Immigration in Health Care & Higher Education: Clinical Responsibilities & Client Rights

Mariaimeé Gonzalez, PhD

Mariaimeé Gonzalez, PhD, is a counselor educator, human rights advocate, and scholar with two decades of experience advancing social justice, Indigenous wellness, and mental liberation through higher education, counseling, and community-based mental health work. Since 2008, she has shaped master’s- and doctoral-level counseling programs, mentoring students, guiding research, and preparing the next generation of socially conscious and culturally grounded mental health professionals. 

A committed leader and advocate, Gonzalez currently serves as the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) Governing Council Representative (2025–2028) and on the executive board of the American Counseling Association of Washington State. She also maintains a private practice dedicated to immigration justice, providing culturally responsive mental health services and advocacy for Indigenous, immigrant and other historically underserved communities. 

Douglas Valdez, LMHCA
Assistant Professor, St. Cloud State University

Douglas Valdez, LMHCA, is a licensed bilingual (English/Spanish) mental health counselor and sex therapist who specializes in working with Spanish-speaking migrants, focusing on the specific needs of the LGBTQIA+ community. In addition to his clinical practice, Valdez serves as a university professor, preparing future counselors with an emphasis on cultural humility, relational depth, and integrative healing approaches.