1708 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309 • 315 W. Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 565-4385 |
Sophia Aguirre, Ph.D, CGP, FAGPA
Founder & Director
Licensed Psychologist & Certified Group Psychotherapist
Pronouns: She/Her/Ella
Positionality: I identify as a Latina/Chicana, Mestiza, cis-het woman. As a first generation Chicana born to immigrant parents from Mexico, I have been raised in a bilingual and bicultural home.
My Story
I'm Dr. Sophia Aguirre—a psychologist, mother, wife, business owner, and proud first-generation college and graduate student. I'm also a recovering overachiever and perfectionist who understands how challenging it can be to balance personal and professional responsibilities, especially while navigating the expectations and pressures that often accompany being a BIPOC professional.
As a first-generation Chicana and daughter of Mexican immigrants, my personal experiences have deeply shaped how I understand identity, belonging, relationships, and the ways culture and systemic forces influence our lives. These experiences, along with my professional training, have strengthened my commitment to creating therapeutic spaces where people feel genuinely seen, understood, and respected in the fullness of who they are.
I founded the Aguirre Center for Inclusive Psychotherapy (ACIP) with the vision of providing exceptional, culturally responsive, and socially conscious psychological services. With over 18 years of clinical experience, I've worked with adults navigating a wide range of concerns, including trauma, identity exploration, relationship difficulties, perfectionism, and the emotional impact of racism, discrimination, and systemic oppression. A central focus of my work is helping people develop deeper self-understanding and build healthier, more authentic relationships with themselves and others.
I'm especially passionate about working with individuals whose identities and experiences have historically been marginalized, including BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, and people navigating diverse relationship structures. My work is grounded in an intersectional, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive perspective that recognizes healing as both a deeply personal and relational process, shaped by the cultural and social worlds we inhabit.
I believe meaningful change happens within relationships, and that the therapeutic relationship itself can be a powerful space for healing, insight, and growth. My approach to psychotherapy is relational, collaborative, and insight-oriented, grounded in the belief that understanding ourselves more deeply can create greater freedom in how we navigate our lives and relationships.
My style is warm, genuine, and thoughtfully analytical. I'm an engaged and active therapist who values authenticity, transparency, and honest dialogue. While I offer empathy and compassion, I'm also comfortable asking difficult questions, offering observations, and gently challenging patterns that may no longer be serving you. I tend to be informal and direct, and I believe that demystifying the therapy process helps create a relationship in which clients feel comfortable being themselves without having to guess what I'm thinking.
My clinical work draws primarily from interpersonal, psychodynamic, attachment-based, and existential-humanistic approaches, alongside feminist, anti-oppressive, and decolonized perspectives. These frameworks help me understand how our earliest relationships, cultural experiences, social identities, and broader systems of power influence how we see ourselves, connect with others, and respond to life's challenges. Rather than viewing emotional struggles in isolation, I work to understand them within the context of your relationships, experiences, and lived realities.
Although much of our work focuses on what's happening in your life right now, we may also explore earlier experiences and relational patterns that continue to shape your present. Together, we'll pay attention to your emotions, the ways you relate to yourself and others, and the strategies you've developed to navigate difficult experiences. My goal isn't simply to help you manage symptoms, but to support deeper self-awareness, emotional flexibility, and more intentional choices about how you want to live and connect.
Above all, I strive to create a therapeutic relationship that balances compassion with meaningful challenge, where you can explore difficult experiences, develop new insights, and feel supported in becoming more fully and authentically yourself.
My Approach
Dr. Sophia
Outside of Work
I'm a passionate music lover with a special devotion to Tori Amos. Exploring the great outdoors with my family is one of my greatest joys—whether it’s hiking through scenic trails, camping under the stars, or kayaking on tranquil waters. I’m also a self-proclaimed foodie who loves discovering new flavors, and I channel my creative side through interior design, web design, and arts & crafts. Above all, the most rewarding and transformative experience of my life has been parenting my two young children—they bring endless love and inspiration to my journey.
Credentials
Licensure, Certifications, & Fellowships
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Licensed Psychologist: Georgia #PSY004298 & Oregon #1925
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Certified Group Psychotherapist (Certification #053456)
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Fellow, American Group Psychotherapy Association
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PSYPACT E. Passport (Mobility Certification #4928)
Education & Training
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Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, Auburn University, 2008
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B.S. in Psychology with Honors, The University of Georgia, 2000
Clinical Specializations
Throughout my professional career, I have been committed to the pursuit of educational, training, and professional experiences that promote group psychotherapy and group psychology. In dedication to furthering my therapeutic skills, I attained the credential of Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP) awarded by the International Board for Certification of Group Psychotherapists. In 2020, I was elected a Fellow of the American Group Psychotherapy Association, an honor and distinction recognizing outstanding professional competence and leadership within field of group psychotherapy.
Professional Service & Membership
Beyond my clinical practice, I am actively involved in professional leadership, education, and advocacy within the fields of psychology and group psychotherapy. My professional service reflects a longstanding commitment to advancing culturally responsive clinical training, promoting equity and inclusion within professional organizations, and supporting the development of more socially conscious and affirming approaches to psychotherapy.
Throughout my career, I have held leadership positions within national, regional, and local professional organizations, including the American Psychological Association (APA), American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA), and Atlanta Group Psychotherapy Society. These experiences continue to inform my clinical work, supervision, and commitment to building more inclusive and accountable professional communities.
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Domain Represenative of Professional Practice, APA Division 49: Society of Group Psychology & Psychotherapy
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(Past) Secretary, American Group Psychotherapy Association
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(Past) Co-Chair, Task Force for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, American Group Psychotherapy Association
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Co-Chair, Sanando Latinx Mental Health Professionals
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(Past) Chair, Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee, Georgia Psychological Association
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(Past) President, Lane County Psychological Association (2013 - 2014)
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(Past) Board Member, Oregon Psychological Organization (2011 - 2015)
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Member: Georgia Psychological Association, Atlanta Group Psychotherapy Society, American Group Psychotherapy Society, National Latinx Psychological Association, American Psychological Association
Dr. M. Sophia Aguirre, Ph.D., CGP, FAGPA, is a licensed psychologist and founder of the Aguirre Center for Inclusive Psychotherapy in Atlanta, Georgia, offering relational, psychodynamic, and culturally responsive psychotherapy for adults, couples, and mental health professionals. Her work specializes in identity exploration, trauma, interpersonal relationships, and therapy for therapists, with an anti-oppressive, LGBTQIA+-affirming, and polyamory/CNM-affirming approach. She provides in-person therapy in Atlanta and telehealth services for eligible clients in Georgia, Oregon, and participating PSYPACT states
Reach Out:
My Areas of Expertise:
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Ethnic & Cultural Identity
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Trauma & PTSD
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Latinx Mental Health
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Relational Concerns
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Group Therapy
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Women's Issues
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High-Achieving/Over-Functioning Professionals
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Infertility Struggles
Locations Served
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In Person in Atlanta
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Online/Virtual therapy for residents of Georgia, Oregon, & PSYPACT states
My Fees:
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Intake Appointment:
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Full Fee: $300
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Equity Pricing: $215-$265
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Individual Therapy Session:
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Full Fee: $265
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Equity Pricing: $215-$250
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Couples/Relational Therapy:
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Full Fee: $285
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Equity Pricing: $250-$270
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Group Therapy:
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Full Fee: $85
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Equity Pricing: $45-$75
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