PHD Social Psychology Statement of Purpose

I am a Venezuelan woman who finished her MA Degree in Counseling in NYC in 2015. I am fully dedicated to research in surviving and healing from childhood sexual abuse. Now in my mid-forties, I am still recovering from being sexually abused by my mother’s long-time romantic partner, as a child and adolescent, especially since my mother and her family never believed me and instead retaliated.

The PHD program in Social Psychology at Harvard University is my first choice for doctoral study because of its sheer excellence and vast resources. I hope to devote the rest of my professional lifetime to research into ways that children and adolescent victims of sexual abuse can be empowered to recognize, manage, and heal from the devastating trauma. My life experiences will provide me with valuable contributions to discussions at Harvard not only of sexual and domestic abuse, but also trauma, and the importance of social networks to provide support to victims. I served as a Child Development Specialist from September 2017 through January 2018. Since 2019, I have been providing individual, family, and group therapy for survivors of trauma and abuse. Since 2020, I have developed a rapidly growing support group for survivors of sexual violence based in New York, which I named Unconditional. I have extensive experience in providing case management, advocacy, and referrals for survivors of childhood trauma.

With the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center, KHCC (September 2016 – May 2017), I served as a Campus Sexual Assault Coordinator with the Enough is Enough Initiative, managing KHCC’s services at four New York City Colleges, preparing and conducting 14 trainings in the areas of sexual misconduct, domestic and dating violence and misconduct, stalking, harassment, discrimination, bystander intervention, and prevention education strategies. I helped to develop evaluations and procedures to properly create and maintain client files and provided individual, family, and group therapy to child survivors of trauma and abuse and their families. I also completed forensic psychological evaluations for immigration purposes and developed assessment and screening tools and operating and policy manuals and developing links to new agencies in housing, mental health, healthcare, food access, public assistance, adult education, financial empowerment, legal and advocacy assistance, wellness, and self-improvement, as part of a new intra-agency referral system.

With the Dominican Women Development Center New York, NY (2013-2016), I served as a Program Supervisor and Immigration Coordinator, as well as running the Anti Domestic Violence Program. I assessed and evaluated the needs of victims and developed organizational policies and procedures, identifying risks and challenges and developing and maintaining relationships with attorneys and service providers.

I assisted survivors and their families after the 1999 Venezuelan mudslides, 911, and NYC Flight 587 to the Dominican Republic that crashed in Queens. I have clinical experience with victims of Venezuela’s brutal dictatorship, and I assist immigrant Latinx survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault at the Crime Victim Treatment Center. I have worked closely with first responders in Venezuela and NYC, providing training in Emotional First-Aid.