SANAR NETWORK read on - sanarnetwork.com - August 21, 2026 Luis Villafuerte on representation, boundaries, and the stories we inherit. When I asked Luis Villafuerte how he got into therapy, he told me he didn’t exactly choose it in a straight line. He stumbled into the work, then realized the stumble was actually a path. What stayed with me wasn’t the resume. It was the pattern underneath it: every step of his journey kept pulling him closer to the people who need someone in their corner, and...
4 days ago • 2 min read
SANAR NETWORK We cannot build trust during a crisis if we haven't built relationships before the crisis happens. read on - sanarnetwork.com - August 14, 2026 Moving From Reaction to Preparation: Supporting Latino Families in Yamhill County I was honored to participate in a meaningful panel discussion on how we can better support Latino families in Yamhill County impacted by ICE raids and family separation. Thank you to Caitlin Nemeth and the Yamhill County Public Health team for bringing us...
11 days ago • 1 min read
SANAR NETWORK "The biggest barrier to mental health isn't the shortage of bilingual providers—it's knowing where to find them." read on - sanarnetwork.com - JULY 31, 2026 One Newsletter. Ten New Partnerships. Countless Opportunities. Last week's newsletter reminded us of something powerful: when a community comes together, barriers become opportunities. After sharing the growing need for Spanish-speaking mental health providers, more than 10 organizations reached out, offering support and...
25 days ago • 2 min read
SANAR NETWORK "When one person is detained, an entire family carries the emotional burden." read on - sanarnetwork.com - JULY 24, 2026 When Fear Enters a Community, Mental Health Needs Rise "Behind every request for therapy is a story of fear, uncertainty, and hope." Over the past several weeks, we've seen a significant increase in families reaching out for mental health support as immigration enforcement activity continues to rise across Oregon. According to the Portland Immigrant Rights...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Sanar Network "You can't solve a problem you haven't taken the time to hear." Meeting Farmworkers Where They Are Sometimes, the most meaningful conversations don't happen in an office—they happen in the fields. This week, Sanar Network partnered with AWARE Food Bank to visit farmworkers in Mount Angel, where we distributed food and, more importantly, listened. Our goal was simple: understand the barriers farmworkers face when trying to access health and mental health services and meet them...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Sanar Network “We cannot provide equitable care using a one-size-fits-all framework. True mental health advocacy meets the community exactly where they are.” When it comes to providing mental health services, we know that clinical skills are only half the battle. The other half? Cultural resonance. For the Latino community, accessing mental health services is often met with systemic barriers, stigma, and cultural nuances that traditional, one-size-fits-all frameworks fail to address. To make...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Sanar Network When individuals are navigating immigration-related stress, fear, uncertainty, or trauma, finding a mental health provider who truly understands their language, culture, and lived experience can make all the difference. At Sanar Network, we believe that Latino clients deserve access to culturally and linguistically responsive care because trust, connection, and healing begin with feeling understood. This week, we are honored to highlight Eugenia Sotelo, LCSW, Mental Health...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Sanar Network Have you ever noticed that when there’s a community outreach or mental health event, the room is rarely filled with men? As a therapist, I see this gap every day. I constantly hear partners share the same heavy burden: the men in their lives struggle to be emotionally present. They often view working long hours as their only way to provide support, and they get easily angered when the pressure builds. To change this, bring awareness to how men can be more open about mental...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Sanar Network Help Us Strengthen Oregon's Latino Behavioral Health Network What if one connection could help a family find a therapist, a community health worker find the right referral, or a provider solve a billing question? Strong communities start with strong connections—and that's exactly what we're building through Terapeutas Latino/e/x en Oregon. For those new to Sanar Network, we are a community-driven initiative dedicated to connecting Latino/a/e/x individuals and families to...
3 months ago • 1 min read