My Clinical Interests
My clinical experience encompasses work at community mental health and primary care centers. I have predominantly provided bilingual clinical services to low-income, immigrant adults and families. Through these experiences I have had many opportunities to become well acquainted with issues of immigration, discrimination, and intergenerational conflict impacting clients of Latino descent.
Clinical Training
Post-Doctoral Resident at Lisa Saponaro Ph.D. Inc.
Plantation, FL (August 2015 - Present)
- Provide individual therapy to children, adolescents and adults; maintain caseload of 10-12 clients on a weekly basis; provide integrative interventions to address a variety of mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, adjustment, trauma, and developmental disorders; receive 1-2 hours of weekly individual supervision.
- Conduct cognitive, emotional-behavioral, and achievement assessments with children, adolescents and adults and make treatment, academic and/or vocational recommendations.
- Provide 7 weekly hours of school guidance services to Saint Bernadette Catholic School, a Pre-K - 8th grade school in Plantation, FL. Provide interventions to improve children’s emotional, social, and behavioral functioning in school, provide consultation and supportive services to teaching and administrative staff as well as parents. Co-facilitate NIH Media Smart Youth program for sixth grade students once per week.
Pre-Doctoral Intern at Florida International University Counseling and Psychological Services
Miami, FL (August 2014 - July 2015)
Provided psychological services to a culturally diverse student body as part of Florida International University's college counseling center.
- Provided individual therapy to culturally diverse undergraduate and graduate students in a university counseling center.
- Applied cognitive behavioral, mindfulness-based, and interpersonal process interventions to address a variety of mental health concerns, including depression disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, and adjustment disorders.
- Co-facilitated process-oriented group therapy for undergraduate students to promote interpersonal growth.
- Conducted neuropsychological assessments with college students to evaluate cognitive and psychosocial functioning and make recommendations for disability accommodations and treatment.
- Conducted triage assessments during the center’s walk-in hours once per week; worked with on-call team to determine the disposition of new cases; provide safety planning and crisis interventions for at-risk clients; provided referral resources to clients as needed.
- Participated in weekly training seminars on a variety of topics including eating disorders, mindfulness, working with LGBTQ clients, and multicultural issues.
Doctoral Practicum Student at Counseling and Psychological Services, Florida International University
Miami, FL (August 2013 - Present)
Provided psychological services to a culturally diverse student body as part of Florida International University's college counseling center.
- Maintained a caseload of 5-6 short-term individual therapy clients. Assisting students in the management of mood and anxiety disorders, academic difficulties, family issues, romantic relationships and bereavement through individual counseling.
- Co-facilitated a 6-session Mindfulness Meditation Group.
- Utilized weekly individual supervision to increase clinical conceptualization skills via review of video-taped sessions; utilized weekly training seminar to strengthen case presentation skills.
Research Clinician at the CAMPOS Project
Miami, FL (July 2010 - October 2013)
The CAMPOS Project is a study at the University of Miami that is examining the efficacy of a cognitive behavioral intervention for Latinos with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and somatic symptoms.
- Recruited and screened participants in a community mental health agency, and the outpatient health clinics of a large hospital network in South Florida.
- Administered baseline interviews to determine if participants are eligible. Interviews included the diagnostic assessment of mood, anxiety, and somatoform disorders, and the assessment of functional impairment.
- Conducted cognitive behavioral therapy with participants in the treatment arm of the study. Therapy focused on managing PTSD and somatization symptoms, via cognitive restructuring, activity pacing and relaxation tasks, communication skills training, and psychoeducation.
- Engaged participants in the treatment-as-usual arm of the study to minimize attrition rates. Provided referral services as requested.
- Trained and mentored undergraduate and graduate research team members in recruitment, screening, and follow-up assessment tasks.
- Participated in weekly individual supervision to ensure fidelity of cognitive behavioral intervention and culturally sensitive practices for Latinos.
