Meet Adriana Lobato | Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adriana Lobato and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adriana, as a parent, what have you done for you children that you feel has had the most significant impact?
The most important decision I’ve made as a parent is to ensure that my son, who is 10 years old, grows up in a peaceful and happy household where he can be independent and creative. I’ve been fortunate to be able to manage my work schedule to have time to cook with him, garden, listen to music, read, and explore new things together. My son knows how much I admire his ideas and how they inspire me. He especially enjoys when I’m home working with clients via telehealth because he knows he’ll have at least an hour to work on his projects without me offering suggestions or corrections. He loves surprising me with a beautiful drawing, a new layout he designed for the living room, a song he learned to play on the piano, or a recipe he mastered from his favorite TV chefs. Nurturing a child’s talent and curiosity requires time and energy from parents. I’ve chosen to dedicate most of my free time to doing things with him. I’ve also learned to accept that sometimes the house will be messier, or that I may face extra expenses for his projects, or that I might need to stay up late catching up on work. It’s incredibly rewarding to see him growing up happy, confident, and with strong self-esteem.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a licensed marriage and family therapist, and I own a psychotherapy practice in Aventura, Florida. I am also an artist, author, and a certified hypnotherapist. I developed a therapy model that helps children overcome challenges systemically, focusing primarily on their environment. I conduct sessions with parents, while another psychotherapist in my practice works with children, teaching them coping skills. Since implementing this method, children have recovered much faster because the family system heals alongside them. Children’s behaviors are deeply influenced by their home environment. By the end of treatment, the family emerges with new, adaptive patterns of functioning. I designed this approach to foster long-term growth and mutual support within the family. As a result, children recover more quickly and experience fewer relapses into old, ineffective behavior patterns.

In my individual sessions, I incorporate art therapy and hypnosis techniques to help clients release what’s been repressed in their unconsciousness. Art therapy is also my personal choice for self-reflection. I enjoy painting my emotions and then viewing the artwork from a spectator’s perspective. Observing our emotions from a distance allows the mind to process them more rationally. I use my paintings to decorate my home, and some have been displayed in galleries. Through art, I’ve learned to connect with others. Once, a gallery manager told me: “You painted my pain!” I could sense her healing; she felt understood, and her emotions were validated. Finding my passion was a challenging journey. I vividly recall a moment of desperation, raking leaves in a friend’s backyard, pleading, “Please, God, show me what I can be good at!” That’s when everything began to fall into place.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I enjoy watching the sunrise, walking, and doing yoga at Hollywood Beach, dining at Chima Brazilian Steakhouse in Fort Lauderdale, visiting Books & Books in Coral Gables, strolling through the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach, biking at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, taking the Brightline train to attend a concert at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, and having a nice dinner at La Vie Mediterranean Restaurant.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The love and support of my family have always been my foundation. From an early age, my parents set an example of hard work, dedication, and responsibility—a legacy passed down through generations. For instance, my paternal grandfather, João, who lost both of his parents at age 12, supported his siblings in many ways, and they were grateful, admiring him for always being there for them. On the other hand, my maternal grandfather, Oswaldo, a diplomat, traveled the world with his eight children, instilling in them strong values, a global perspective, spirituality, and an optimistic outlook on life.

In addition to my parents and extended family, I was fortunate to have two exceptional mentors early in my career who believed in me: Claudia Lear and Dr. Isaac Farin. I vividly remember my interview with Claudia for the position of Nurturing Coach about 19 years ago. I was so nervous that I struggled to answer her questions confidently. Despite my shaky performance, Claudia saw my potential and believed I could learn to conduct effective home visits to support families with parenting and other challenges. A few years later, I received significant recognition and awards from the company, along with over 100 letters of appreciation from clients. Claudia’s guidance, consistent support, and unwavering confidence in my abilities were pivotal to my success. She was the kind of supervisor who knew how to help you shine, even on the toughest days.

My second mentor, Dr. Isaac Farin, is one of South Florida’s most successful psychotherapists and the owner of a well-established private practice in North Miami Beach, Florida. I was blessed to have him as my supervisor during my internship. From the start he showed deep admiration for my work as a psychotherapist. Hearing him say in the hallways, “You’re a natural, you’re a natural,” was music to my ears. One day he told me, “Sometimes I feel like you came from Harvard.” Little did he know that, soon after, I would receive an invitation from Harvard Medical School to attend continuing education courses at my dream university. Having Dr. Farin as a supervisor not only taught me to believe in my work but also showed me how to manage a business and the importance of practicing faith and gratitude.

Website: https://www.adrianalobato.net

Instagram: @adrianalobatopsychology

YouTube: @adrianalobatopsychology5500

Image Credits
Image credits to Ashleyjo Roberts