Today we’re chatting with Bridget Sanchez, the founder and executive director of Latinx Therapist Project. We met Bridget when she attended our virtual Canva for nonprofits workshop with the Colorado Nonprofit Association. We loved the chance to help Bridget and her nonprofit peers sharpen their design skills and build their toolkits. We’re so excited to work with Bridget on her event display as she gets the message out about Latinx Therapist Project’s great work and mission.
YellowDog: Hello, Bridget! Give us the short version of your nonprofit’s mission. What population or cause do you serve?
Bridget Sanchez: Latinx Therapist Project is on a mission to increase mental health care providers serving the Latinx/Spanish-speaking community and empowering our next generation in Colorado.
YD: How and when did your nonprofit start?
BS: We started in 2022 after I, the founder, and founding board members were frustrated with the lack of sufficient mental health clinicians serving the Spanish-speaking community. We were seeing waiting lists up to 300 people waiting to receive therapy in Spanish with very limited therapists able to meet this need. Seeing how much therapy was transforming people’s lives made me want to create a nonprofit that was 100% focused on workforce development in bringing Latinx/Spanish-speaking professionals into the field, supporting current clinicians and providing mentorship and community!
YD: What was your journey into your role as the director? How did you get here?
BS: Like all things in my life, this was a spiritual calling for me! I felt called to start this nonprofit and eventually take on the executive director role. My 10 years as a mental health clinician, supervisor and director inspired this nonprofit as I constantly witnessed the shortage of therapists preventing our loved ones and community members from accessing therapy in Spanish.
YD: What are the top three items on Latinx Therapist Project’s wishlist?
BS:
- Community outreach and awareness campaigns: Support for initiatives aimed at increasing awareness of mental health professions within Latinx communities. This could involve marketing, school partnerships, or community events that highlight the importance of representation in therapy. Reach out to us if we could partner with our organization!
- Funding for tuition and scholarships: Secure sustainable funding to provide full or partial scholarships for Latinx students pursuing degrees in mental health fields. This would directly reduce financial barriers and increase the number of qualified therapists entering the workforce.
- Mentorship and professional development connections: If you are an agency that employees Latinx therapist or are in need of more Latinx therapists, we’d love to connect to provide your clinicians with professional development and mentorship.
YD: Describe your organization in three words.
BS: Advocacy, wellbeing, justice.
YD: Love it! Thanks for sharing your story!
Now for some friendly rapid-fire questions!
Are you a dog person or a cat person? BOTH!
Early bird or night owl? Night owl!
Favorite local beverage? Water : )
What’s your best party trick? Being myself and bringing laughter to the room.
What show are you currently binging? Scandal (I know I am late to the party!).
Any book you’re currently reading? The Extraordinary Healing Power of Ordinary Things by Larry Dossey.
What are you looking forward to most this fall? Being on my porch with a blanket in the evening chilly vibes.
Thanks, Bridget! It has been wonderful to hear your story and learn about how Latinx Therapist Project is supporting career growth and increasing mental health access among Colorado’s Spanish-speaking community!
We encourage everyone to check out Latinx Therapist Project in all the places to keep up with Bridget’s mission and get involved.
by YellowDog.