About Us
Who we are
Sharpening Your Arrow (SYA) is a psychological health and wellness agency established by Police/Clinical Psychologist Melissa J. Rodriguez and Licensed Professional Counselor, Larissa Palacios. Dr. Rodriguez and Larissa named their business Sharpening Your Arrow because human beings are like arrowheads, uniquely crafted to serve a specific purpose.
When you think about the process in sharpening iron, the iron is sharpened through heat, friction, cutting, and slicing. As the iron is beaten, it is reshaped into something beautiful, purposeful, and even better than before. Thus, sharpening is purposeful but can also be painful. The intentional friction often results into a purer, stronger, sharper character. Human beings can be sharpened by a similar act, by chipping away the excess buildup to reveal the beauty that lies within. SYA is like your personal and professional metalworker who is skilled and deliberate, focused and detailed, trustworthy and true.
Allow SYA to help you discover the parts of your life that need to be refined and reveal the unique work of art that lies beneath. At SYA, we encourage learning, growth, and change by sharpening oneself. Rather than viewing oneself as “broken” or needing to be “fixed,” SYA strives towards teaching clients how to sharpen and refine themselves.
SYA provides psychological health and wellness services to individuals of all ages but specializes in first responders and their families. Dr. Rodriguez and Larissa come from blue families; SYA staff are culturally competent and passionate about serving first responders. SYA provides individual, family, marital, and couples counseling using brief, systemic, and strength-based approaches. SYA provides psychological evaluations for individuals of all ages, conducts annual wellness visits to reduce stigma and build officer trust in counseling, and offers consultation services.
