Senior Consulting Clinician, The Center for Victims of Torture

Dr. Garcia-Peltoniemi obtained a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Minnesota and is a licensed psychologist in Minnesota. Rosa has worked at the Center for Victims of Torture since 1987. She served as the Director of Client Services at the Center from 1991 until September 2006 when she was named Senior Consulting Clinician. She retired from clinical work at the Center in October of 2020 where she now works on special projects on a part-time basis. Rosa came to the United States as a refugee at the age of 17. She completed her undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of Texas, Austin. She has lived in Minnesota since 1977; she is married and has children and grandchildren who value the mix of Cuban and Scandinavian (Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian) cultures in their upbringing.  

Rosa’s clinical and research background is in cross-cultural assessment and intervention with survivors of political trauma. She has lectured extensively on refugee mental health topics and served as a consultant for the National Institute of Mental Health’s Refugee Program. Rosa also served on the Committee on Scientific Freedom and Responsibility of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and charter member of its Division 56, Trauma Psychology.