Alexis Flores

So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

It’s such a pleasure to meet you as well. Thanks for having me. Alright, well, hi everyone! I’m Alexis Flores, also known by my maiden name, Alexis Jardine. I’m a trauma therapist in Orange County, California – Mission Viejo, specifically. The official title is Alexis Flores, LMFT, LPCC, LPC. I’m originally from San Diego County, so Southern California has always been home.

Tell us a little more about what your company does and how it started. How does it help your customers?

My company offers psychotherapy, or mental healthcare services, to pre-teens, teens, adults, seniors, couples, and families. We are all trauma-informed clinicians, utilizing various evidence-based modalities to tailor the support we can offer to fit the needs of each client we move forward working with.

How it started is both simple and complex to answer. The simple answer is that I started seeing clients in January 2019, I have been brought to tears over the positive feedback I’ve received from clients I’ve been honored to work with, and I welcomed in additional therapists in early 2026 to expand the support Therapy Worthwhile can offer. The complex answer is that the beginning dates back to my high school years, when I endured and left an abusive relationship. Healing from that experience was pivotal. And, no, it did not immediately lead to pursuing my role as a therapist. In fact, I had not considered that possibility, because I did not believe myself to fit the mold of how I envisioned a therapist to show up. Yes, that was my own misconception that got in the way at the time. Instead, that pivotal experience led me to pursue law, attend law school, and I believed the best way I could be involved and help was to be a voice, or a legal advocate, for others who have been hurt. I quickly learned how little I would, actually, interact with those I would represent, and I wanted to find a way to be right beside them, sitting in the trenches through some of their most emotional moments, helping them through. And, so, I withdrew from law school, recalled what a former Counseling professor in undergrad had suggested about how I should consider becoming a therapist, and so I did.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice would you give them?

Be both driven and patient. I know it may sound contradictory. Honestly, it is important to take what you know and drive forward with passion, while also considering that there are many learning curves and building knowledge, experience, and a reputation all take time. That’s where patience comes in.

What is one piece of feedback from a happy customer or client that you won't forget?

Oof, that is a tough one because so much of it I will always remember. I have always said that I’m not looking to change the world, but if I can change one person’s world, then everything that led to here was worth it. I have had the honor to be part of others’ worlds, entering in the chapters they let me into, and shaping their relationship with their past, perspective on the future, and the ability to live more fully in the present.

In the interest of answering your question more directly, here are a few that come top of mind:

I helped a woman leave her abusive marriage and discover herself, and she told me I saved her life. This still replays in my head.

I helped a man find himself in his 50s, when he first started therapy, heal from his past traumas, find sobriety, and reach depths in his relationships with his kids and friends that he had not previously reached. He still sends me updates about recent milestones in his life, and I enjoy each and every message.

I helped a woman rekindle her relationship with her estranged daughter. Some time after I graduated her out of therapy, her daughter contacted me to inform me of her mother’s unexpected passing, and to thank me for helping them come back together and make new memories before her passing. I have that email saved.

No single story stands out because every person who has shared that I had a hand in making a difference will always be carried with me, and I am grateful and honored for each one.

Where do you see your company in the future?

Honestly, doing more of what we are already doing – helping people and putting in effort to change lives. That’s why I got into this field.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

That ‘any’ therapist is the best fit for you. We are not cookie cutter, and it is important each person/couple/family finds the therapist that feels like the right fit for them. Some therapists bring their views into the therapy room (e.g., politics, faith, culture, etc.), and some remain neutral and maintain a space that works for many. Some therapists bring their personalities into the room, and some do not. Some are more direct and analytical and some are indirect and affirming. Some will challenge to help you grow and some will not. There is no one-size-fits-all, which is what makes this both overwhelming for those in search of a therapist but also hopeful that there is a therapist that will just feel like “the right fit.” It’s not just about our trainings, modalities, experience, and areas of focus. Yes, those are very important. But what is most important is the therapeutic relationship, allowing clients to feel comfortable, safe, and welcomed without judgment. Consultations help immensely with determining fit, and many of us offer them complimentary for this very reason.

What has been one of your biggest struggles building your business, and how did you deal with it?

That’s a good question. Doubt. Sometimes it was my own doubt, other times it was doubt from others. And I used it as fuel to prove the doubt wrong, to do well, to do the opposite of what the doubt suggested. That’s not to say that the doubt was not heavy or did not create a heaviness, but it was an added layer, or layers, I had to work through to continue building.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

I will not pass up the opportunity to thank those who have made a difference in my life and helped support me to get to where I am. A huge thank you to my parents, my husband, my friends, my siblings, the Counseling professor I referenced among a few others who stand out in their own right, to my clients who have chosen to trust in me, and to like-minded colleagues who offered support along the way. I am here because of each and every one of them. Therapy Worthwhile exists because of the support from each of them. I am deeply grateful for all the love and support I have received.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

Our website has a lot of great info! https://www.therapyworthwhile.com/