Meet the CAPS Staff

Counseling Staff

The UHS Counseling staff is a multicultural group of professional counselors and psychiatrists. Counselors include psychologists, social workers, and advanced-level trainees. We try to accommodate students’ preferences regarding counseling gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.

Photo

Name

Biography

Tegan Adams, PsyD

Tegan Adams, PsyD

Licensed Psychologist

Pronouns: she/her

Tegan (she/her) is a licensed clinical and sport psychologist, who recently joined CAPS in 2022. She has spent her career in college counseling and has a background in working with undergraduate and graduate students in individual (and partner) brief therapy, crisis assessment, and support; working on performance, mental skills, and mental health and wellness with student-athletes; and has led graduate and undergraduate therapy groups. Tegan earned her master's degree in Sport Psychology and a doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She is also a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC-AASP) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. 

Tegan's approach is supportive, culturally informed, strengths-based, and solution-focused. She enjoys collaborating with students to identify and share what they need or want and empower them to head in a direction that feels better through building self-awareness, self-acceptance, and self-confidence. She is very excited to be here supporting UC Berkeley students.  

She grew up in the Pacific Northwest and has called the Bay Area home for more than 15 years. She enjoys spending time outside (on or near the water) with her family, and having coffee!

Clinical interests: Strengths-based focus, transitions, stress/anxiety, supervision, multicultural counseling, relationship concerns, motivation and habits, student-athlete and graduate student concerns 

Laura Alie

Laura Alie, PsyD

Licensed Psychologist

Assistant Director, Hospital/High-Risk Team

Pronouns: she/they

Laura Alie (she/they) joined the UHS CAPS team in 2012 as a postdoctoral fellow and was hired as a staff psychologist in 2013. Laura received a BS in psychology from Texas Woman’s University, where she was an intercollegiate athlete and a doctorate in psychology from John F. Kennedy University. In 2018 Laura received the Chancellor’s Outstanding Staff Award at UC Berkeley for her work with queer and TGD communities on campus. In 2019 Laura joined the CAPS management team as the Assistant Director of High-Risk & Post Hospital Treatment Programs.  Since 2007 Laura has served in multiple roles on the Executive Board of the American Psychological Association’s Division 44 (LGBTQ+ Psychology.)

Before becoming a Psychologist, Laura had a fulfilling career as an organic farmer. Laura still enjoys growing fruits and vegetables in their backyard garden and loves spending time with family and friends outdoors. Laura’s dog Charlie always comes along! 

Clinical Interests: Transgender/gender diverse (TGD) identity development, multicultural identity development, post-hospitalization care, first-generation college student concerns, crisis response, and creating clinical systems that reduce barriers to care.   

Adisa Anderson, PhD

Licensed Psychologist

Assistant Director, Grants and Special Populations Program

Adisa Anderson, Ph.D., is a licensed counseling psychologist who joined the UHS CAPS team in
 2014. Dr. Anderson earned his BA in Cognitive Psychology from UC Irvine and his PhD in 
Counseling Psychology from Washington State University. He completed his doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship at UHS CAPS. Dr. Anderson was then hired as a senior staff psychologist
at CAPS in 2016. In 2021, Dr. Anderson transitioned into a CAPS leadership and management
 team role as the assistant director of the Grants and Special Populations Program.

Dr. Anderson has engaged in extensive efforts at UC Berkeley to promote the mental health and 
well-being of Black, Indigenous, POC, as well as other underserved communities. These efforts 
have been advanced by serving on numerous committees over the years including the Chancellor’s Committee for developing an anti-racist campus framework, the Chancellor’s
 Independent Advisory Board on Police Accountability and Community Safety, Black Leadership Collective,
 Black Staff & Faculty Organization, and the African American Mental Health Team.
 Over the years, Dr. Anderson has also served at the national level in various leadership
 capacities with the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Association of Black
 Psychologists (ABPSI). In 2019, Dr. Anderson was selected as the Leadership Development 
Institute Fellow for the Society of Counseling Psychology, highlighting his social justice, 
leadership, and advocacy skills, while demonstrating a commitment to promoting mental health 
and well-being within underserved communities.

Dr. Anderson’s clinical work and research are grounded in an integrative praxis of a liberation 
psychology framework, anti-oppression lens, and social justice philosophy. His research
 interests and publication areas include Black racial identity, equity and inclusion, psychological
 oppression, and academic persistence. Dr. Anderson specializes in providing culturally
 competent mental health services, including psychotherapy (holistic health and wellness,
 complex trauma, relationships, family of origin concerns, substance use, men’s concerns, Black, 
Indigenous, POC), consultation, group therapy, professional development workshops, and
 continuing education training on multicultural mental health competency, as well as social
 justice, leadership, and advocacy.  

Elizabeth Aranda, PhD

Elizabeth Aranda, PhD

Licensed Psychologist

Wellness Coordinator at Multicultural Community Center & bridges Multicultural Resource Center

Elizabeth Aranda joined the UHS CAPS team in 2015. She completed her undergraduate education at The University of Texas at Austin and her Master's and Ph.D. degrees in psychology at Texas Woman’s University. Dr. Aranda currently serves as the Wellness Coordinator for the Multicultural Community Center and bridges Multicultural Resource Center where she engages in culturally informed therapy that utilizes a holistic and decolonized lens. In 2018, Dr. Aranda received the Chancellor’s Outstanding Staff Award at UC Berkeley for her dedicated service to the campus community, and in 2016 and 2020 she was honored with Presidential Citation(s) from the National Latinx Psychological Association for her leadership-centering sexual and gender diverse Latinx persons. In her free time, she enjoys running, reading tarot cards, and creating new traditions with her wife. 

