For mental health therapist Stella Vidal, each person has the capacity to find happiness. She approaches each client’s situation with a comprehensive and holistic look at how their minds, bodies, and souls react to their environment. Throughout her particular process, Vidal acknowledges that a person’s happiness may seem “weird” or incompatible to others. However, she defines progress as the ability to embrace one’s concept of happiness without allowing others’ opinions to hinder their progress.
To keep her clients engaged and looking forward to every weekly coaching session, Stella Vidal incorporates creativity into her mental health and wellness practice. In addition to her profession as a therapist, Vidal is also an artist, a certified personal trainer, and a nationally certified wellness coach. She is also a published author. Her book, 7 Intentions to a Happier You!, enables her to engage with a wider audience on maximizing their capacity to find happiness.
“I have experienced a multitude of things in my life and found success through my positive mindset. I have finally come around to put it all together and now I’m ready to share it with the world,” explains Stella Vidal.
Vidal was born in Cali, Colombia. As a teenager, she witnessed how the drug cartels slowly took over her country. Fortunately, her father managed to secure a visa and, eventually, a green card, which allowed them to move to and stay in the United States. Vidal and her family arrived in New York in September 1986 when Stella was 16.
For months, Stella Vidal and her 6-person family stayed with her aunt and cousin in their one-bedroom apartment. Soon after, Stella’s father enrolled her in the local high school. She then left for college a year later as a Minority Honors scholar. Her father vehemently opposed her leaving for college, as it was not a Hispanic tradition. He drew the line and Stella opted to follow her instinct. Stella left home prematurely at the age of 17, and six months later, she graduated from highschool.
Stella’s decision to leave for college was a leap into the unknown. She paid her own way through her schooling. Stella Vidal’s assimilation to the American culture was seamless, and she particularly liked the value for freedom, self-sufficiency, and success.
Stella Vidal earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and later obtained a master’s degree in mental health counseling from Nova South Eastern University in 1997. With her education and training, she has worked with various mental health agencies, providing mental health services to clients as a case manager, mental health therapist, and life coach.
As a multifaceted individual, Stella purchased a mortgage company with her husband and enjoyed great financial success. However, the 2008 economic recession happened and they had to close their business. Stella, along with thousands in Miami, were looking for employment. Then came the loving suggestion of Stella’s son to start modeling. Stella scheduled her first photoshoot at the age of 37 and was immediately hired to start modeling and acting in both Latin and English-speaking TV shows. Stella was published in several magazines and appeared regularly in Telemundo and CBS 4 as a reporter.
Stella Vidal then wrote, produced and hosted Livin La Vida Miami. The show featured local businesses that provided fitness, entertainment, talent, and charitable efforts to the community. It was Stella’s creative way of helping local businesses in Miami through the recession. Livin La Vida Miami became an instant hit and ran for 4 years both locally and nationally. Stella then chose to stay close to home to raise her young son and refocus on her first love: helping others find true happiness.
Today, Stella runs her own mental health and wellness coaching business and it’s approaching its 20th year anniversary. Not even the COVID-19 pandemic has stopped her from pursuing her passions. Always quick to adopt creative solutions, Stella Vidal has been doing hundreds of telehealth sessions with clients dealing with severe mental health issues. Vidal’s passion allows her to also run a successful real estate business in Miami and volunteer in her community helping the less fortunate.
This story of a 50-year-old Latina spreading a message of self-love is inspiring people everywhere to reach for their happiness.
Learn more about Stella Vidal by visiting her website.
