Ana Valenzuela, MS ’13, from Walden University, leads the charge to ensure mental health services reflect the needs of minority communities and patients.
Hear more from Valenzuela on what she's doing to break down barriers, expand resources and support underserved communities in Advocating for Mental Health Equity | Championing Culturally Inclusive Care.
For Valenzuela, mental health care is more than a profession—it’s a mission shaped by her own life experiences. Born in the Dominican Republic, Valenzuela grew up witnessing the challenges of accessing mental health resources in underserved communities.
“When a family member struggled with mental health, the lack of Spanish-speaking providers had a profound impact on me,” she recalls.
After moving to the U.S. as a teenager, Valenzuela faced language barriers and cultural differences, but those obstacles fueled her passion. “I knew I wanted to change the narrative for others like me, to ensure no one feels isolated or misunderstood when seeking help,” she says.
Culturally sensitive care is about understanding the deep-rooted beliefs, traditions and lived experiences that shape a person’s mental health journey. For Spanish-speaking and Afro-Caribbean individuals, historical stigmas, distrust in healthcare systems and a lack of representation in mental health services have created significant barriers to seeking help.
Bringing Cultural Awareness to Patient Care
Valenzuela graduated from Walden in 2013 with her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling; she is also a current PhD candidate for counseling education and supervision. As a licensed professional counselor supervisor, Valenzuela provides culturally sensitive mental health services.
“Mental health care must reflect the diverse experiences of the people we serve,” she says. “Culturally sensitive care isn’t just an option—it’s a necessity. It’s the foundation of trust and the key to effective client treatment. It’s about more than translation—it’s about understanding cultural values, traditions and the stigma many communities and patients face.”
To expand the reach of culturally sensitive care, Valenzuela has partnered with universities including Walden to train the next generation of mental health professionals. “We’ve developed a pipeline to equip clinicians with the tools and awareness needed to serve diverse populations more effectively,” she explains.
At Clearhope Counseling and Wellness Center where she practices, she has implemented programs that prioritize cultural humility, ensuring services available are a true representation of the community she serves, including services tailored to the needs of minority communities to provide the best possible care for patients. She actively works to bridge cultural gaps in mental health care by tailoring treatment approaches to the lived experiences of her clients. The clinic offers bilingual therapy services, culturally relevant coping strategies and trauma-informed care designed specifically for Hispanic and Afro-Caribbean communities.
Valenzuela also prioritizes person-centered therapy, recognizing that mental health is deeply tied to familial and cultural dynamics.
Valenzuela uncovers solutions for the unique mental health challenges minorities face in Addressing Stigma, Building Trust in Minority Mental Health.
Breaking the Stigma in Minority Communities
Valenzuela’s advocacy extends beyond her clinic. As a recipient of the Minority Fellowship Program funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, she has created workshops that address the stigma surrounding mental health in Hispanic and Afro-Caribbean communities.
For many individuals in these communities, mental health struggles are often dismissed or misunderstood, with deeply ingrained beliefs that therapy is only for those in crisis or that seeking help is a sign of weakness. “One of the biggest myths I encounter is that seeking help makes you weak,” she says. “Many people grow up hearing that mental health issues should be dealt with privately or within the family. Others believe faith alone can resolve all struggles. While faith and family support are essential, they should work alongside professional care—not in place of it.”
To reshape these narratives, Valenzuela is working directly within schools, community organizations and faith-based institutions to promote mental health education. Through Clearhope, she has introduced culturally relevant outreach programs, bilingual workshops and family-focused discussions that create safe spaces for people to ask questions and challenge misconceptions.
“We’re changing that mindset by educating both providers and patients about the value of mental wellness. By making mental health conversations more accessible and relatable, we’re breaking down barriers that have existed for generations.”
Learn more about how Adtalem is Championing Care.
For more information, email the Adtalem Global Communications Team: adtalemmedia@adtalem.com.
