Defying Labels

MSW, ASW

Therapist · LA

PhD Student

Washington Univ.

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✦ About Patty

PATTY, MSW, ASW,
PhD Student

Therapist, Researcher, Speaker, Consultant, and Advocate for Youth Mental Health and Systems Change

Google Scholar Profile ORCID Profile

I am a doctoral student at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU). My work focuses on youth mental health, lived experience, and the systems that shape young people's lives, including foster care, the juvenile legal system, and education.

I bring over a decade of experience advocating for youth navigating complex systems. My perspective is informed by my intersecting identities as a former foster youth, immigrant, queer individual, and someone who has experienced homelessness and involvement in the juvenile justice system.

I have served as a leadership keynote speaker for organizations across Los Angeles County and internationally, presenting to judges, attorneys, probation officers, counselors, professors, social workers, and community leaders.

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Therapy & Healing

You're not "too much."
You've been misunderstood.

I work with individuals who have been labeled difficult, defiant, or hard to understand — helping them make sense of their behavior, identity, and experiences.

If you've ever felt unheard in your family, misunderstood by systems, or unsure how to navigate your reactions and patterns, this is where we begin to work through it.

I don't just speak about these issues — I work directly with people navigating them through 1:1 therapy and coaching.

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✦ Professional Services

CONSULTING

L. Patty Flores brings a powerful and informed voice, providing institutions with insight shaped by her lived experience, academic research, and professional work. With over a decade of advocacy within the foster care, education, and juvenile system, she offers a unique analytical lens as a researcher, lived expert, and keynote speaker.

Youth Advocacy

Over a decade supporting youth in foster care, education & justice systems.

Global Reach

Collaborative work with leading scholars across the U.S. and Latin America.

Academic Research

Peer-reviewed work on child welfare, lived experience & policy design.

Keynote Speaking

Powerful presentations to 500+ audiences including judges and community leaders.

✦ Engagements

SPEAKING &
WORKSHOPS

Presentations combining determination and strength with a trauma-informed approach and social justice lens.

Work spanning the U.S. and Latin America, collaborating with organizations supporting women, youth, and LGBTQ+ communities.

✦ What People Say

TESTIMONIALS

"Patty resonates authenticity as she tells her story. She uses her tumultuous and powerful journey as a tool for encouraging others to persist despite the barriers they face. Patty speaks with incredible poise and clarity as she connects with the audience. Her voice is needed in all spaces."

Megan Levitan

Director of Education

United Friends of the Children

"Patty was a fabulous moderator for our panel. She was thoughtful and thorough as she helped the students navigate questions. She had patience as the students shared their powerful story and contributed to the dialogue by sharing her own powerful journey. Patty is passionate, driven, and determined."

Jennifer Kottke, Ed.D.

Homeless Education Coordinator II

Los Angeles County Office of Education

"Liliana (Patty) has spoken at the Success is our Future event for foster youth who are part of the Los Angeles Probation Department. Her strong determination and desire to rise above her situation defined her presence as she spoke to an audience of 500. She is passionate and truly motivated."

Monique Chanaiwa

Supervising Deputy Probation Officer

Youth Development Services

✦ Media & Research