone or something that changed their life.
Grief is not only the loss of a loved one. It can also be the loss of a relationship, a friendship, a job, a dream, an identity, or a version of life you thought you would keep.
After losing my dad, Miguel, and my mom, Teresa, I began to understand grief differently. Not just as pain, but as something that changes your confidence, your routine, your focus, your sense of self, and the way you move through the world.
For many of us, grief is deeply connected to family, culture, responsibility, faith, silence, and the pressure to keep going.
Here, we make space for grief and rebuilding.
Poco a poco.
You don’t have to do it alone. I’m here to walk beside you with tools, encouragement, cultura, and grief-informed support as you rebuild work, school, identity, and life after loss.
My Mission
My Story
Credentials & Background
Who I Support
Ready to Begin Your Journey?
My mission is to guide and support first-gen individuals as they rebuild life after grief — including work, school, identity, confidence, routine, and life after loss.
I believe in creating a calm, supportive space where grief does not have to be hidden and where people can feel seen, heard, and guided one step at a time.
I know what it’s like to be the first, to carry family expectations, and to keep going while grieving. That’s why I’m here: to walk alongside you as you rebuild your own path —a tu ritmo. Además.
I was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2, and while my journey has included physical limitations, it has never limited my determination. Against all odds — and with mucho corazón — I earned a Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy and published my dissertation in 2024 titled Motherhood and Gangs: The Experience of Latino Mothers in Los Angeles Street Gangs.
Like many first-gen individuals, I grew up in a low-income community where representation was rare. I didn’t always have mentors or role models who looked like me or understood my experience — and that’s part of why I do this work today.
For years, my work focused on supporting first-gen students in building confidence, establishing structure, and achieving academic success. But grief has also been part of my story for a long time.
I’ve grieved loved ones, friendships, relationships, and versions of life I thought I would keep. In 2024, I lost my dad, Miguel. Recently, I lost my mom, Teresa. Those losses changed the way I understand grief, identity, work, school, family, and life after loss.
Now, my work is expanding.
I still support first-gen individuals who are trying to build lives, pursue their goals, and find their voices. But I also make space for the grief they may be carrying while they do it.
Because grief does not only affect your heart. It can affect your focus, confidence, routine, motivation, relationships, and sense of self.
And for many of us, grief is also connected to culture, family responsibility, faith, silence, and the pressure to keep going.
That’s why I’m here: to walk alongside you as you rebuild work, school, identity, and life after loss — paso a paso.
Psy.D. in Marriage & Family Therapy
Published dissertation, 2024
Grief-informed first-gen coach supporting life after loss, identity, work, school, and rebuilding after grief
Academic coach specializing in APA writing, study skills, confidence-building, and first-gen student support
Experienced tutor and mentor for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students
Advocate for first-generation, Latino, and disabled individuals navigating education, grief, identity, and life transitions
First-gen individuals rebuilding after grief, loss, or major life transitions
People grieving a loved one, relationship, friendship, job, dream, or version of life they thought they would keep
First-generation college, graduate, and doctoral students navigating school while carrying grief or family pressure
Early-career professionals trying to return to work, routine, confidence, and community after loss
Latino, first-gen, and disabled individuals seeking culturally grounded, grief-informed support
My coaching is not about rushing you to “move on.” It is about helping you rebuild — poco a poco.
Together, we create a supportive, grief-informed space where you can name what you are carrying, understand how grief has affected your life, and take gentle next steps toward work, school, identity, routine, and life after loss.
Sessions are structured like guided conversations — honest, supportive, culturally aware, and grounded in real life. We focus on helping you feel seen, supported, and capable of rebuilding at a pace that honors both your grief and your future.
My Approach
You do not have to have everything figured out before you reach out.
If grief has made work, school, identity, routine, or life after loss feel overwhelming, we can begin with one small step.
In a 1:1 Clarity Session, we’ll talk through what you’re carrying, where grief is showing up in your life, and what kind of support or next step may help you rebuild — con calma.
