Founded and directed by a group of licensed mental health experts, each with more than 15 years of clinical experience, Healthy Connections CMHC, Inc. offers a variety of professional services. We at Healthy Connections, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, mental health and certified addiction counselors among others are dedicated to provide effective treatment modalities based on the latest psychiatric and psychological research.

Our goal is to implement proven treatment methods to decrease the individual's negative symptoms and to increase their level of emotional functioning.

In our Community Mental Health Center, we believe in providing professional services in a sensitive manner that is insightful and tailored to the culture and needs of each individual. We strive to preserve human dignity in our treatment and therapeutic environment.

Lourdes Badia, Psy.D. LMHC
Director

Dr. Badia has worked in the field of Mental Health Services for several years. She has dedicated herself professionally to serving the community through provision of psychological mental health services. She has extensive experience working with individuals and families who struggle with substance abuse issues. Throughout her professional career, Lourdes has worked through Miami-Dade at various Mental Health Clinics and Centers. Dr. Badia received a Masters Degree in 1988 from St. Thomas University and a Doctoral Degree in 2000 from Miami Institute of Psychology. She completed her doctoral internship at Miami Children’s Hospital in 2001. Dr. Badia is currently cohosting various radio and television programs that constitute mental health issues within the community.

Prince R. Drago, LMHC
Director

Ms. Drago has worked in the field of mental health for more than fifteen years. Her educational background includes a Bachelors from Purdue University in 1983 and a Masters from the Miami Institute of Psychology in 1986. In addition, Ms. Drago completed her doctoral course work at the Miami Institute of Psychology in 1991. She completed her Doctoral Internship at Miami Children’s Hospital in 1992. Ms. Drago’s professional experience includes providing services as a staff member at Miami Children’s Hospital. Over the tenure of her career, she has worked in private practice and as a consultant in various Community Mental Health Centers in the Miami area. Throughout her career, she has gained valuable clinical and evaluative skills that enlist her as a desired clinician in the area of Mental Health Counseling.

Beatriz Martinez-Peñalver, LMHC
Director

Ms. Martinez-Peñalver has worked in the field of Mental Health for fifteen years. She earned a Masters Degree in Mental Health from Nova University in 1992. In addition to maintaining a successful private practice, Ms. Martinez-Peñalver was employed with Jackson Memorial Hospital for many years specializing in the field of substance abuse, dual diagnosis, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorders and other mental health conditions.
As an experienced therapist, Ms. Martinez-Peñalver’s credentials have allowed her opportunities to participate in local radio and television programming.

Jose M. Valdivia
Co-Medical Director

Dr. Valdivia graduated from the University of Salamanca, Spain. Dr. Valdivia completed his fellowship in Geriatric Psychiatry at Mount Sinai. Throughout his career, Dr. Valdivia has held various department director positions at several community health centers throughout Miami-Dade. In addition, he leads the department at Healthy Connections CMHC, specializing in Geriatric Psychiatry.

“If the need to enhance your health and quality of life is essential, give us an opportunity to know you and serve you.” - Healthy Connections CMHC