About Dr. Gutierrez
Dr. Gutierrez is devoted to working with BIPOC sexually and gender expansive communities and Women of Color in academia, with a dedicated focus on Latinx/e populations She has published and presented nationally on minority stress, intersectionality constructs of self and family systems, intercultural and interracial couple dynamics, cultural resiliencies, and multicultural humble care through an innovative intersectional ecological systems framework.
In addition, Dr. Gutierrez is dedicated to advancing diversity and equity initiatives, serving on the advisory board for the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Minority Fellowship Program (AAMFT MFP) and the editorial advisory board for Family Process, a leading journal in family therapy.
Clinically, she uses a narrative, experiential, and feminist approach, incorporating techniques of advocacy and empowerment. Dr Gutierrez has served as clinical coordinator and family therapist for the LGBTQ Counseling Clinic in Iowa, and The Gender & Family Project at the Ackerman Institute for the Family in New York City. These experiences and belonging to the BIPOC LGBTQ+ community, have laid the foundation for her interdisciplinary clinical work nationwide.
Publications & Presentations
Gutierrez, D., Price, A. & Warner, J. (2025). Applying the Satir Growth Model with sexually and gender minority Latine communities and minority stress processes. Person Centered and Experiential Therapies. 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/14779757.2025.2519232
**Sheshadri, G. & Gutierrez, D. (2024). Interracial and intercultural couples and their families: A clinician’s guide. American Family Therapy Academy Springerbriefs in Family Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-58538-8 **co-authorship
Gutierrez, D., Leake, K., Rago, C., Rodriguez-Jimenez, K., Schiff, B. & McGee, S. (2024). Loss of safe spaces: Ambiguous loss and minority stressors of BIPOC LGBTQ+ communities amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. Sexual and Gender Diversity in Social Services, 1-27 https://doi.org/10.1080/29933021.2024.2407346
Gutierrez, D., Gonzalez, C., & Seshadri, G. (2022) We're the unicorns: Exploring experiences of Latina graduate women utilizing an intersectional Latina critical theory framework. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 28(1), 130–139. https://doi.org/10.1037/pac0000595
Gutierrez, D. (2018). The role of intersectionality in marriage and family therapy multicultural supervision. American Journal of Family Therapy, 46(1), 14-26. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2018.1437573 #15 Most read of all time in AJFT
Gutierrez, D., GMLA (2025, October 10-11). [Accepted] Facing the most insidious minority stressor: Examining protective factors for sexually expansive Latina/e/x women. GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality. Minneapolis, MN. Untied States.
Gutierrez, D. (2024, December 10). Minority resiliency using a narrative lens. [Virtual Workshop]. Casey Foundation, CA, United States.
Mahdavi, R. & Gutierrez, D. (2023, February 11). Application of EFCT with Diverse Couples: Trans and Non-binary Couples. 2nd Annual CFT Student Conference, Irvine, CA, United States.
Gutierrez, D. (2022, July 28-30) “The Greatest Path to Acceptance is to Know We Exist:” Capturing Narratives of Sexually Diverse Latinx in Nebraska. The National LGBTQ Health Conference, Chicago, IL, United States.
Education, Licensure & Certifications
2019 Ph.D., The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Major: Couple and Family Therapy
Dissertation: Adapting and Utilizing the Minority Stress Model: Adding Sexually Marginalized Latinx Voices and Cultural Factors
Chair: Dr. Armeda Wojciak
2018 Certificate: College Teaching, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
2016 M.A., Mount Mercy University, Cedar Rapids, IA
Major: Marriage and Family Therapy
Thesis: The Relationship Between Religiosity and Acceptance of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Latinos
Chair: Dr. Jacob Christenson
2011 B.A., The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA Major: Interdepartmental Health Studies Emphasis: Human Sexuality
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (New York #001774)
Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (Nebraska #5810)
American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Clinical Fellow
American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Approved Supervisor