Current Environment: Production

Medical Services

Specialties

Programs & Services

Languages

  • English
  • Spanish

Education

Undergraduate School

Universidad Católica Andrés Bello

1987, Caracas, Venezuela

Graduate School

University of Massachusetts at Boston

1996, Boston, MA

Internship

McLean Hospital

1996, Belmont, MA

Certifications

  • American Board of Professional Psychology (Clinical Psychology)

Professional History

I have worked at the Boston Children's Hospital at the Martha Eliot for the last 28 years. I also have maintained a private practice in Cambridge for 27 years.

Publications

  1. Person-Centered Cultural Assessment Can Improve Child Mental Health Service Engagement and Outcomes. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2022 Jan-Feb; 51(1):1-22. View Abstract

  2. Examining the effectiveness of the Cultural Formulation Interview with young children: A clinical illustration. Transcult Psychiatry. 2020 08; 57(4):515-524. View Abstract

  3. Intersectionality in psychotherapy: The experiences of an AfroLatinx queer immigrant. Psychotherapy (Chic). 2018 03; 55(1):73-79. View Abstract

  4. Patient-Provider Therapeutic Alliance Contributes to Patient Activation in Community Mental Health Clinics. Adm Policy Ment Health. 2017 Jul; 44(4):431-440. View Abstract

  5. Activation, self-management, engagement, and retention in behavioral health care: a randomized clinical trial of the DECIDE intervention. JAMA Psychiatry. 2014 May; 71(5):557-65. View Abstract

  6. A culturally competent relaxation intervention for Latino/as: assessing a culturally specific match model. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2011 Oct; 81(4):535-42. View Abstract

  7. A content analyses of guided imagery scripts: a strategy for the development of cultural adaptations. J Clin Psychol. 2011 Jan; 67(1):45-57. View Abstract

  8. Changing Paradigms from Empirically Supported Treatments to Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Practice: A Cultural Perspective . Proefessional Psychology: Research & Practice. 2009; 396-402.

  9. Changing Paradigms from Empirically Supported Treatments to Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Practice: A Cultural Perspective. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. 2009; 44:250-256.

  10. Stop the Violence: An Empowerment Model for Adolescents. Current Treatments for Adolescents. 2009.

  11. A Contextual Model to Treat Ethnic Minorities. A Handbook of Clinical Competencies. 2009.

  12. Assessing the Cost Efectivness of a Culturally-Competent Relaxation Interevetnion with Latinos. American Psychological Association. 2008.

  13. Cultural Competencies and Social Justice: Are they the same?. American Psychological Association. 2008.

  14. Culture and Empirically Supported Treatments: On the Road to a Collision?. Journal of Culture and Psychology. 2008; 14(3):333-356.

  15. Stop the Violence: An Empowerment Model for Culturally Diverse Adolescents. Diveristy Challenge. 2008.

  16. Assessing the Medical Cost-Offset theory on a Culturally-Competent Relaxation Interevetnion with Latinos. American Psychological Association. 2008.

  17. Guided Imagery with Latinos: Using relational Strategies. American Psychological Assocaition. 2007.

  18. Culturally sensitive guided imagery for allocentric Latinos: A Pilot Study. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice & Training. 2006; 45(4):555-560.

  19. A culturally competent asthma management intervention: a randomized controlled pilot study. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2006 Jan; 96(1):80-5. View Abstract

  20. Culturally sensitive guided imagery for allocentric Latinos: A pilot study. Psychotherapy (Chic). 2006; 43(4):555-60. View Abstract

  21. A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study: A Culturally Competent Asthma Management Intervention. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 2006; 96:80-85.

  22. The cultural context and the psychotherapuetic process: Towards a culturally-sensitive psychotherapy. Journal of Integration of Psychotherapy. 2005; 15(2):169-185.

  23. The committee on ethnic Minority Affairs (CEMA) Today. MassPsych. 2005; 2:27-28.

  24. A culturally competent psychoeducational intervention for ethnic minorities children with asthma and their families. 2004.

  25. Guidelines to address cultural differences in psychotherapy. 2004.

  26. Towards A Culturally Diverse Voice: Using our Cultural Strengths. MSPP Pulse. 2004; 3:5-6.

  27. High stake exams and Latino students: Towards a culturally competent education for Latino children in the United States. Journal of Education and Consulting Psychology. 2004; 15:205-223.

  28. Writing and empowerment of mental health professionals. 2003.

  29. Ethnic Minority Psychology: Connecting Possibilities. MassPsych. 2003; 3:11-12.

  30. Addressing Cultural Differences in Psychotherapy. California Psychologist. 2003; 16(6):17-18.

  31. Committee on Ethnic Minorities Affairs of Massachusetts. Sobremesa. 2003; 3.

  32. Ten Considerations in addressing cultural differences in psychotherapy. Professional Psychology: Research Practice. 2003; 34:180-186.

  33. Ethics and managed care companies with companies. Second National Psychological Latino Association. 2002.

  34. At the crossroads: managed mental health care, the ethics code, and ethnic minorities. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2002 Aug; 8(3):187-98. View Abstract

  35. Psychotherapeutic considerations in treating Latinos. Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2002 Mar-Apr; 10(2):115-22. View Abstract

  36. Psychotherapuetic reccomendations in treating Latinos. Harvard Review of Psychiatry. 2002; 34:180-186.

  37. At the crossroads: The code of ethics, managed mental health care and minorities. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology. 2002; 8:187--198.

  38. The asthma family program: New directions for urban children. 2001.

  39. Psychotherapy recceomendations in treating Latinos. 2001.

  40. The association of social relations and depression levels among Dominicans in the United States. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences. 1999; 21:420-430.

  41. Culture, transference, and countertransference among Latinos. Psychotherapy. 1999; 36:389-397.

  42. Self-orientation and depression levels among Dominicans in the United States. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences. 1997; 19:479-488.

  43. The impact of social intereactions on the depression levels of Dominicans. 1997.

  44. Can men be relational? A study with Latino men. 1996.

  45. Self orientation and depression levels among Dominicans in the United States. 1996.

  46. Self-definition and depressive levels among Latinos. 1995.

  47. Latina Mothers' and their toddlers' difficult behavior. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences. 1995; 17:375-382.

  48. Latina mothers and their toddlers' difficult behavior. 1994.

I believe in providing families and youth with excellent comprehensive care that includes families and communities that can improve a child's well-being. To do so I not only help children by using the most advanced and effective treatments available, but I also help families learn behavioral strategies to most effectively manage their child. I have often found that enhancing families' strengths rather than solely addressing a child's dysfunctional behavior leads to better outcomes. In addition. I am able to provide culturally competent care, Finally, I am bilingual and can speak Spanish fluently.

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