Short Biography
Dr. Nanette de Fuentes received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology – Los Angeles (a program accredited by the American Psychological Association). She is a bi-cultural, English and Spanish speaking licensed psychologist in private practice in Glendale, California providing individual,couple and family therapy. She specializes in sexual abuse and trauma recovery, substance abuse and sexual compulsive disorders treatment, and integrating spirituality in therapy. She is a former Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, at the University Of Southern California School Of Medicine, where she was the Director of Behavioral Science of the California Medical Center Family Practice Residency Program.
Dr. de Fuentes has worked for almost 30 years in the substance abuse recovery field and with adult children of alcoholics. She served on the California State Advisory Board for Alcohol-Related Problems 1980-83, one of the youngest members appointed by the state senate. In the 1970’s she developed and ran one of the nation’s first treatment programs for teenagers with alcohol problems. She has also worked in community, corporate and educational settings developing employee assistance programs, and frequently addresses civic as well as community groups, medical associations and scholarly societies on a variety of mental health topics.
Dr. de Fuentes was the first Hispanic psychologist to serve on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles County Psychological Association, which is the largest county psychological association in the nation. She has received recognition for her community service from the California State Senate, the California Governor’s office, and the Los Angeles City Council. In l988, the California School of Professional Psychology, L.A., honored her as alumni of the year.
In 1989 she worked to bring His Holliness the Dalai Lama of Tibet to speak at a conference on "Developing Compassion" in New Port Beach, California where it was announced that he won the Noble Peace Prize that year.
Since l991, Dr. de Fuentes has served as a psychological consultant to Los Angeles Roman Catholic Archdiocese; Office of the
Vicar for Clergy, Office for Vocations, Permanent Deaconate Formation, and Lay-Mission Helpers Association. At St. John’s Seminary and Seminary College in Camarillo, California, she taught workshops for both faculty and seminarians, and provided consultant services on curriculum development and mental health services. Dr. de Fuentes has worked with at least 10 other national and worldwide Catholic religious orders, as well as various Buddhist and Hindu religious groups. She was a founding member of the Los Angeles Roman Catholic Archdiocese Clergy Misconduct Oversight Board. Dr. de Fuentes has several important publications on the topic of clergy sexual abuse.
Dr. de Fuentes was a consultant to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, as a member of the JPL Crisis Response Team. She currently provides mental health services to JPL employees.
Although Dr. de Fuentes’ theoretical orientation is transpersonal and humanistic, she utilizes other therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy, behavior modification, family systems and referral to 12-step self-help programs when appropriate.
Dr. de Fuentes is a caring, dedicated professional. Her work empowers clients with insight, understanding and skills necessary to meet life’s challenges.
