Daphne Cruz(She/Her/Hers)

Daphne Cruz-Baez is a master-level clinician at Mental Health Matters who specializes in supporting individuals and couples navigating the complex intersections of identity, body image, and trauma. Her practice is primarily dedicated to serving Black and brown folks, as well as marginalized communities who often find themselves at the outskirts of traditional clinical models. By providing an affirming and bilingual space (English and Spanish), Daphne helps her clients unpack internalized standards and reclaim their personal narratives.

Her therapeutic approach is rooted in a decolonial, anti-diet framework that rejects systemic biases, such as the use of BMI as a predictor of health. Daphne integrates Health At Every Size (HAES) principles with trauma-informed care to address eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. She operates from the core belief that lived experience is the highest form of expertise, working collaboratively with her clients to foster autonomy and healing rather than imposing rigid, "one-size-fits-all" solutions.

Daphne brings over a decade of experience to the field, having earned her Master’s in Social Work from Boston College. Her professional background is distinguished by her participation in the Latinx Leadership Initiative, where she honed her skills in culturally responsive intervention. Born and raised in Borinken (Puerto Rico), her clinical perspective is deeply informed by her Boricua identity and an awareness of systemic colonization, which fuels her passion for uplifting BIPOC voices through master-level mental health support.

Logistically, Daphne offers a high degree of flexibility to meet the needs of busy professionals and families across Massachusetts. She provides in-person sessions at the Mental Health Matters secondary location in Lynnfield. For those who prefer the convenience of remote care, she is available for secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth sessions throughout the week. Daphne is currently accepting new patients and works with a variety of insurance plans to ensure that elite-level care remains accessible.