A Note From Our Founder
Growing with intentionA Little More Heart, A Little More Opal: Welcoming Dr. CJ Cruz
There are moments in building Opal that remind me why this work matters so much. Welcoming a new clinician is one of them.
When I started Opal, I wanted mental healthcare to feel more thoughtful, more individualized, and more human. Growing the practice has never been about getting bigger for its own sake. It is about widening the ways our team can understand and support the people who come to us.
That is why every new clinician matters so much to me. And today, I’m happy to introduce Dr. CJ Cruz, the newest member of the Opal family.
Meet Dr. CJ
For people who have spent years feeling misunderstood
CJ works with autistic and neurodivergent teens and young adults, and with people whose relationship with food and their bodies has become painful or confusing, including disordered eating and ARFID, where sensory experiences can make eating especially hard. She also supports anxiety and emotional regulation, and she makes room for the parents and caregivers trying to figure out how best to support someone they love.
CJ currently sees clients by telehealth for those located in California.
The Words That Resonate
“People deserve to feel understood before they’re expected to make changes.”
What stands out to me about Dr. CJ’s approach is how much it honors the person before the plan. Understanding someone’s context, identity, and lived experience is not a preliminary step. It is the foundation.
That belief runs through everything we hope Opal is: seeing the whole person, respecting individuality, using evidence-informed care, and recognizing that not everyone experiences or moves through the world in the same way. What helps one person may not help another, and CJ’s perspective reflects that. It is a quiet kind of alignment, and it means a great deal to me.
The Human Side
And because the people behind the credentials matter, here’s a little more about CJ. She loves fantasy books, a good coffee shop, and a bookstore she can lose an afternoon in. She spends her time with her partner and their three bulldogs, and she’s happiest outdoors, traveling, sewing, tackling home projects, or researching whatever she happens to be curious about.
We’re still building, still learning, and still finding new ways to serve our community. To everyone who has placed their trust in Opal along the way, thank you. You are part of this story, and moments like this remind me how meaningful this work can be.
I’m proud of the team we’re becoming, and grateful for the chance to keep expanding thoughtful psychological care.
Welcome to Opal, Dr. CJ. We’re so happy you’re here.
With gratitude,
Dr. Ladera Linn
Founder & CEO, Opal Psychological
