Meet The Founder
My Story
I’m a proud first-generation Latina, born to immigrant parents from Mexico and Nicaragua. Like many of us, I grew up straddling two worlds. I was often seen as “too gringa” for some, and “too Latina” for others.
The Tension Between Cultures
When I visited Mexico, I felt nervous about saying the wrong thing in Spanish or having too thick an accent. I worried it would confirm that I didn’t really belong. At school in the U.S., I tried to keep up with the right music, shows, or jokes just to fit in. I couldn’t fully relax in either space. It felt like different parts of me had to perform depending on where I was and who I was with.
Over time, I realized I didn’t have to choose. The blending of cultures, language, and humor is what makes us unique.
Sometimes one part of me speaks louder than another, but they all coexist within me. That shift from feeling boxed in to embracing my full self is what led me to pursue mental health work.
My Path in Psychology
I earned my Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Houston and completed my clinical residency at Harvard Medical School.
Today, I work as a psychologist and research scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
My research focuses on developing culturally grounded interventions that support our community’s healing from mental health challenges and substance use. These are two struggles that often go hand in hand.
Why CALMA Exists
My work is about helping us feel less alone in the in-between: between cultures, between struggles, and between expectations.
There is strength in the blend. There is humor. And there is healing.