Dr. Aranda is committed to addressing healing and wellness within queer communities of color. Her clinical focuses within these communities include academic performance, anxiety, coping skills, family issues (challenges), identity development (race/ethnicity, sexuality, gender, and spiritual), “people-pleasing," relationship concerns, and stress management. 

Bianca Barrios headshot

Bianca Barrios, PhD

Licensed Psychologist

Undocumented Student Program Counselor

Bianca Barrios earned her PhD as a first-generation college student from Washington State University’s Counseling Psychology program. She joined the CAPS team in 2018 as a postdoctoral fellow and as a licensed psychologist for the Undocumented Student Program in 2019. Bianca grew up in Los Angeles County with a mixed-status family. As a licensed psychologist, her areas of focus include students of color and undocumented/immigrant students college adjustment and persistence, Latinx mental health, LGBTQ affirmative therapy, and women’s concerns. She possesses an unwavering commitment to social justice and advocacy. When working with students she aims to co-create a space built on trust and compassion where students can feel comfortable bringing in all parts of themselves to begin the process of exploration, learning, and healing. 

Additional Languages: Spanish

A Licensed Psychologist is pictured

William Berkhout, PsyD

Licensed Psychologist

Pronouns: he/him

Bill is a licensed psychologist who joined the CAPS team in 2022. Before coming to CAPS, Bill was a staff psychologist and served as the Assistant Director of Outreach and Prevention Services at the Counseling Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign. He graduated with a PsyD in clinical psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2018 and earned both a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign in 2011. Bill’s experience in various community mental health and university counseling settings has furthered a passion for community-based intervention, predominantly through the lenses of critical theory, as well as feminist and liberation psychologies. These same theoretical frameworks also inform Bill’s individual and group counseling approaches as well, striving to create affirming and inclusive therapeutic spaces where empathy and insight work in partnership with empowerment and advocacy.

When away from work, Bill enjoys time with family, hiking, other outdoor activities, traveling, organic gardening, music, cooking, and being cautiously optimistic about his hometown Chicago sports teams.

Clinical interests: critical theory and liberation psychologies; community psychology; expressive arts; antiracism and mental health; personal/cultural/academic/professional identity exploration and development; Latinx student mental health; Native and Indigenous student mental health; Fine and Applied Arts student mental health; supporting undocumented students; trauma-informed healing; mindfulness and meditation. 

Sasha Blum

Sasha Blum, PsyD

Licensed Psychologist

Sasha Blum started her career at CAPS as a postdoctoral fellow in 2002. After spending three years in private practice, she joined CAPS as a staff psychologist in 2006.  Sasha received her bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Florida and her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Akron. From 2006-2016 she served as the psychologist for the Incentive Awards Program, a scholarship program for first-generation, low-income, underrepresented students. Since 2016, Sasha has served the general student population, providing both individual and group services. She has also been active in the training program and served for one year as the Interim Postdoctoral Training Coordinator. Sasha enjoys running, racing, and spending time with her friends and five children.   

Clinical Interests: Consensual non-monogamy and polyamory, sex-positive subcultures (eg., the kink community), identity development, and first-generation and low-income college students.

Don Capone, PsyD, JD

Licensed Psychologist

Haas School of Business Counselor

Pronouns: he/any

Don Capone (he/any), PsyD, JD, is a first-generation, queer-identified, Italian-American who grew up in NYC in a largely immigrant home. Don has lived and worked in the SF Bay Area for almost 20 years. He is a full-time staff psychologist at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business with specialized training in anxiety reduction (including mindfulness-based stress reduction), conflict resolution, and leadership wellness coaching.

Don particularly enjoys working with students in psychology, business, and law. His counseling style is warm, curious, collaborative, culturally responsive, LGBTQI2S- affirmative, gentle but direct, humorous, and very interactive. Don is experienced in insight-oriented/dynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and solution-focused approaches. He typically customizes his supportive, engaged approach to meet students’ important needs and preferences. Don’s overall goal is always to increase students’ self-awareness, help alleviate emotional burdens, improve relationships with self and others, and enhance the quality of life so that students can realize their potential at Berkeley and beyond. Wellness and success are intertwined! 

Clinical interests: Couples counseling, conflict resolution, relationship challenges, cognitive-behavioral approaches to reducing anxiety, brief psychodynamic psychotherapy, LGBTQ+ stressors, strategies for managing ADHD, mental health law, coping with a loved one's mental illness, and self-esteem/body image.

Kin Ming Chan, PhD

Licensed Psychologist

Pronouns: he/him

Kin Ming Chan, Ph.D., joined CAPS in 2009. He is Chinese and from Hong Kong. He received his doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Western Michigan University. His main roles in CAPS are providing counseling services for students, offering drop-in consultations, running counseling groups, and providing supervision to training staff. He is bilingual in English and Cantonese. 

Clinical interests: multicultural issues, LGBTQ issues, mindfulness, unconditional self-love, and self-empowerment.

Additional Languages: Cantonese

Richard Chiovarelli, PsyD

Licensed Psychologist

Pronouns: he/him

Richard (he/him) is a licensed psychologist who joined the UHS CAPS team after working at several schools and universities in the Bay Area as a teacher and mental health counselor. He grew up in the Northeast of the US and moved to California for graduate school. Richard greatly enjoys supporting students through transitions and life events and assisting students in further developing their sense of identity. 

One of Richard's strongest interests is helping graduate students navigate the ups and downs of life, grad school, and career development. In addition to supporting students in individual counseling, Richard has also been facilitating the Graduate Men's Support Group at CAPS since 2013. Richard has a practical, action-oriented, solution-focused, culturally responsive, interactive, and collaborative counseling style. He deeply values respect, empathy, and equity, and interweaves his empathic nature and strategic thinking into his counseling and committee work.

Clinical interests: Fulfilling one's academic/career potential, life transitions, relationship challenges, couples therapy, stress/anxiety, family issues, and multicultural counseling.

