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Mike Valdez, a first-generation Latinx counseling psychology student, is working towards blending the world of mental health with the tech industry. Valdez was born in the Dominican Republic where he lived for several years before moving to Brooklyn, New York with his family, and ultimately settled in the Bay Area to pursue a career in technology. After spending more than fifteen years in the tech industry, he began to feel a disconnect between his professional and personal values. The high-stress, fast-paced environment mixed with it being a predominantly white industry, began to interfere with Valdez’s understanding of his identity as a Latinx-American. 

As many can relate, once the Pandemic hit, communities were left with a surge of unanswered questions about the future. With the increased feelings of isolation and a desire to do more, Mike seized the opportunity to try something new. With the inspiration and support of his therapist, he was able to explore different areas of his identity that reignited his passion for serving the mental health needs of minority groups. Valdez shares, “Counseling Psychology was always in the back of my mind and I knew it was something I wanted to look into further. It just never felt like it was the right time.”

After joining the ECP’s Counseling Psychology program in the Winter of 2021, Valdez found himself immersed in a community driven by the motivation to create safe spaces for everyone regardless of sexual orientation, religious preferences, racial background, and socioeconomic status. He says, “The students are what make this program, inside and outside of class. The minute you step into the classroom, you can sense the mutual thirst for community and the overwhelming desire to improve access to mental health services.”  

In addition to the strong graduate community, Valdez shares the impact of Dr. Sherry Wang from her class on multicultural counseling. He explains that “She provided us with all of the necessary education to understand and discuss difficult topics of systemic racism. However, Dr. Wang’s lessons go far beyond just the text. She stressed the importance of remaining culturally sensitive and approaching challenges with humility. Without that, I wouldn’t have been able to take a step back and focus more intently on the intersectionality that all individuals bring to the world, and not just the Latinx experience.” 

Valdez says that having exposure to multiple minority perspectives with the stigma around mental health has completely changed his outlook on how we should approach achieving universal mental health care. He explains, “It is not just our immediate communities that are being impacted. It goes far beyond us and it will only get better, if it gets better for everyone.” 

Valdez plans on moving forward and completing his degree with the excitement of being a part of one of the first waves of mental health leaders emerging into the world of tech. “After joining ECP, I am determined to work in a mental health tech company and to use my skills and resources to help inspire the same for others. Because who knows how much we could accomplish together.