Zapopan, Jalisco; October 14, 2025.—The School of Education and Psychology at the Guadalajara campus of the Universidad Panamericana , received the “Emotional Shield Against Child Abuse” certification from the Integra-T association.
With this accreditation, UP reinforces its commitment to preventing child abuse and providing comprehensive training in emotional health.
About Certification
Created 11 years ago by Gabriela Porras, M.A., a psychologist and specialist in the cognitive-behavioral model, this certification program aims to strengthen prevention, detection, and intervention efforts regarding child sexual abuse and violence through sexual psychoeducation and emotional training.
This model equips children with problem-solving skills and emotional skills, reducing their vulnerability and helping them reframe traumatic experiences through cognitive-behavioral therapy.
“The emotional armor model stems from the observation that, within a family system, there are children with different resources. We refer to these as ‘vulnerable personalities’ and ‘armored personalities.’ The central focus of the armored personality is the ability to solve problems and validate oneself as an individual,” explained Ms. Porras.
The Three Meta-Skills of Emotional Armor
The program is based on the development of three essential meta-skills that strengthen children's mental health:
- Emotional Self-Management: Identifying, Understanding, and Regulating Emotions
- Personal validation: ownership of one's body and responsibility for oneself
- Positive Leadership: Responsible Decisions, Empathy, and Creative Thinking
The Importance of Taking Action
During the ceremony, Ms. Porras emphasized the urgency of taking action in light of these alarming figures: 5.4 million children are abused each year worldwide. Of all reports of abuse, 90% are dismissed, and only 0.2% of cases receive effective therapeutic care.
“Silence doesn’t protect; prevention does. Staying silent or avoiding the issue doesn’t make the problem go away; talking about it and educating people is what truly protects us,”said Ms. Porras.
Commitment to Children
With this certification, the Guadalajara campus of theUniversidad Panamericana reaffirms its commitment to child protection and well-being by incorporating the Emotional Shielding model into its teacher and professional training programs.
The project aims to provide ongoing training to students and teachers on strategies for preventing and addressing abuse, while promoting a culture of respect, empathy, and emotional safety.
In this way, the“ Universidad Panamericana ” contributes to fostering a resilient childhood by reinforcing the human values that set its educational community apart.