Mar Chung, PhD

Licensed Psychologist

Pronouns: they/he

Mar Chung (they or he) joined CAPS as a licensed staff psychologist in 2022, and was previously a postdoctoral fellow from 2020-2021. From the Bay Area, they went to UC Davis for their undergraduate degree in Psychology and minor in Sexuality Studies. They received their Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Mar identifies as many things, including nonbinary/trans, queer, Asian American, thin, temporarily able-bodied, and middle class. A child of refugees/immigrants was raised in a multi-lingual, multi-generational home. From this upbringing, they learned the power of community and collaboration, and believe in the importance of context in understanding people. Since their practicum training, they sought to work with BIPOC QT university students and continue to grow their expertise in supporting these populations. They have worked in university counseling centers for most of their clinical training and practice.

In a session, Mar is validating, warm, genuine, and collaborative. They try to model compassion and honesty with their clients. For fun, they play guitar, write songs, take naps, and spend time with loved ones.

Clinical interests: shame, perfectionism, procrastination, self-acceptance, family of origin concerns, gender, queerness, navigating differing levels of power and privilege in relationships with self and others, self-compassion, codependency, social anxiety, and spirituality.

Peter Cornish

Peter Cornish, PhD

Co-Director, Student Mental Health

Pronouns: he/him

Dr. Peter Cornish is the Director of Counseling and Psychological Services at UHS and an Honorary Research Professor at the Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada. His clinical and research interests include online mental health, stepped-care treatments, mental health service innovations, and inter-professional team functioning.

Over the past five years, Dr. Cornish has provided consultation and on-site training on his Stepped Care 2.0 model to over 150 organizations across North America. His nonprofit company, Stepped Care Solutions, is the lead partner on Wellness Together Canada, a federal COVID-19 $70M mental health program for all peoples of Canada. Dr. Cornish is the principal investigator for a $1.14M four-year research grant aimed at digitizing and evaluating Stepped Care 2.0 across two Canadian provinces. Currently, he is collaborating with colleagues in the US and Canada on a three-book series on Stepped Care 2.0.

Claytie Davis III, PhD, ABPP

Licensed Psychologist

Co-Director, Student Mental Health

Claytie Davis III, Ph.D., ABPP, is a board-certified Counseling Psychologist who joined the UHS CAPS team in 1999. Claytie received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from The University of Texas, Austin. Claytie is passionate about training and has served on the board of directors for the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC).  Claytie's research interests include training in supervision, the application of stereotype threat theory, and ethics. He has served on the editorial boards of The Counseling Psychologist, Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, and Training and Education in Professional Psychology

Clinical interests: Multicultural counseling, supervision issues, black racial identity and mental health/academic performance, career and life development coaching, and ethics

Laura Gramling, PsyD

Licensed Psychologist

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Dr. Gramling earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Palo Alto University after completing her predoctoral internship with the Memphis VA Medical Center. Her training emphasis has been in neuropsychology and she completed a 2 year fellowship in neuropsychology at San Francisco Neuropsychology. Dr. Gramling's area of expertise is in neuropsychological assessment. She has worked with patients with neurodevelopmental disorders (Autism, ADHD, and learning disorders), traumatic brain injury, stroke, neurocognitive disorders, and various psychiatric disorders.

Denise Goitia CSW

Denise Goitia, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Pronouns: she/her

Denise Goitia joined UHS in 2020 as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She was previously working for the University of Massachusetts Amherst at the Center for Counseling and Psychological Health. Denise received her BA in Anthropology from Georgetown University and her MSW from Smith College. She has a background in massage, holistic health, and herbalism. She loves supporting local farms, hiking, cooking, and riding her bike. 

Clinical Interests: Trauma and resilience (EMDR trained), somatic and spiritual work, internal family systems/integrating parts work, person in community, holistic approaches including mindfulness practices, LGBTQIA+ support, anti-racism, and cultural humility, international students including undocumented and refugee/asylees, couples and families, graduate students, transfer students, non-traditional aged students, feminist theory, and identity development.

Additional Languages: Spanish  

Matt Goodman, PhD

Licensed Psychologist

Assistant Director Quality Assurance and Research

Pronouns: he/him

Matt Goodman (he/him) joined the CAPS staff in 2008. Matt received a BA in Psychology from UCLA and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Oregon. Matt is the manager of the CAPS Data and Quality Assurance Program. In this role, he is exploring how to utilize data with a heart to support the development of CAPS services that promote student wellness. Matt is excited about identifying meaningful metrics for students and staff and integrating quantitative and qualitative methods into his work.

Matt’s clinical interests include working with men and emotions, exploring spirituality as a resource for wellness, and supporting students experiencing grief and loss. Matt frequently integrates mindfulness and self-compassion into his work.

When not working, Matt enjoys being with his family, hiking amongst the redwoods, exploring Bay Area beaches, reading science fiction, cooking (he is especially proud of his matzah ball soup), and Jewish Meditation.

Carrie Guthrie, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Clinical Director

Pronouns: she/her

Carrie Guthrie, LCSW, (she/her/hers) joined UHS in 2007. She completed her BA in Psychology and Anthropology at UC Berkeley and her AM in Clinical Social Work at the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. After completing a postgraduate fellowship at CAPS, she worked in community mental health for 7 years in San Mateo County in an outpatient adult psychiatric clinic. During that time, she completed comprehensive training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and post-graduate study in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy.

Carrie returned to CAPS as the Hospital Coordinator working with students hospitalized for mental health concerns and providing general counseling services. Concurrently, Carrie worked as a foster care/adoption home study social worker. In 2015 she moved into a management role as the Assistant Director of Community Resource Development and High-Risk Programs. Carrie transitioned to the role of Interim Clinical Director in 2017 and became the permanent Clinical Director in 2019.