- Conducted clinical activities predominantly in Spanish.
Doctoral Practicum Student at the Mailman Center for Child Development
Miami, FL (January 2012 - February 2013)
Provided outpatient therapy and assessment services to infants, school aged children, adolescents, and their parents as part of a multidisciplinary pediatric center in South Florida.
- Assisted children and families in coping with diversity of issues, including trauma, medical conditions, adjustment to stressors, and weight management. Provided therapy in Spanish as applicable.
- Assessment training included cognitive testing of adolescent candidates for bariatric surgery, cognitive assessment of youth in a research study evaluating the relationship of cognitive abilities and diabetes management, and the developmental assessment of infants and toddlers to determine their eligibility for early intervention services.
Doctoral Practicum Student at Family Counseling Services of Greater Miami
Miami, FL (August 2010 - December 2011)
Provided therapeutic and assessment services in a community mental health setting focused on trauma survivors and child and family mental health services.
- Conducted individual and family therapy in English or Spanish with adults and families. Focused treatment on cognitive behavioral and family system approaches to address family boundaries, disruptive behavior, and coping skills to manage depression, anxiety and stress. Provided services in Spanish as applicable.
- Co-facilitated psychoeducational groups for non-offending mothers of sexually abused children. Developed materials to present curriculum creatively to group members.
- Conducted psychoeducational testing with children and adolescents in response to community referrals. Psychoeducational battery included cognitive, academic, and psychosocial instruments (WISC-IV, WJ-III, WIAT-III, TAT, CBCL, Conners ADHD scales). Collaborated with interdisciplinary team to apply recommendations for care.
- Participated actively in weekly individual and group supervision to refine conceptualization and presentation skills.
Doctoral Practicum Student at Institute for Individual and Family Counseling
Miami, FL (September 2009 - September 2010; August 2011 - August 2012)
Provided community mental health services at the University of Miami Institute for Individual and Family Counseling.
- Conducted individual therapy in English or Spanish with adults and adolescents. Addressed presenting problems such as emotional regulation, interpersonal difficulties, anxiety, academic procrastination, and family conflict.
- Conducted cognitive and personality testing with adults, and psychoeducational testing with children and adolescents.
- Participated actively in clinical training, including weekly individual and group supervision to review videotaped sessions, sharpen ethical and decision making models, and apply different theoretical orientations. Completed bi-weekly in-service trainings including: working with sexual orientation issues; eating disorders; multicultural issues in counseling; suicide assessment; and psychodynamic work.
Additional Counseling Experiences
Alumna Mentor, Miami Dade College Single Stop Mentoring Program
Miami, FL (October 2011 - July 2012)
- Provided mentorship to first year student at Miami Dade College.
- Provided support and career advising; participated in group mentorship and networking events
Peer Mentor, Smith College's Science Inreach / Outreach Office
Northampton, MA (September 2006 - April 2007)
- Provided mentorship to first-year student of color at Smith College.
- Offered academic support and introduced mentee to relevant resources for women of color on campus.
- Participated in group mentorship and networking events.
Intern at Smith College's Community Service Office
Northampton, MA (October 2005 - April 2006)
- Provided on-on-one after school tutoring and assisted fifth-grade class at a public school in Springfield, MA.
- Attended weekly seminars to learn social work techniques and discuss on-site challenges as part of Community Service Internship Program.
Volunteer at Safe Passage
Northampton, MA (February 2006 - November 2006)
- Completed 30 hours of training to assist survivors of domestic violence.
- Translated legal and educational documents for Spanish speaking clients.
Clinical Intern at the Trauma Resolution Center
Miami, FL (November 2004 - July 2005)
- Conducted individual therapy in Spanish with Latina survivors of domestic violence.
- Completed training in Traumatic Incident Reduction, a manualized short-term treatment for PTSD desensitization.
- Participated in weekly group and individual supervision to ensure fidelity of manualized treatment.