Silvia Pera
Advanced Trainee
CLIENT FOCUS
Queer and trans youth, adolescents, and young adults, as well as clients from marginalized communities who may benefit from affirming, inclusive assessment practices.
ASSESSMENT APPROACH
Social-emotional
Assumption Free
Inclusive
Trust Building
ISSUES COVERED
LGBTQ+ Affirming Assessment
Identity Development
Social-Emotional Functioning
Diverse Population Support
Cognitive Assessment
ADHD
Silvia's identity as a nonbinary and queer clinician provides crucial representation for LGBTQ+ youth, creating an assessment environment where clients can explore how their identity intersects with their learning and development.
• Their inclusive, assumption-free approach encourages authentic sharing from clients, particularly around sensitive topics related to gender, sexuality, and personal experiences that may impact academic and social functioning.
• Silvia's diverse background working with marginalized populations—including those experiencing homelessness, substance use, and grief—brings important perspective to understanding the complex factors affecting youth development.
"I have seen the life-changing impact of assessment diagnosis on people's lives and the relief they often feel having a name for what makes them struggle or succeed. For me, assessment is a tool for self-understanding and an avenue to access the resources and support clients need."
- Silvia Pera
Silvia Pera is an Advanced Trainee working under supervision at Mind Matters, specializing in comprehensive evaluations for children, adolescents, and young adults, with particular expertise in working with queer and trans clients,
ADHD evaluations, and outpatient settings. As a nonbinary and queer clinician, Silvia brings lived experience and deep understanding to their work with LGBTQ+ youth and families, creating an inclusive assessment environment free of assumptions that often encourages clients to share their authentic experiences.
Silvia's social-emotional approach to assessment prioritizes safety and trust-building throughout the evaluation process. Understanding that assessments can be exhausting and frustrating for clients, Silvia works to ease the process as much as possible, helping clients feel comfortable and supported at every step. Their warm, affirming presence allows young people to share aspects of their identity, experiences, and challenges that might otherwise remain hidden.
Beyond their core specialties, Silvia has experience conducting assessments for cognitive decline and social-emotional functioning, as well as providing individual therapy for adolescents and adults and couples therapy. Their background includes working with diverse populations, including clients struggling with homelessness, substance use, and grief, giving them a broad understanding of the complex factors that can impact learning and development.
What sets Silvia apart is their unique identity and perspective as one of the few assessors who identifies as nonbinary and queer. This representation matters deeply for LGBTQ+ youth who may finally see themselves reflected in their clinician. Silvia's inclusive approach often encourages younger clients to explore how their gender identity and sexuality affect their academics and personal life—connections that might be overlooked in more traditional assessment settings.
Silvia has witnessed firsthand the life-changing impact of assessment and diagnosis, understanding the profound relief clients often feel when they finally have a name for what makes them struggle or succeed. For Silvia, assessment serves as both a tool for self-understanding and an avenue to access the resources and support clients need to thrive.
Working under close supervision, Silvia combines their natural empathy and inclusivity with the guidance of experienced clinicians, ensuring that clients receive both affirming care and comprehensive evaluation services.
Outside of their clinical work, Silvia enjoys attending queer line dancing, reading voraciously, and playing with their cat.