When not working, Carrie enjoys spending time with her family and friends, hiking, biking, playing music, gardening, and cooking.

Clinical interests: Affect regulation, mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, young adult development, the family of origin issues, relationships, multicultural counseling, intersecting identities, mindfulness, LGBTQIA+ support, and identity development, mental illness early intervention and recovery, first-generation students, transfer students, student parents, clinical operations and administration, clinical supervision and consultation.

Amy Honigman, PhD

Licensed Psychologist

Graduate Assembly Counselor

Interests: Transitions, graduate student issues, anxiety, mindfulness and meditation, stress, wellness and resilience, diversity and belonging, and being an LGBTQ ally.
Jai Jones social worker

Amber Jaiza Jones, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker


Co-Chair, University Health Service's Transgender Care Team

Pronouns: they/she

A. Jaiza Jones (they/she) joined the CAPS team in 2019. They completed their undergraduate education at Wesleyan University with a dual honors degree in Anthropology and African American Studies and received their master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. They went on to complete a post-graduate fellowship with the Yale School of Medicine Child Study Center. Jaiza has over 10 years of experience providing individual, group, and family therapy for historically marginalized and underserved communities.

Jaiza’s approach to clinical work is grounded in collective liberatory and social justice frameworks that consider an individual’s lived experience within their sociopolitical, cultural, and environmental context. Their practice is relational, strengths-based, and client-centered. It's informed by psychodynamic, feminist relational, family systems, mindfulness-based, trauma-informed, and cognitive behavioral therapies. Additionally, Jaiza has spent many years cultivating a mindfulness meditation practice and enjoys considering the importance that spirituality and connectedness can have as part of our collective well-being. In their free time, Jaiza rests and restores by reading (especially young adult science fiction), hiking, learning to play the ukulele, and dancing.  

Holly Landsbaum, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Pronouns: she/her

Holly Landsbaum, LCSW (she/her), joined CAPS in 2005 as a post-MSW fellow. She was hired in 2006 as the interim hospital coordinator and in 2007 as a staff counselor. Holly served on the UHS High-Risk Hospital Team for 12 years where she supported and advocated for students in crisis. She spearheaded the expansion and further development of the post-MSW fellowship program and served as its program coordinator from 2018-2021. 

Holly received her BFA from the University of New Mexico and her MSW from San Francisco State University. She completed comprehensive training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and intensive study and consultation in contemporary relational psychodynamic theory/practice. Before becoming a psychotherapist, Holly worked in the Bay Area non-profit sector in organizations focused on immigrant rights and community organizing. Holly’s approach to counseling is collaborative, relational, strengths-based, and justice-oriented, and focuses on centering students' personal goals and values and the cultural and sociopolitical contexts of our lives.  

Clinical interests: Anxiety, depression, adjustments and transitions, grief and loss, family issues, integration of therapeutic approaches including mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral modalities (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy/DBT and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy/ACT), and contemporary relational psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Jeff Lee, LCSW

Jeff Lee, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Pronouns: he/him

Jeff Lee (he/him) grew up in the Bay Area and is a 5th generation Asian American. He comes from a background in community mental health and NPOs, with previous experiences working with emancipated foster youth, homeless populations, and the AAPI community.

Clinical interests: anxiety, holistic wellness, adjustments/transition, identity development, and sports psychology. 

Karen Lee Tsugawa, LMFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Clinical Coordinator

Pronouns: she/her

Karen Lee Tsugawa (she/her) joined the CAPS team in 2008. Karen graduated from UCLA with a major in Psychology and a minor in Applied Developmental Psychology and then received her Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northwestern University in Chicago. She currently sees individuals and couples for counseling at CAPS and enjoys working with the diverse student population at UC Berkeley. Karen also serves as the CAPS Clinical Coordinator assisting with day-to-day clinical operations and various projects supporting our clinical programs. 

Clinical interests: Mental health, college adjustment, transitions, relationship issues, family dynamics, multicultural identities, and Asian/Asian American identity development. 

Sara Lipton-Carey, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Pronouns: she/her

Sara Lipton-Carey (she/her/hers) joined UHS in 2022 as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She completed her BS in Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her MSW at Smith School for Social Work. Before joining CAPS, Sara worked for ten years in community mental health and schools in Oakland as a clinician, counselor, and health educator. Prior to becoming a clinical social worker, Sara worked for a Bay Area non-profit organization focused on serving first-generation students. 

Clinical interests: Anxiety, depression, adjustments, trauma and healing, undocumented communities, first-generation students, harm reduction, intersections of identity, anti-racism, cultural humility, identity development, learning differences, and student parents.

Chris McLean, PhD

Licensed Psychologist

Assistant Director, Career and Academic Programs

Chris joined CAPS in 1994 after completing a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Minnesota. He manages career development programs which include holistic individual career counseling, career assessments, and a collection of resources to support student academic and career planning in the Career Counseling Library. Chris is also a mental health liaison to Cal Athletics. He has expertise in performance psychology and uses a culturally affirming and strengths-based approach to promote the personal growth and professional development of university students, high-performance athletes, and adults in career transition. Chris received a Chancellor's Outstanding Service Award in 2014 for contributions as a founding planning committee member for UC Berkeley's inaugural NOW Career Development Conference.

Clinical Interests:  Multicultural counseling, academic and career development, college student mental health and wellness, first-generation college students, clinical supervision and training. 

Cynthia Medina, PhD

Licensed Psychologist

Interests: Integration of mindfulness, meditation, and cognitive-behavioral interventions for reducing depression and anxiety, family of origin issues, attachment, relationship concerns, career development, Latina/o mental health and academic persistence, multicultural identity development, sports psychology, discrimination and microaggression, and working with underrepresented student communities (students of color, undocumented, LGBTQ, first-generation, transfer).

