Biography
Education
Ph.D. 2023, University of California, Santa Barbara (Counseling Psychology)
M.A. 2021, University of California, Santa Barbara (Counseling Psychology)
M.S. 2018, California State University, Fullerton (Clinical Psychology)
B.A. 2015, California State University, San Bernardino (Psychology)
Specialty Areas: LGBTQ+ Mental Health, BIPOC/POC Mental Health, Bisexuality, Internalized Stigma, Critical Consciousness, Health Disparities, Intervention Development and Implementation, Intersectionality, Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences, Consensual Non-monogamy
Courses Taught
PSY 310 – Abnormal Psychology
Select Publications and Presentations
Cerezo, A., Emetu, B., Rivera, D. B., Jones, I. J., Chin, J., Valadez, A. M., & Drabble, L. (2023). Examining pandemic stress and mental health among a community-based sample of sexual minority women in Los Angeles County. Psychology & Sexuality. https://doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2023.2207182
Ramirez, A., Rivera, D. B., Valadez, A. M., Baca, K. L., Mattis, S., & Cerezo, A. (2023). Examining mental health, academic and economic stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic among community college and four-year university students. [Manuscript submitted for publication to Community College Review]. Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology, University of California- Santa Barbara. DOI: 10.1177/00915521231163929
Flores, I., Sharma, H., Franco, V., Valadez, A. M., & Cerezo, A. (2023). Amidst the chaos: Developing a counseling psychologist identity during ongoing social unrest. Journal for Social Action in Counseling & Psychology, 14(2), 96-110. https://doi.org/10.33043/JSACP.14.2.96-110
Chin, J., Mattis, S., Acosta, J., Ramirez, A., Rivera, D. B., Valadez, A. M., & Cerezo, A. (2022). “I help my parents by using some of my FAFSA money”: A qualitative exploration of pandemic-related stress among community college students. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/10668926.2022.2064376
Cerezo, A., Ramirez, A., Rivera, D., Jones, I. J., Chin, J., & Valadez, A. M. (2022). Pandemic stress and its impact on social media, advocacy, & alcohol use among Black and Latinx SGM. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Minnesota, MN.
Capielo Rosario, C., Carlos Chavez, F. L., García, Y. E., Torres, L., Sanchez, D., Cerezo, A., Cadenas, G. A., Rivera, D., & Valadez, A. M. (2021). COVID-19 Needs Assessment on U.S. Latinx Communities. U.S. Congressional Hispanic Caucus/National Urban League.
Valadez, A. M., Rohde, J., Tessler, J., & Beals, K. (2020). Perceived stigmatization and disclosure among individuals in consensually non-monogamous relationships. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 20(1), 143-165. https://doi.org/10.1111/asap.12194
Research Interests
My research focuses on promoting the psychological wellness of diverse, intersectional LGBTQ+ individuals. I aim to produce work that understands, strengthens, and empowers minoritized communities, particularly LGBTQ+ and BIPOC/POC groups.
Some of my specific research interests include:
- The development, examination, and implementation of inclusive LGBTQ-affirming interventions and measures
- Mental health disparities among minoritized communities (e.g., LGBTQ+, Latinx/e, etc.)
- Internalized stigma, particularly among bisexuals
- Critical Consciousness, Activists, and Non-activists
- Experiences of individuals in Consensually Non-monogamous (CNM) relationships