T.H.R.I.V.E

If you look up “caño” in a Spanish language dictionary, you might find a definition like “spout” or “pipe.” Nothing special about that. But I developed a new appreciation for my name on a trip to visit my father’s seaside hometown in Spain where my family and I were able to see the village caño. Someone long ago affixed a pipe to direct the flow of the natural spring where it came out of the rockface. Villagers collected pure spring water for their families and livestock and women would gather with their children to wash clothing and talk. The caño offered refreshment and community building. I apply this metaphor to my work, as someone who helps direct the good within every person to offer refreshment, health, and community to others.

Another source of inspiration is my mother, with whom I was very close and who passed away 10 years ago. Her mother was a healer and midwife in a village in Puerto Rico and my mother was a healer of relationships, in part, because of the childhood trauma and separation she experienced. With her unconditional love and deep sense of empathy and compassion for others, it is no surprise that I developed a keen interest in promoting healing—mind, body, and spirit.

Spirituality is also an important connection for me. The ancestors I never met have formed who I am, what I value, and how I work with others. I am also Christian (Roman Catholic) but I recognize that there are many paths to God, the Divine, or Transcendence. As a spiritual director trained by the Jesuits (Society of Jesus), I respect that everyone is on a journey of their own.

Finally, my training as a psychologist with expertise in empathy, relationships, and mindfulness has fueled my desire to support the development of leaders who can co-create healthy environments. I am further inspired by liberation psychologies, which recognize that accompaniment, solidarity, and systemic change are needed to support the health and well-being of everyone.