Additional Languages: Spanish 

Kusha Murarka, PsyD

Kusha Murarka, PsyD

Licensed Psychologist

Director of Training

Pronouns: she/her

Kusha (she/her) is a licensed clinical psychologist who joined the UHS CAPS team in 2017 after working at Roosevelt University in Chicago for 8 years. She received her PsyD at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in 2007. Kusha loves working with university students using a culturally centered and intersectional social identity lens. She has worked with university students across the US since 2005 and enjoys providing counseling, group therapy, and outreach to students as well as supervision and training to mental health professionals. She is currently the SSWANA wellness counselor providing support and advocacy for this population on campus. In her free time, she stays active indoors and outdoors with her family through cooking, singing, dancing, hiking, dining al fresco, and running after her two young sons.

Clinical interests: Multicultural counseling, inclusion, identity development, family of origin, relationship and interpersonal concerns, SSWANA mental health, immigrant families, low socioeconomic backgrounds, depression, suicide prevention, social anxiety, alcohol abuse, group therapy, wellness, balance, and graduate student life. 

Assistant Director of Campus Outreach & Engagement

Tobirus Newby, LCSW

Assistant Director of Campus Outreach & Engagement

Tobirus M. Newby is a licensed clinical social worker and the Assistant Director of Campus Outreach & Engagement. Over the past 17 years, Tobirus has worked in the field of violence prevention and intervention by supporting the healing journeys of survivors and by educating and fostering change with those who have caused harm in their relationships and communities. In addition, he is an educator at UC Berkeley Extension and the University of San Francisco and has a private consulting practice through which he provides organizational equity and inclusion services. A quote that guides his life and his practice comes from James Baldwin: “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”   

Veronica Orozco

Veronica Orozco, PhD

Licensed Psychologist 

Satellite Office Coordinator

Interests: Resilience of Latina/o and first-generation students, low-income, underrepresented, and undocumented students, adjustment issues, anxiety, depression, career development, loss and grief, relationship concerns, family of origin issues, and being an LGBTQ ally. 

Additional Languages: Spanish

Diane Pena

Diana Peña, PhD

Licensed Psychologist

Undocumented Student Program Counselor

Centers for Educational Equity and Excellence Counselor

Pronouns: she/they

Diana Peña (she/they), received their PhD as a first-generation college student from the University of Oregon and joined the CAPS team in 2013. Diana coordinates the Undocumented Student Program’s mental health services at UC Berkeley, providing counseling support to undocumented students and consultation with the campus at large.  

As a queer Chicanx psychologist who applies Liberation Psychology and Social Justice frameworks to practice, their areas of focus include undocumented student resilience, LGBTQ-affirming therapy, spirituality, and somatic/body-centered healing. Diana stands on the shoulders of her Mexican immigrant parents and is committed to decolonizing mental health practices in the service of Black, Indigenous, Undocumented, and POC communities.

Clinical interests: Immigrant and undocumented student mental health, QTPOC-affirmative therapy, spirituality, Latinx family health, grief and loss, chronic health conditions, mindfulness-based stress reduction.

Additional Languages: Spanish

Junichi Shimaoka

Junichi Shimaoka, PsyD

Licensed Psychologist

Junichi joined the CAPS team in 2019. Before joining UHS, Junichi was a CAPS psychologist at UC Santa Barbara and the University of Michigan. He received his PsyD from Widener University and serves on the board of the Association for College Counseling Center Outreach. Junichi is passionate about Balinese Gamelan music and he’s a beginner rock climber. He used to volunteer to raise/train service dog puppies! 

Clinical interests: Social/cultural/personal identity issues of all types (race/ethnicity, LGBTQIA+, immigration/national origin, ability status, etc.), Asian Pacific Islander/Desi-American communities, couples and relationship concerns, outreach/prevention/community engagement, grad students, international students, and other marginalized and underserved students. 

Additional Languages: Japanese

Xiaoxia Song

Xiaoxia Song, PhD 

Licensed Psychologist, PhD

Xiaoxia Song joined UHS in 2020. Xiaoxia received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Ohio University and completed her internship at the University of Texas at Austin. 
Clinical Interest: complex trauma, depression, anxiety, family issues, identity development, multicultural and diversity issues.

Molly Sullivan, LCSW

Referral Care Manager

Pronouns: She/her/her

Molly completed her undergraduate education at Macalester College with a B.A. in Geography and Community Health and received her M.S.W. from the University of Southern California. Before joining CAPS, Molly worked in community mental health, primarily providing intensive case management services to unhoused/precariously housed individuals living with severe and persistent mental illness.

Molly's work in mental health and wellness takes a systems-oriented, person-in-environment approach. She is passionate about supporting people in harnessing their inner power and wisdom in the face of oppressive systems. She takes a non-pathologizing stance in the therapeutic relationship, and her work is grounded in a harm reduction philosophy. Her counseling style is collaborative, strengths-based, and culturally responsive. She is committed to helping clients meet their own goals, come into greater self-awareness, and find ease in their relationships and community.

In her free time, Molly enjoys spending time outdoors (the High Sierras are her happy place), making ceramics at her neighborhood clay studio, dancing, seeing live music, being an auntie to two adorable niblings, cooking elaborate meals with her Cookbook Club, and connecting with her beautiful East Bay community. 

Clinical interests include depression, emerging psychosis, family/interpersonal issues, substance use/misuse, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Emily Taplin, LCSW

Emily Taplin, LCSW

Care Manager

Emily graduated from UC Berkeley’s MSW program in 2011. Before joining CAPS in 2022, she worked in a variety of roles, with a focus on community mental health, complex care coordination, palliative and hospice care, and supporting LGBTQIA+ people and families.

