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About Beatriz Martínez-Peñalver, LMHC
Licensed Psychotherapist • Founder of Triumph Steps® • Speaker • Advocate for Emotional Literacy
Beatriz Martinez-Penalver is a licensed psychotherapist who has worked in mental health for more than thirty years, walking alongside people through some of life’s hardest seasons.
About a decade ago, during a quiet moment of reflection, a single question came to her as if spoken aloud: “What are your thoughts that you want to become things?”
Drawing on decades of clinical practice and the growing body of neuroscience research, Beatriz understood that our thoughts shape the chemistry of the brain, influence behavior, and ultimately shape the lives we experience. In that moment, she realized that if this understanding could be taught as a skill, it could reach far beyond the walls of her office and change the course of lives, schools, and even entire professions.
From that insight, and guided by years of clinical experience, Beatriz brought together the tools that consistently produced the most meaningful results for her clients and shaped them into a clear, repeatable, science-based framework: Triumph Steps®. This program empowers children, teens, and adults to strengthen their minds the way they strengthen any other skill.
From that insight, and guided by years of clinical experience, Beatriz brought together the tools that consistently produced the most meaningful results for her clients and shaped them into a clear, repeatable, science-based framework: Triumph Steps®. This program empowers children, teens, and adults to strengthen their minds the way they strengthen any other skill.
Today, Beatriz’s mission is to decrease the progression of our current mental-health crisis not with crisis intervention alone, but by teaching the learnable skill of emotional well-being. Triumph Steps® equips schools, mental-health professionals, and legal teams with evidence-based practices that reduce stress, build resilience, and inspire lasting growth.
Advocate for Emotional Literacy & Mental Health
Beatriz is a passionate advocate for emotional well-being who has been recognized by the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Board for her dedication to students, their mental wellness, and emotional literacy nationwide. She has traveled across the country meeting with policymakers, educators, and parents to raise awareness about the critical role emotional literacy plays in shaping healthier futures.
Her mission extends beyond Triumph Steps. She is determined to ensure emotional literacy programs are included in every school across Florida and beyond. Beatriz believes that schools practicing Triumph Steps techniques are making a profound and lasting impact on students’ lives.
Founder of Healthy Connections
Beatriz is the cofounder and CEO of Healthy Connections, Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) in Miami, FL, which opened its doors in 2001. With a dedicated staff of 25 to 30 professionals, Healthy Connections has served thousands of children and adults dealing with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, schizophrenia, and other mental health conditions.
The center has been recognized multiple years by the Miami Herald’s Miami-Dade Favorites as one of the best mental health counseling centers in Miami, a reflection of its reputation for compassionate care, professional excellence, and lasting impact in the community.
Before establishing the center, Beatriz successfully ran a private practice where she guided patients through self-discovery and personal growth using the psychology of abundance, cognitive behavioral therapy, and meditation.
Triumph Steps: Emotional Literacy for All Ages
Triumph Steps® was created to address a gap often left in education: the focus on emotional development. While academics build knowledge and skills, Triumph Steps® equips students with the inner tools to manage their thoughts, build resilience, strengthen self-awareness, embrace personal responsibility, and choose healthier behaviors.
Grounded in neuroscience and positive psychology, the program transforms the way children and teens think, feel, and act—helping them grow into confident, inspired adults who thrive both in school and in life.
Though designed for students, Triumph Steps® has also proven powerful for adults. In clinical and coaching settings, its practical steps help individuals break free from limiting beliefs, align their daily habits with their vision, and create lives of purpose and fulfillment.
Public Speaker & Emotional Literacy Leader
As a sought-after keynote speaker, Beatriz brings a unique blend of science, inspiration, and practical strategies to audiences of all sizes. She has addressed entire school faculties, parent groups, university faculty retreats, legal professionals, and national organizations—delivering talks that are both transformational and actionable.
Her presentations go beyond motivation: they give audiences practical tools for change. Whether she is guiding educators to create calmer classrooms, helping legal professionals prevent burnout, or inspiring university leaders to foster resilience on campus, Beatriz highlights how emotional literacy builds strength, prevents exhaustion, and sparks lasting growth.
