Mercedes M. Ledesma, LCSW

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Mercedes M. Ledesma, LCSW is a bilingual (English | Spanish) Licensed Clinical Social Worker, certified Trauma Therapist, Certified Immigration Psychological Evaluation Provider, and Florida Supreme Court Certified Family and County Mediator. She specializes in trauma therapy, PTSD, complex trauma, anxiety, childhood trauma, and immigration psychological evaluations, helping individuals and families navigate both emotional healing and complex legal processes.

As an immigrant herself, Mercedes combines lived experience with culturally responsive, trauma-informed care. She is certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and has extensive experience providing psychotherapy in community mental health, inpatient, outpatient, and private practice settings. Her clinical work focuses on survivors of childhood trauma, sexual abuse, domestic violence, psychological abuse, human trafficking, and other traumatic experiences.

Mercedes conducts comprehensive immigration psychological evaluations for:

• Asylum 
• VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) 
• U Visa 
• T Visa 
• Extreme Hardship Waivers (I-601/I-601A) 
• Cancellation of Removal 

She partners with immigration attorneys throughout Florida and Pennsylvania to provide evidence-based, culturally responsive evaluations that support humanitarian immigration cases.

In addition to her clinical practice, Mercedes serves as a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family and County Mediator, applying trauma-informed communication and conflict resolution strategies to help individuals navigate disputes, and other court-related matters. Her combined expertise in psychotherapy and mediation allows her to approach conflict with both clinical insight and a collaborative problem-solving framework.

Mercedes is also a clinical educator, trainer, and speaker. She provides professional trainings on trauma-informed care, cultural humility, Latino mental health, TF-CBT, and best practices for serving immigrant communities. She has presented for organizations including the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the National Latino Behavioral Health Association (NLBHA), Thomas Jefferson University, and other professional organizations.

She is committed to delivering compassionate, evidence-based care while promoting healing, resilience, and equitable access to mental health services.

Education

Master of Social Work (MSW), Summa Cum Laude
Temple University College of Public Health

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Cum Laude, Economics & Political Science
Temple University

Licenses & Admissions:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) – Florida 
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) – Pennsylvania 
• Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator 
• Florida Supreme Court Certified County Mediator 
• Certified Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) Provider 
• Certified Immigration Psychological Evaluation Provider 
• Advanced Forensic Training – Physicians for Human Rights 
• Member, Physicians for Human Rights Pro Bono Asylum Network