Emily strives for an approach that is rooted in warmth, humility, and respect, and that pays attention to the ways in which the complex intersections of identity, culture, family of origin, and privilege/oppression impact how we experience and navigate the world. With clients' goals and values at the forefront, she appreciates the opportunity to offer connection, support, and resources in her role as both a counselor and care manager. 

Outside of work, Emily enjoys noodling around on the guitar, watching over the grill at backyard parties, spending time with loved ones, and playing in a basketball league for adults 5’6” and under!

Clinical interests include: identity development, self-care/self-compassion, navigating life transitions, processing new medical/mental health experiences or diagnoses, trauma-informed care, queer/trans/gender diverse well-being, anxiety, depression, bipolar spectrum, emerging psychosis and/or unusual mind states/sensory experiences, harm reduction approaches
Nancy Tavolacci-Arista

Nancy Ellen Tavolacci-Arista, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Nancy earned her Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) from San Francisco State University in 2003 and has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) since 2011. Prior to that, she studied Secondary Education and Spanish at the State University of New York in Geneseo, NY, earning a Bachelor's Degree and Secondary Education Teaching Credential in New York State. Before coming to CAPS at UC Berkeley, Nancy worked for the last 20 years in community-based and school-based non-profit settings in San Francisco and Oakland. Additionally, Nancy also works as a mental health evaluator for immigrants seeking asylum and other kinds of immigration-based protection in the United States. She has a background in working with foster youth, newly immigrated families from Mexico and Central America, survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault, and youth and families from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds represented throughout the Bay Area. Nancy uses a compassionate, relational approach to connecting with people and helping make mental health services highly accessible and personable. She uses culturally informed narrative and solution-focused orientations to support people in understanding themselves in the context of their families, communities, and environment while helping them explore resources and their inherent strengths and abilities to create positive, empowered changes in their own lives.

Areas of clinical interest: Developmental life cycles and transitions, supporting immigrants and children of immigrants, healing from trauma and vicarious trauma, parenting, self-care and stress management, CBT and DBT skill building, healing through activism and social justice work. 

Sam Tourek, PhD

Licensed Psychologist

Sam joined the CAPS team in 2013. He received his MA from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, and his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. Sam completed his doctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship training at UHS. His approach to therapy is dynamic and experiential in nature and uses existential psychotherapy, attachment style, multiculturalism, and emotional content to help clients develop a deeper understanding of self and others. Sam enjoys working with clients to explore patterns in relationships to make changes in the interest of growth. 

Sam is particularly interested in working within the athletics community at UC Berkeley. As a former student-athlete, Sam understands the unique challenges of being both a scholar and an athlete, and he commits a significant portion of his time as a CAPS counselor to working with student-athletes, coaches, and trainers to help students and teams thrive while at UC Berkeley. Sam's doctoral dissertation examined multicultural competence and mindfulness in the therapeutic process, and he runs the mindfulness meditation group nearly every semester. Sam also enjoys developing relationships with campus partners and communities and working to ensure that underserved populations at UC Berkeley get their needs met to the fullest extent possible. In his spare time, Sam enjoys playing sports (most often baseball and golf), hiking and camping, and doing crossword puzzles. 

Clinical interests and campus partnerships: Working with student-athletes (injury, performance, retirement, etc), mindfulness meditation, men’s issues, existential psychotherapy, multicultural competence in counseling, attachment, and brief/accelerated and experiential psychodynamic psychotherapies. Sam is the liaison to the Athletics Department and to the Cal Band and holds Let's Talk drop-in hours (virtually and/or at César Chávez Student Center).

Sheela Vashishtha, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Sheela received her Master's in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Paris School of Business. Sheela is trained in sensory motor psychotherapy. Her clinical experience includes community mental health as well as PHP and IOP settings. Sheela specializes in supporting folks with depression, anxiety, trauma, racial and cultural identities, and attachment wounding. Additionally, she works with first and second-generation clients who are navigating bicultural and multicultural identities and experiences. She has a holistic approach that is trauma-informed and social justice-oriented.

Linda Zaruba, PhD

Licensed Psychologist

Berkeley Law School Counselor

Dr. Zaruba was a first-generation college student who majored in education and dance at Miami University in Ohio. She received her MA in Counseling from the University of Colorado and her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Zaruba has worked at UHS for the past couple of decades in many different roles. She's currently a psychologist at Berkeley Law School. Dr. Zaruba has also facilitated the Graduate Women’s Support Group for the past 15 years.

Dr. Zaruba’s counseling style is collaborative, culturally responsive, engaging, and focused on helping clients meet their goals with an eclectic toolbox of interventions — mindfulness, CBT, trauma-informed, family systems, and humor to name a few.

Clinical interests: Couples counseling, multicultural factors, family relationship challenges, graduate student's academic and personal concerns, body image, eating disorders, and career and work struggles. 

Christine Zhou, PhD

Licensed Psychologist

Director of Operations, UC Berkeley Global Institute for Counseling and Student Mental Health  

College of Engineering Satellite Office Coordinating Counselor

Shuangmei (Christine) Zhou joined CAPS in the summer of 2012. She received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Minnesota, completed her internship at UCLA CAPS, and her post-doc at UC Berkeley CAPS. She was a staff psychologist at Michigan State University for three years before returning to Berkeley. Christine is the lead psychologist coordinating the CAPS satellite office at the College of Engineering (CoE). She has been working with CoE since 2012, providing counseling to students and consultations for faculty and staff. Christine also directs the Global Institute for Counseling and Student Mental Health where CAPS staff collaborate with partners both nationally and internationally. In her role as director, she's been conducting research and providing training and consultation on the latest topics related to college students' mental health. 

Clinical interests: multicultural counseling, working with underserved/marginalized populations, working with science and engineering students, international students, and AAPI students. 

