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About Me DR LV (2).png

Dr. Sandra León-Villa is a first gen, daughter of immigrants, Autistic Xicana, Activist, Speaker, Liberation Psychologist. Her work primarily focuses on the treatment of trauma, BIPOC mental health, and first generation BIPOC career professionals. She has been in the mental health field for 15 years working directly with trauma survivors and is a survivor herself. Dr. León-Villa published her research study, Exploring Gender and Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Effects of Child Sexual Abuse in the Journal of Child Sexual Abuse in 2018. She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and is certified in trauma informed yoga & is a registered yoga teacher (200RYT).

 

In 2020, Dr. León-Villa lobbied for legislation that would require mental health professionals to obtain cultural competency, diversity, equity, & inclusion training for license renewal, and in May 2021, Assembly Bill 327 passed & was signed into law with the support of other community organizations.

Dr. León-Villa additionally specializes in bilingual (English/Spanish) and culturally informed psychological and neuropsychological testing of conditions including Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), ADHD, learning disorders, personality disorders, mood disorders, trauma, and in diagnostic clarity/differential diagnosis. She additionally works with immigrant communities and provides evaluations, including evaluations of extreme hardship, asylum, VAWA, and medical certifications. Dr. León-Villa served on the Executive Board of the Nevada Psychological Association (NPA) as the Diversity Chair from 2017-2019.

 

Dr. León-Villa earned her bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in family studies counseling from the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) in 2006. She later earned a master's degree in mental health counseling in 2012 from Walden University. Dr. León-Villa earned a second master's degree in psychology in 2014 and completed her doctoral training (Ph.D.) in Clinical Psychology at Walden University in 2016.

Exploring Gender and Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Effects of Child Sexual Abuse

My Approach

I approach assessment and healing from a trauma informed & culturally responsive perspective, using a decolonization and liberation psychology framework. Trauma has a way of impacting us both in the short term and long term. It changes the way our brain develops, negatively impacts brain functions, like attention and concentration, but also results in medical conditions like stomach problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other health conditions most people don't know are related to trauma. It's not only our trauma that impacts us, but that of our ancestors. Research shows that trauma can be passed down genetically! Therefore, I approach my work using a trauma informed lens. 

Publications

Latinx Therapist Action Network. 1-Hour Presentation: Reclaiming Identity & Healing Through Decolonization. 02/07/2022.

Media & Speaking Engagements

Seneca of California/Alameda County. 3-Hour Presentation/Speaking Engagement: Reclaiming Identity & Healing Through Decolonization 05/06/2022

Latinx Therapist Action Network. [Spanish Translation] Presentation: Reclaiming Identity & Healing Through Decolonization. 02/07/2022.

Refinery 29 Somos. Señoras, Stop Comparing Me to My Primas & Hermanas" by Yvette Montoya, Feature 12/21/2021.

Touro University. 1-Hour Presentation on Latinx Mental Health. 11/04/2021

Feature Negocios Locales Y Servicios Durante La Pandemia Telemundo Las Vegas 04/24/2020

NV Independent en Español Episode 110/La Campesina 96.7 FM: Coronavirus- Cuidando Nuestra Salud Mental 03/23/2020

NV Independent en Español Episode 91/La Campesina 96.7 FM: Salud Mental Durante las Fiestas Decembrinas 11/25/2019

NV Independent en Español Episode 79/La Campesina 96.7 FM: Salud Mental en Tiempos Violentos y Separación de Familias Inmigrantes 09/12/2019

Grown Folks Table Radio Hot 702.5 FM- Depression & Trauma in Minority Communities 03/23/2019

NoticiasYa Nevada Univision: Después De Un Tiroteo Masivo 10/03/2017

Speaking Engagement Topics

  • Reclaiming Identity & Healing Through Decolonization

  • Liberation Psychology Approaches

  • Culturally Responsive Assessment of Trauma

  • Neurodiversity in BIPOC Communities

  • Autism Assessment in BIPOC Communities & in Women

  • Latinx Mental Health

  • FIrst Gen Mental Health

  • Clinical & Cultural Considerations in Psychological Assessment 

Consulting Services

  • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

  • Autism Assessment

  • First Gen Professionals

  • Private & Group Practice

  • Decoloniality in the Work Space & in Practice

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