Ana Liseth Ponciano, LMSW

Speaker Information

Ana Ponciano, LMSW, is a doctoral student in Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington and a Licensed Master Social Worker in Texas. She has over six years of experience working with first-generation, Hispanic/Latino, and immigrant communities in educational and clinical settings. Her work is informed by social justice, decolonial frameworks, and culturally responsive mental health care, with a focus on addressing systemic inequities affecting historically marginalized populations.

Her research examines decolonizing therapy, Indigenous and ancestral healing practices, and mental health disparities among Hispanic/Latino and Indigenous communities. Ana investigates how structural factors, including education, socioeconomic status, and systemic oppression, intersect with trauma and access to care to influence mental health outcomes and service utilization. She is particularly focused on identifying culturally specific approaches to healing and support in communities historically underserved by mainstream mental health systems.

Clinically, Ana integrates trauma-informed and culturally grounded approaches, emphasizing relational care, community-based interventions, and holistic healing strategies. She strives to create therapeutic spaces that honor cultural identity, ancestral knowledge, and the lived experiences of her clients. Ana is committed to advancing mental health awareness and promoting culturally affirming interventions within Indigenous communities connected to her family’s heritage.

Through her combined clinical and research work, Ana contributes to the development of more equitable and culturally responsive mental health services, underscoring the importance of integrating scholarship and practice to improve outcomes for marginalized populations.