Dr. Patsy Manzanares
Board Certified Addiction Psychologist
Dr. Patsy Manzanares is a bilingual (English & Spanish) licensed clinical psychologist and the first and only psychologist in Puerto Rico to hold board certification in Addiction Psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), a distinction held by only 40 psychologists across the entire United States and its territories.With over 10 years of experience in addiction treatment and mental health care, Dr. Manzanares brings a rare combination of specialized expertise, rigorous peer-reviewed training, and deep cultural competency to her work. She is the founder of Grounding Deeper LLC, where she provides personalized therapeutic services through telehealth, in-person sessions, and concierge care for individuals navigating substance use disorders and co-occurring conditions.Dr. Manzanares completed her fellowship training at Hazelden Betty Ford, one of the nation's most respected addiction treatment centers, and has served complex clinical populations across a range of settings, including federal corrections. She has also served as a consultant at Ashford Community Hospital in Condado, Puerto Rico.Her patients receive something that has never existed on the island before, care grounded in the highest nationally recognized standard of addiction psychology, delivered with warmth, cultural sensitivity, and an unwavering commitment to healing.
Educator and Presenter
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Manzanares is a passionate educator, having taught at Pacific University in Oregon and Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School in Minnesota. Her academic focus includes substance use disorders, co-occurring mental health conditions, and culturally competent care, particularly for the Latinx community.
She has also contributed to professional publications and led numerous workshops on addiction, resilience, and wellness.
Experience
Dr. Patsy Manzanares completed a residency and fellowship at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, which is a world renowned substance use treatment center. She provided comprehensive mental health services across detox, residential, and outpatient settings, conducting individual and group therapy, diagnostic assessments, and crisis interventions for patients with substance use and co-occurring disorders. Dr. Manzanares played a critical role in developing procedures for psychiatric referrals and rounding in medical and detox units. In addition, she mentored psychology interns and collaborated with multidisciplinary teams, including medical professionals and addiction counselors, to ensure holistic patient care.
Prior to this, Dr. Manzanares gained valuable experience working with incarcerated individuals at the Federal Corrections Institution in Miami, Florida and as a trainee at Alliance for Psychological Services. At the federal prison, she facilitated group therapy in the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP), providing treatment in both English and Spanish. She conducted diagnostic interviews and suicide risk assessments for individuals at various security levels, including solitary confinement. At Alliance for Psychological Services, she worked with individuals involved in the legal system, providing court-ordered therapy for domestic violence and sex offenders.
fun facts about Dr. Manzanares
She has eight tattoos.
She loves the Real Housewives shows.
She loves the band Queen.