Meet Jor-El Caraballo | Co-founder Viva, Therapist & Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jor-El Caraballo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jor-El, what’s the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make?
When my co-founder Rachel approached me about finally starting the kind of practice we dreamed of it was very hard to take that leap of faith into business ownership. I’m more of a risk-averse person so stepping away from the workflow I had constructed for myself brought on a lot of fear and anxiety. However, I also know how hard, and smart, we both work and knew that we could make a sustainable business if we just took the chance.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Me and my partner decided to create Viva to be a mental health practice that emphasizes holistic, accessible and culturally competent care. We approach mental health from a perspective that emphasizes what works best for the individual in front of us rather than some manualized approach. This manifests in everything from flexible scheduling to not mandating any therapy goals that aren’t client-centered. You may, or may not, be surprised how that’s not always the case.

We’ve learned that this approach really resonates with people and its important to truly show up as human beings, rather than just therapists, at first. This all goes a long way with humanizing and de-stigmatizing mental health care. More than anything, we want people to know that when it comes to mental health there is not one size fits all approach…and there are places like Viva, that help you access that.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m fortunate to live in one of the best cities in the world, New York City! There’s definitely too much to do here but as a foodie I’d probably prioritize dining experiences and then plan around that. I’d likely start with a diner or comfortable experience for breakfast, like the Upper West Side’s Good Enough to Eat or Fred’s. Head to a museum for an educational trip. Have pizza for a lunch in Brooklyn then walk along Brooklyn Bridge Park. I’d also highly recommend heading to Flushing or Chinatown so that we could have our pick at some authentic Chinese food and most definitely go see a popular Broadway show and have dinner in the theater district. There are so many great things to see in the city – it’s possible to feel like a tourist even after many years of living here. It’s a great place to visit! Thankfully, Viva also has a location in San Diego as we have branched out to more locations this year. Whenever I’m in town I make it a point to hit up the dog beach and head to OB Noodle House in Ocean Beach. It’s delicious!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Rather than being one individual person or organization, I have to shout out all the powerful women that I’ve encountered throughout my life. Time and time again women, whether that be friends, colleagues or mentors, they were always so encouraging of me and my path as a professional. I think that all of the women I’ve encountered in my life had been incredible models of empathetic leadership, which is something that I try to embody as much as possible. I’m very thankful for their influence.

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