Dr. Aleida Murcia is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, educator, trainer, and clinical practitioner with over 10 years of experience in child welfare, behavioral health, clinical supervision, and professional development. She holds a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) from Barry University, a Master of Social Work (MSW), and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, San Bernardino.
Dr. Murcia brings eight years of experience in professional training, facilitation, and education. Her background includes emergency response, case management, supervision, and workforce development within public child welfare systems. She has facilitated training in Structured Decision Making (SDM), Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS), trauma-informed care, and legal and ethical issues in social work practice.
She also serves as an adjunct professor at UMass Global and National University, supporting the education and professional growth of future social workers. Additionally, she is the founder of Vida Plena Therapeutic Services, where she provides clinical services, professional consultation, and training.
Her areas of expertise include Child Welfare Services, Behavioral Health, Higher Education, trauma-informed practice, reflective supervision, secondary traumatic stress, and culturally responsive services. Her doctoral research focused on applying Polyvagal Theory to child welfare supervision to support emotional regulation and reduce secondary traumatic stress among professionals.
Dr. Murcia is passionate about empowering social work professionals through education, mentorship, and compassionate, evidence-informed practice.
Outside of her professional responsibilities, she enjoys reading, hiking, and dancing. These activities allow her to embrace creativity, maintain balance, and cultivate meaningful connections with others.