Additional Languages: Mandarin Chinese

Doctoral Psychology Interns

A Doctoral Psychology Intern is Pictured

Lenia Chae, MA

Lenia (she/her) is a Ph.D. candidate in Counseling Psychology at Fordham University and earned her M.A. in Counseling Education and M.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling from Columbia University in New York.

Lenia’s clinical style is rooted in relational-psychodynamic, mindfulness-based, and person-centered therapies. While working from these approaches, Lenia seeks to embed her work with clients in a multicultural framework, exploring the ways social context, personal history, and intersecting identities impact clients’ experiences in the world. As a counselor, Lenia aspires to co-create a safe, empathetic, and non-judgmental space with clients to explore various mental health challenges/concerns and develop helpful ways of coping and new ways of relating with self and others. Incorporating a holistic and collaborative approach, Lenia also strives to help individuals take control of their narrative and cultivate a greater sense of self-awareness, self-compassion, and self-acceptance.

Outside of work, Lenia enjoys spending time connecting with her mind, body, and soul, which includes having quality friends and family time, traveling for food, watching an entire series over the span of a weekend, doing yoga or pilates, or enjoying the beach time!

Clinical Interests: identity development, trauma, family/romantic relationship issues, interpersonal concerns, academic stress, cross-cultural adjustment, loss and grief, mood and anxiety, international students, Third Culture Kids, concealable chronic conditions

Additional Languages: Korean

A Doctoral Psychology Intern is Pictured

Nguyen Nguyen, MA

Nguyen Nguyen (He/Him) is completing his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Texas Tech University. He earned his M.A. in Counseling Psychology in 2020 and successfully defended his dissertation in 2022. Nguyen's research primarily centers on promoting the health and well-being of BIPOC and linguistic minority communities, with a specific focus on identifying factors that foster resilience among individuals within these communities, particularly in the face of systemic and day-to-day discrimination.

In his clinical practice, Nguyen has a strong emphasis on serving college students and underserved communities, utilizing a psychodynamic orientation. Prior to joining Cal, Nguyen spent 2 years as a clinician at the Student Counseling Center at Texas Tech University. He also worked in public hospitals and community mental health centers, where he provided comprehensive care and assessments for individuals dealing with chronic health conditions and developmental disabilities.

Nguyen's therapeutic approach combines warmth, empowerment, humor, and directiveness. He believes that the therapy room should be a safe and brave space for students to address their challenges with compassion, curiosity, and courage. Moreover, it's a place for students to explore their strengths and discover how to leverage those strengths for personal and professional growth, as well as nurture a deeper sense of meaning in life.

When it comes to self-care, Nguyen finds enjoyment in listening to classical music, with Rachmaninoff as his all-time favorite composer. He has a passion for cooking Vietnamese cuisine and watching horror movies. Additionally, he loves hiking, reading, and practicing Buddhist meditation.

Nguyen's clinical interests include brief psychodynamic therapy, existential therapy, self-compassion, relationship/intimacy issues, family dynamics, adjustments and transitions, transgenerational trauma, identity exploration, vocational concerns, the well-being of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals, spirituality, graduate student life, coping with chronic health conditions, and grief/loss.

Additional Languages: Vietnamese

A Doctoral Psychology Intern is Pictured

Himadhari Sharma, MA

Himadhari Sharma (she/they) is completing her Ph.D. in Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology with an emphasis in Counseling Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She also received her M.A. from NYU in Psychology with an emphasis in Clinical Psychology. She has a variety of experiences working in university counseling centers, community mental health centers, an eating disorder day program, an autism community clinic, a faculty and staff psychological support program as well as internationally (NIMHANS, India). Her current research work focuses on increasing accessibility to mental health support among minoritized groups as well as culturally rooted psychological services. Himadhari approaches mental health and healing through a relational cultural orientation centered in social justice and decolonization. She also uses aspects of goal-focused positive psychotherapy (GFPP), liberation psychotherapy, CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and attachment theory as well as indigenous and eastern healing interventions. They enjoy collaborating with individuals, creators, and organizations to promote holistic healing and develop decolonized spaces to welcome community healing and flourishing.

Himadhari identifies as a bilingual bicultural second-generation Asian Indian American woman and child of immigrants. Prior to her career in psychology, Himadhari worked in healthcare management utilizing her degree in marketing. For self-care, Himadhari enjoys dancing, creating art, traveling, going on walks/hikes, as well as spending time with her dogs and loved ones.

Clinical interests: BIPOC mental health, working with underserved/marginalized communities, trauma and healing including transgenerational trauma, Asian/Asian American mental health, SSWANA mental health, international students, identity development, managing emotions, anxiety, group therapy, and social justice work.

Additional Languages: Hindi/Urdu

Postdoctoral Psychology Fellows

A Post Doctoral Psychology  Fellow is Pictured

Juliene Grace P. Fresnedi, M.Sc.

 Juliene (she/her) received her PsyD and MS in Clinical Psychology from the University of San Francisco and completed her post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Oregon Counseling Services. Before working within university counseling centers, Juliene had various experiences working in community mental health, school, forensic, and integrated behavioral health settings.

Having grown up a third-culture kid, Juliene primarily views her work through a multicultural lens that considers each person's biopsychosocial context. As a researcher, Juliene's work
has been focused on underserved populations and has investigated non-binary facial recognition, cross-cultural well-being, Filipino mental health, colonial mentality, and enculturation. She is also passionate about psychoeducation and someday hopes to present a TedTalk sharing a variety of psychology-related topics to the world.

As a clinician, Juliene's approach to therapy is integrative and draws from psychodynamic, mindfulness, ACT, CBT, humanistic, and person-centered therapies. As a therapist, she firmly believes in being a "human" in the room and prioritizes creating a warm, empathic, and brave space that allows clients to explore a variety of concerns. She firmly believes in a collaborative approach and aspires to assist clients in developing not only coping mechanisms, but also a deeper understanding of themselves, and what will allow them to flourish.

