Yudelka Columna expands culturally responsive mental health care in New Jersey

Licensed clinical social worker Yudelka Columna is building bilingual, trauma-informed mental health services through her New Jersey practice and nonprofit. She aims to widen access for underserved families and expand services beyond the state over the next two years.

Why it matters: - Culturally responsive mental health care can make treatment more accessible for Latino, immigrant and other underserved communities. - Yudelka Columna is using bilingual, trauma-informed services to reduce language and cultural barriers that can keep people from seeking or staying in care. - Her model blends clinical work, nonprofit outreach and mentorship, which could expand support beyond one-on-one therapy.

What happened: - Yudelka Columna, MSW, LCSW, MBA, is being featured for her work as a licensed clinical social worker, entrepreneur, author, executive coach, motivational speaker and advocate for culturally sensitive mental health care. - Columna has more than 15 years of experience supporting children, adults, families and communities. - Columna founded Healing Road Counseling Services, a private counseling practice in New Jersey, and Healing Partners Counseling, a nonprofit focused on expanding access to mental health services for disadvantaged communities. - Healing Road Counseling Services has grown to a team of 22 providers offering counseling in Spanish and English.

The details: - Columna’s background includes work with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, outpatient mental health settings and community-based services. - She served as a bilingual family service specialist with the New Jersey Department of Child Protection and Permanency, where she supported families facing child abuse and neglect cases. - Columna also worked as a therapist in outpatient settings, including federally qualified health centers, and delivered intensive in-home therapy through New Jersey Children’s System of Care, PerformCare. - Her clinical approach includes mindfulness-based, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive and ethical practices. - Her experience covers sexual assault, domestic violence, trauma, immigration challenges, child abuse and neglect, and other difficult life events. - Columna completed post-graduate training in Integrative Trauma-Informed Health Care at the University of Massachusetts. - Her training also includes Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for post-traumatic stress disorder, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, problem-solving approaches, solution-focused therapy and Brainspotting. - Columna earned a business administration degree from APEC University in Santo Domingo and later earned a master’s degree in social work from Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. - She received multiple academic awards in the Dominican Republic, including recognition as a top student at the college and national levels. - Columna has also received awards for excellence in mental health care and an honorary doctorate from the University of Costa Rica. - Her book, Emotional Resilience: Practical Solutions for Overcoming Challenges to Thrive in Life, offers practical tools for mental, physical and emotional resilience. - The book was selected for the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at the University of Southern California and the London Book Fair in the United Kingdom. - The book is available in English and Spanish. - Columna has spoken at universities and organizations across New Jersey. - More information is available through her Influential Women profile and her Healing Road Counseling Services profile.

Between the lines: - Columna’s story ties professional mission to personal experience as an immigrant from the Dominican Republic and mother of three. - Her business administration background appears to shape how she leads and scales mental health organizations, not just how she treats clients. - The emphasis on humility, mentorship and continuous learning suggests a leadership style built around training other professionals, not only serving clients directly. - The bilingual practice and nonprofit structure point to a strategy aimed at both service delivery and broader access.

What's next: - Columna plans to grow her organizations by at least 25% over the next two years. - She also wants to expand services beyond New Jersey. - The goal is to reach more individuals and families with evidence-based, trauma-informed and bilingual mental health care. - Columna says her future work will stay centered on faith, family, cultural respect, humility and continuous learning.

The bottom line: - Columna is trying to scale a community-based mental health model that treats cultural understanding as a core part of care, not an add-on.