We recently connected with Luz Maria Villanueva and have shared our conversation below.

Luz Maria, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you ever experienced a times when your entire field felt like it was taking a U-Turn?

Yes — I’ve seen more U-turns than a taxi driver in Manhattan.
When I began my career in 1980, psychology was a stiff-collared world that spoke mostly of disorders and diagnoses. We searched endlessly for what was wrong with people. But the road curved. The field began to loosen its tie, open its heart, and remember that the human spirit is not a case file.
Now we talk of wholeness, mindfulness, and the sacred dance between mind, body, and soul. We no longer treat love, desire, or emotion as taboos but as the heartbeat of true healing. I’ve watched psychology turn itself inside out—from fixing people to freeing them, from analysis to aliveness.
And through every turn, I’ve stayed at the wheel, smiling, because what a beautiful thing it is to witness science finally remember its humanity.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I suppose I’ve always been fascinated by what makes us tick — the mystery between biology and behavior.
That curiosity led me into psychology, then down the winding road of the brain and its secret languages. I taught it for years in college, loved every neuron and nuance. But science grew — and so did I. Psychology began stretching its limbs toward mindfulness, the body, and consciousness. The field softened; it remembered its humanity. That opening called me to explore the spaces between the measurable and the mystical.
I stepped into the study of Tantra, the chakras, and spirituality — not to escape science, but to let it breathe. I became a Life, Sex, and Intimacy Coach, a bridge between the East and the West, the sacred and the practical, where I could ask scientific questions about soulful things.
Today, I work with individuals and couples — in English and Spanish — helping them rediscover connection, intimacy, and pleasure. My sessions and workshops explore communication, desire, orgasm, the quiet grief of disconnection, and the bold work of rebuilding intimacy after health challenges or heartbreak. I also lead retreats, speak internationally, and share conversations through writing, podcasts, and soon my own show. My book Let’s Talk Sex and Money opens a dialogue that too many are still afraid to have — about love, intimacy, and the value we give to both.
What sets me apart isn’t a formula. It’s a philosophy: I see people as whole beings, not broken puzzles. A client may come to me with “low libido,” and the easy answer would be a label or a pill. But I look deeper — nutrition, exhaustion, the weight of unspoken emotion. Discovery is our sacred work.
I’ve learned from some of the best — Dr. Esther Perel’s teachings on relationships, Stefanie Faye’s insights into neurocognition, the Pesi network’s continuing education, and the tantric depth of Layla Martin. But my greatest teachers are my clients. They remind me daily that we’re walking this path together — fragile, fierce, and full of grace.
I live my purpose with every session: to help people feel alive again.
Because life — with its dark corners, quiet mornings, and wild, delicious nights — is meant to be lived with passion.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Beyond degrees and certifications, success in my field begins with connection — the kind that allows others to feel truly seen. Networking, to me, is sacred; it’s about genuine relationships, not transactions. My best referrals have always come from clients who experienced transformation and chose to share it.

I make it a practice to observe leaders I admire — not to copy them, but to learn how passion and purpose merge through their work. Growth, I’ve discovered, requires humility: the willingness to recognize my weaknesses and the courage to ask for help.

And through it all, I’ve learned to trust myself — to listen to intuition, try new approaches, and stay curious. In this work, the heart is the real credential.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When I began my business, I started with nothing but vision, faith, and a deep conviction that my purpose was to help others heal and reconnect. There was no financial cushion—only the determination to keep creating even when resources were scarce.
I made sacrifices: saying no to concerts, trips, even small luxuries like a new shirt or a night out. Every dollar went into writing books, designing workshops, hosting events—often for free—just to get my name out there. I was selling not a product, but my own capacity to serve, to inspire, to guide transformation.
I launched my business and a nonprofit just before COVID hit, navigating technology I was still learning, building a presence from home while many misunderstood my quiet persistence as laziness. But I knew this was my calling, not a job.
What kept me going were the moments my clients transformed—their breakthroughs became my fuel. Each time I witnessed healing, I felt Spirit whisper, “Keep going, this is why you’re here.”
Resilience, to me, is not about pushing harder—it’s about trusting deeper. This journey has been the heart in action, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.discoverpassionwithdrluz.com
• Instagram: discoverpassionwithdrluz
• Facebook: Discover Passion With Dr. Luz
• Linkedin: linktr.ee/discoverpassionwithdrluz
• Yelp: Discover Passion With Dr. Luz Maria
• Other: My non-profit Latinaswithpurpose.org