Our Doctors
Dr. Sonia Jiménez Medina

Meet Dr. Sonia Jiménez Medina

Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Sonia Medina is a Clinical Psychologist Postdoctoral Fellow from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and holds a PsyD from Albizu University. She specializes in treating children, adolescents, and college-aged adults for depression, anxiety, ADHD, social issues, eating disorders, family conflict, and trauma.

Dr. Medina utilizes a combination of evidence-based therapies, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Exposure Therapy, and Art Therapy, which are enhanced by mindfulness-based techniques. She collaborates with parents, families, and teachers on treatment and goals. She offers guidance pertaining to your child’s education, effective school utilization, and overall life functioning.

Dr. Medina aims to move past mere diagnoses, seeking to understand the root clinical and cognitive mechanisms impacting individuals’ functions. She is exceptionally skilled at connecting with children and teenagers in a trusting relationship, alleviating their anxiety, and bringing out their true abilities and performances.

Dr. Medina also specializes in conducting psychological and psychoeducational evaluations to assess children, adolescents, and college-aged adults’ academic, behavioral, social, and emotional functioning. Collaboration with the child, parents, and school personnel enables her to identify particular learning difficulties, suggest suitable accommodations, address college and university placement concerns, and emphasize treatment objectives. Beyond mere diagnosis, she focuses on the clinical, cognitive, and environmental mechanisms that impact the functioning.

RESEARCH

(2023, June) Community Mental Health Suicide Prevention Program. Identify successful suicide prevention strategies and interventions for youth programs. Zero Suicide team at Astor Services, NY.

(2022, November) Sociodemographic Profile of Escorts in Puerto Rico. Dissertation Research: Survey based on scientific research about defining the escort population and exploring the reasons to enter this industry and describing the consequences that its members go through. The type of research for this study was a non-experimental one, with a descriptive approach and an exploratory scope.

(2019, July) Assessment to Understand the Capacity, Services, and Resources Available at Health Centers to Help Patients with Problematic Substance Use and Mental Health Conditions Puerto Rico Primary Health Association and Research Program at Carlos Albizu University, San Juan. Tasks as a research assistant consisted of interviews with Primary Health Care Centers (330) in Puerto Rico to assess and to better understand the needs of patients affected by Problematic Substance Use and Mental Health Conditions and identify existing resources.

(2019, May) Expanding the multicultural and diverse gaze: Challenges, Motivations, Values and Experiences of a Queer Stripper in the sex work Multicultural Course at Albizu University, San Juan. Conducted a literature review about Sex Work and Diversity; interviewed a sex worker regarding these topics.

(2019, May) Impact of coping skills on emerging adults’ living satisfaction Research and Methodology Course at Carlos Albizu University, San Juan

Description: Research proposal to explore the function of coping skills and mechanisms in young adult’s life satisfaction levels.

(2019, November) International Medical Corps Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Assistant

Developed and facilitated training and awareness activities for first responders, health professionals and community members. Trainings such as: Psychological First Aid, Emotional Regulation, Suicide Prevention; and activities related to: Preparedness and Recovery in an Emergency Event, among others. Also, assisted in the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Needs Assessment to identify, prioritize, and conduct training needs relating to vulnerable populations mental health and wellbeing among health workers, using key informant interviews, focus groups, a review of relevant policies and literature. Finally, supported and established a systematic data collection for analysis and report to present at the final Workshop with results and next steps.

PRESENTATIONS

(2023, June) Suicide Prevention Program. Present 2023 results, including helpful strategies and interventions, to Zero Suicide team at Astor Services, NY.

(2022, November) Sociodemographic Profile of Escorts in Puerto Rico

Principal Investigator Dissertation Defense Presentation at Albizu University.

(2021, February) Mindfulness for Students Mindfulness Presentation and exercises to students emotionally impacted by the Pandemic.

(2020, September) Mindfulness for Parents and faculty Presentation of the Mindfulness Program and Self-compassion as applied to Cupeyville School and its impact to clients and therapists.

(2020, February) Mindfulness and self-compassion exercises offered to Psychology students, professors, and clinical supervisors in Albizu University.

(2020, February) Puerto Rico Private School Teachers’ Conference. Presentation of the Mindfulness Program as applied to Cupeyville l School and Mindfulness exercises offered to school staff.

(2019, June) International Medical Corps Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Needs Assessment in Puerto Rico. Presentation of the results obtained from the Mental Health Needs Assessment after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Population: Health providers and non-profit organization staff.

(2019, May) Psychological First Aid Training Mental Health and Psychosocial Assistant. Presented and Implemented PFA principles to non-profit organizations first responders.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• American Psychological Association (APA)

LICENSES

Limited Permit State of New York

(68-P126684-01)

Affiliations