Dr. Vanessa Quintana
Dr. Vanessa Quintana
PRIMARY SPECIALTY
Marriage and Family Therapy
Biography
Dr. Quintana, a doctoral graduate from Loma Linda University, has dedicated her career to advancing mental health education and support for underserved populations. With six years of teaching experience at UMASS Global, including four years as full-time faculty, she brings both academic rigor and real-world experience to her students. As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Dr. Quintana runs a private practice where she specializes in helping individuals and families navigate complex emotional and relational challenges.
In addition to her private practice, she serves as a mental health consultant for community organizations, where she develops training programs and resources aimed at promoting well-being and recovery. Her professional emphasis centers on empowering marginalized communities by providing culturally responsive services and advocating for mental health equity. Dr. Quintana’s work reflects her passion for creating sustainable, inclusive solutions that address the unique needs of those often overlooked in traditional systems of care.
Specialty
- Marriage and Family Therapy
- Professional Clinical Counseling
- Psychology
- Family and Couples
- Diversity
Education
2017
Doctor in Marriage and Family Therapy
Loma Linda University
Dissertation: "Increasing Cultural Responsivity with Hispanic Clients: A Training Program"
2015
MS in Marriage and Family Therapy
Loma Linda University
2011
BS in Clinical Psychology
Montemorelos University, MX
Thesis: "The relationship between emotional intelligence and intercourse of high school adolescents"
Scholarly Activities
2016 - 2020
Board Member and Vice President of Diversity, Care Counselors Inc.
2022 -
Collaborative for SDA Mental Health Directory of Arizona, State of Arizona
2015 - 2016
Student Advisory Committee: Chair and Vice Chair, Loma Linda University
Professional Experiences
2021 -
Mental Health Consultant
El Sol NEC Training Center, San Bernardino, CA
Program development and evaluation, curriculum development, and providing trainings and supervision to CHWs.
2021 -
Assistant Professor
UMass Global
Teach assigned classes online, assign grades, mentor students and adjunct faculty, develop courses, attend meetings, participate in committees, participate in projects as needed, and supervise students.
President and Founder, Therapist
Connecting Families Mental Health Services
Provide psychotherapy to individuals, couples, and families, as well as mental health-related seminars and presentations to the community/institutions/agencies, translation services, program design, implementation and evaluation services, and trainings.