Valerie Jorge-Vázquez

Valerie M. Jorge-Vázquez was born and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico. She completed a bachelor’s in criminal justice with a major in forensic psychology from the University of Puerto Rico. Currently, she is a licensed psychologist with a master’s degree in counseling psychology and a third-year PhD student in the clinical psychology program at Albizu University in San Juan. Her present research is focused on risk and protective factors on intimate partner violence. She presents clinical experience working with diverse populations, including the LGBTQ+ community, domestic violence survivors, confined populations, adults with depression, anxiety, trauma, ADHD, and children with ADHD, anxiety, oppositional defiant disorder, and parent training to enhance parenting skills. In the same way, during this year she will complete her Clinical Training Program in Substance Use Disorders and Comprehensive Health expanding her skills to work with these populations. Her clinical interest also includes humanistic and social justice approaches with diverse populations that are presenting mental health disorders and substance use disorders. Motivated by the exodus of mental health providers from Puerto Rico, and by the consequences of political, social, geographical, and natural events, like hurricanes and earthquakes, she is committed in providing evidence-based interventions to Puerto Rican families.