Caridad Benavides Martinez, MD

Child and adolescent psychiatry, perinatal psychiatry, anxiety disorders, OCD, psychosis, Neuropsychiatry

use of AI, natural language processing, and neuroimaging to better understand risk and resilience in youth at clinical high risk for severe mental illness

fMRI Pilot Award, Columbia University
Awarded for research in neuroimaging and early psychosis.

Visiting Scholarship – MRI Fellowship, Harvard University
Selected for advanced training in neuroimaging techniques.

Koplowitz Fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Columbia University

Dr. Caridad Benavides is a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist, recently graduated from Stanford University, where she completed her fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. During her training, she focused on the complex interplay between medical conditions and mental health, gaining extensive experience in the Neuropsychiatry and Anxiety Clinics. Her clinical work has emphasized evidence-based modalities such as Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and early childhood interventions, alongside a growing interest in digital health solutions for youth.

Originally trained in Spain, Dr. Benavides brings a global perspective shaped by clinical experiences across Europe, Australia, and the United States. Prior to her move to the U.S., she worked as a child psychiatry attending and held academic and research roles that deepened her commitment to global mental health. Her clinical and research interests span early childhood, adolescent psychiatry, reproductive and perinatal mental health, and early psychosis. She has particular expertise in working with youth experiencing mood, trauma-related, and psychotic disorders.

Dr. Benavides is also passionate about medical education, mentorship, and integrating research into clinical practice. She seeks to advance child psychiatry through a holistic, developmentally informed, and globally minded approach.