Roxana Moran Piedrahita

About Roxana Moran Piedrahita

My passion for mental health began with a deep curiosity about how the brain works. After graduating with bachelor’s in biology-Neuroscience from BYU-I, I left with a deeper understanding of how the brain is shaped by its environment, both positively and negatively.

During my time in college, I also became involved with the tutoring center and supported students from diverse cultural backgrounds, giving me a deeper appreciation of how culture influences people’s experiences.  As someone who has a Hispanic background, I was uniquely able to empathize with the challenges of navigating a new culture and learned firsthand the value of having diverse perspectives.

After I graduated in 2020, I started working at an outpatient treatment center, where I supported individuals who were mandated by the court to seek therapy. In that setting, I witnessed firsthand how environmental factors shaped the perspectives and behaviors individuals had developed which brought them to the justice system.  I co-facilitated psychoeducational groups for clients facing substance use, trauma, and mental health struggles focused in processing the root of the problem and in setting goals to change the maladaptive skills that bring them back to the courts. This experience allowed me to witness individuals regain power over their lives and make the necessary changes to live a life with goals and with joy.

From there, I transitioned to a residential treatment center focused on first responders and veterans. I had the privilege of witnessing transformative healing journeys over 30 to 90 days. Many of these individuals carried not only the weight of their careers but also deep childhood wounds. They had entered their fields to help and protect but were often left facing trauma, injustice, and a reliance on unhealthy coping strategies. My time there opened my eyes to the pervasive impact of trauma and the resilience required to rediscover one’s humanity.

These experiences have deepened my dedication to helping people heal from trauma, conquer addiction, and pursue purposeful lives. Today I especially enjoy working with immigrants, primarily Spanish speakers, as well as those who have experienced domestic violence, substance use, or childhood abuse, and religious trauma. As an intern, I am still learning different approaches to providing therapy and interventions, yet the experiences I’ve had, have driven me to rely on a lens that focuses on childhood and developmental trauma with a multicultural, feminist, and inclusive approach.

In my free time, you’ll find me running 10Ks, making music with my partner, going to concerts, trying new foods, rock climbing, backpacking, and enjoying popcorn and movies at home.