THE P.U.E.N.T.E LAB MISSION

Throughout my professional career, I have demonstrated a commitment to addressing the mental health needs of underserved communities. My research interests were inspired from my own upbringing, where I observed the mental health literacy, stigma and help-seeking barriers my extended family members faced when struggling with mental health issues. Unfortunately, these are typical challenges that Latino, immigrant, and Spanish-speaking families encounter when mental health needs arise in their community. This was foundational and inspired my passion for my research, often described as “me-search” – personal experiences that motivate one’s research. 

I completed my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at UCLA, where my research was further informed from my clinical experiences at Providence St. John’s Health Center in Los Angeles, CA. I primarily served Latino, Spanish-speaking families and received training in evidence-based interventions. I completed a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the Child & Adolescent Services Research Center in San Diego, CA, where I worked on projects focused on the implementation of evidenced-based practices in community mental health settings. My research, clinical, and personal experiences have allowed him to gain both breadth and depth on issues pertaining to culture and mental health, particularly in Latino families.  

I am a Professor in the Department of Psychology at California State University Northridge. I am the Co-Director of our Clinical Psychology M.A. Program and the Principal Investigator of my P.U.E.N.T.E. Research Lab. Our lab’s goal is to achieve health equity by implementing evidence-based, culturally responsive practices in the delivery of mental healthcare to underserved families. We accomplish this by fostering collaborative partnerships with community-based mental health organizations to ensure the voice of underserved communities is amplified and included in research. 

EDUCATION

Ph.D., 2013, University of California, Los Angeles (Clinical Psychology)

M.A., 2009, University of California, Los Angeles (Clinical Psychology)

M.A., 2007, San Diego State University (Psychology)

B.A., 2002, University of California, Irvine (Psychology)

Specialty Areas: Clinical Psychology, Cultural Psychology, Child Mental Health Services

COURSES TAUGHT

PSY 310 Abnormal Psychology

PSY 320/L Statistical Methods in Psychological Research & Lab

PSY 628 Fundamentals of Psychotherapy

Ph.D., 2013, University of California, Los Angeles (Clinical Psychology)

M.A., 2009, University of California, Los Angeles (Clinical Psychology)

M.A., 2007, San Diego State University (Psychology)

B.A., 2002, University of California, Irvine (Psychology)

Specialty Areas: Clinical Psychology, Cultural Psychology, Child Mental Health Services