Carmen saw firsthand the effects of poverty, mental unwellness, and sexual abuse during her childhood. She felt a deep sense of shame from her experiences and wanted to help others on their healing journeys and not feel shameful. This led her to HIR Wellness Institute, where she holds the role of Clinic Manager and Lead Victims of Crime Therapist. In her role, Carmen oversees therapy intakes and manages the therapy waitlist. She is actively involved in training and mentoring clinical interns within the CAM™ Framework™ and collaborates with an interdisciplinary team to ensure the delivery of optimal services to our relatives. In addition to individual therapy sessions, Carmen facilitates therapeutic groups for youth, elders, women, and men. She also incorporates Reiki and sound healing into her therapeutic practice to enhance the overall well-being of our relatives.

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Carmen Fontanez is Puerto Rican (Taino) and a survivor of childhood and adult sexual assault and teen intimate partner violence. Carmen received her bachelor’s degree in social work from Mount Mary University. She then went on to receive her master’s degree in social work with an emphasis in Clinical Social Work from UW-Milwaukee. Being able to journey alongside our relatives and watching as they uncover the medicine that lives inside motivates Carmen to continue on this path, as she sees the ripple effect on the family and the community when one person starts to work on their healing.

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The CAM™ Framework has greatly impacted Carmen’s understanding of what it means to truly be in community with others. It encompasses triple attunement (being in tune with yourself, with others, and with the environment) and affects how clinicians intentionally show up every day to hold space for others. CAM™ is all about having a compassionate presence with others in which people feel seen, heard, and cared for. This part is sorely lacking in society and what our community craves. Carmen believes CAM™ is what we need to heal as individuals and as a community.