With my professional foundation as a clinical therapist I work systematically, taking a non-judgmental, strengths-based approach to facilitate change and foster growth, helping individuals and organizations build resilience and social emotional capacity. I draw on nearly three decades of experience and leadership providing trauma informed and culturally responsive services. Presently I am the co-owner and one of the architects of Chicago Growth Mindset, a Latina led private practice, specializing in integrating workplace mental wellness programs and providing evidence-based behavioral healthcare for high stress professionals, community leaders and first responders. In addition to CGM, I have gained local and national recognition for my work in the social service sector, I have had various leadership roles where I effectively designed and measured innovative social service models, and provided leadership to Directors and Managers in the areas of Early Childhood Education, Mental Health, Youth services, and Civic Engagement. My legacy lies in the creation of Healthy Minds, Healthy Schools: a Whole Child approach that is founded on a multi-tiered intergenerational model to school-based counseling for students with complex trauma and severe psycho social stressors. This model equips parents and staff with the social emotional competencies to sustain academic and personal growth. My career started at the State’s Attorney’s Office where I began working as a Gang Mental Health Specialist. For the next twenty plus years, I've served children and families with severe, complex trauma in communities suffering from racial and systemic inequities. My professional experiences include: Clinical Therapist, Crisis Responder, Outpatient Director of Child and Adolescents, Director of Mental Health, Director of programs ,Chief Operating Officer, Chief Program Officer and finally as a Mental Health Consultant for nonprofit and privately owned agencies across the world. In addition to my formal education, I completed a 2-year leadership program through the Georgetown School of Nonprofit Management as well as a 2 year Organizational effectiveness cohort with Bridgespan Consulting group. I have taught bachelor and master’s level courses at a variety of institutions with my most recent role at Erikson Institute. My passion lies in collaborating with organizations to design mental wellness programs that improve culture and increase the impact of services. “A resilient organization enables your employees to thrive, even amidst challenging and uncertain times.”