Olivia Valdés, MA

Doctoral Extern

Who I Am:

I am a second year Clinical Psychologist student. For the past 15 years, I have studied and worked in the creative field where I developed a deep sense of curiosity for human behavior through an empathic problem-solving lens. I truly love understanding the why behind things, which led me to the journey of becoming a helper in the healthcare field.

My Approach to Testing:

I have learned throughout the years that learning about who we are and why we are the way we are is essential to embarking on the journey of improving our life, and I see testing as a tool to help us become aware not only about some of our weaknesses but also our strengths. I believe that what we learn through testing is an important piece of the puzzle to inform and tailor treatment to each person, when needed.

My goal is to utilize testing based on what clients need and not on what the norm is. I truly believe people have unique personalities, backgrounds, cultures, and circumstances that require a personalized approach. And most importantly, I believe there is more than one way to approach every situation.

I will approach testing through the lens of creativity, curiosity, and empathy, as I understand how challenging this process may be. My priority is to provide help, clarity, and a path to improvement while creating an environment of trust, and the best way to do that is by understanding each person’s uniqueness and meeting them where they are at.

My Interests:

I’m mostly interested in topics that include gender inequality, women’s issues, and parenting, especially in how women from different parts of the world, in particular, adapt to similar societal norms and challenge the status quo at the same time. This translates into my clinical approach where I see context as the most important factor when it comes to understanding someone’s struggles and choices. I am a true believer in the why’s behind it all.

Complex trauma is a particular interest of mine, which I would love to further explore in relation to teen motherhood, single motherhood, and motherhood in general. My goal is to better understand what young girls need during developmental years to then thrive as adult women, and develop programs and treatments tailored to women of all ages and stages.

Pronouns: She, her

Credentials and Experience:

Doctoral Student in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) at Adler University (Chicago, IL)

Master of Arts (MA) in Marketing (2020) at Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez (Santiago, Chile)

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Graphic Design (2015) at Universidad del Desarrollo (Santiago, Chile)