Outside of work, Juliene greatly enjoys spending time with others whether it is through playing video games, watching films, or going on adventures while trying new foods. She is also very fond of climbing trees, drawing, and learning languages when she gets the chance.  

Clinical Interests: Asian/Asian American Mental Health, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ Mental health, Identity Development, Cross-Cultural Considerations, Well-Being Exploration, Intersectionality, Family of Origin Concerns, Intergenerational Trauma, Relationship/Interpersonal Concerns, Acculturation difficulties, Adjustment Issues, Anxiety, Emotional Awareness, International Students, Cultivating Self-Compassion, Creative Exploration, Stress/Anxiety, and Depression.  
A Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow is Pictured

Kehan Shen, PhD

Kehan Shen (he/him) received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of Kansas. He completed an internship at UC Berkeley and has received training at various university counseling centers and enjoys working with the diverse student population. In his spare time, he likes cooking, traveling, music, and spending time with family and friends.  

Clinical interests: multicultural counseling, college adjustment, identity development, interpersonal relationships, career counseling, LGBTQ+ support, working with Asian/Asian American students, and international students.   

A Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow is Pictured

Kaylin Jones, PhD

Kaylin Jones (she/her) received her Ph.D. and MS in Clinical Psychology from Palo Alto University and her BA in Psychology and Social Behavior from UC Irvine. Before joining UHS, she completed her doctoral internship at Washington State University Counseling and Psychological Services and gained several years of experience working with folx across the lifespan in educational and community-based settings.   

Kaylin is passionate about supporting the needs of marginalized and underserved communities. Kaylin identifies as a Chinese American woman and has dedicated her research to reducing stigma and addressing barriers many Asian American communities face to seeking and receiving appropriate mental health treatment, which she strives to center in her own therapeutic work. In therapy, Kaylin is committed to understanding clients through a multicultural lens and seeks to establish strong therapeutic relationships characterized by safety, trust, and respect. She takes a collaborative and integrative approach to healing and wellness, with the primary focus of meeting her clients where they are and helping them move in their preferred direction. In her free time, Kaylin enjoys cooking, baking, hot yoga/pilates, traveling, attending sports and live music events, and spending time with her dog, family, and friends. 
 
Clinical interests: trauma, stress/anxiety, depression, intersectionality, BIPOC mental health; Asian American wellness, family or origin issues, multicultural counseling; identity development; adjustment issues; relationship/interpersonal concerns, student-athlete mental health, eating/body image concerns   

Bini Sebastian, M.Ed.

Bini Sebastian, M.Ed.

Bini Sebastian received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of Missouri, where she also received her M.Ed. She has worked in university counseling centers, integrative behavioral health settings, and in community mental health. Bini views mental health through a multicultural, biopsychosocial-spiritual lens and integrates mindfulness, psychosomatic, and transpersonal approaches in her work. Her research focuses on critical consciousness, identity development, mindfulness, and belongingness. Bini has collaborated with local leaders, healers, educators, and artists to co-create decolonized spaces for mind-body-spirit healing; this includes collaborations with nonprofit faith communities, businesses, and her local health department.  
In her free time, Bini loves practicing yoga, writing poetry, and singing. She also interweaves her identities as an Indian American woman, psychologist, and visual artist to create art that is reflective of healing, liberation, and transcendence, a.k.a. artivism.  

Clinical interests: identity development, intergenerational trauma, spirituality, grief/loss, BIPOC mental health, Asian/Asian American mental health, LGBTQ+ well-being, relationship/intimacy issues, psychosomatic approaches, mindfulness, self-compassion, and creative expression. 

Post-MSW Clinical Social Work Fellows

A Post MSW Clinical Social Work Fellow is Pictured

Erin Power, MSW

Erin (she/her) graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in Sociology and a minor in Clinical Psychology. Erin went on to pursue her Master's of Social Work at Boston College with an emphasis in Clinical Mental Health. 

Prior to Cal, Erin worked in the hospital and higher education settings. Erin provided psychotherapy within Primary Care-Integrative Behavioral Health at Boston's largest urban, Level I trauma center hospital. Erin worked with individuals navigating their medical conditions in a diverse population set varying from Bostonian natives to immigrant refugees. Erin's work included a variety of roles: assisting in the diabetes and depression clinic, depression remission and recovery clinic, administering risk assessments, and providing clients with additional resources. 

Erin also worked in the higher education setting providing counseling and case management services to university students. Erin provided support to students returning from medical and personal leave in their transition back to campus. Erin also has experience working at the Koegel Autism Center at UC Santa Barbara working with older adolescents (late teens, college students) with autism focused on building social skills, life skills, and managing mental health challenges. 

Erin identifies as a multi-ethnic, Filipina American who enjoys traveling and exploring the outdoors. In her free time, you can find Erin taking dance classes, going to thrift stores, attending live music events, or painting at home with a cup of tea. 

Clinical interests: multicultural counseling, intersecting identities, identity development, addressing systemic barriers in institutions, health conditions, eating disorders, self-esteem, anxiety, depression, grief, and creative expression.

A Post MSW Clinical Social Work Fellow is Pictured

Sabrina Van Zuiden, MSW

Sabrina (she/hers) attended UC Berkeley as an undergraduate, earning her B.A. in Social Welfare and Sociology with a minor in Hispanic Languages, Linguistics & Bilingualism. She went on to graduate with her Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University, where she focused her clinical attention on working with LGBTQIA+ clients, students, and survivors of trauma.

Previously, Sabrina worked in her hometown of San Diego, CA as a Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Counselor focused on increasing prevention, outreach, and advocacy resources for LGBTQIA+, unhoused, systems-impacted, and transitional-aged youth. She regularly provided training for professionals on the topics of Introductions to Intimate Partners, Sexual, and Teen Relationship Violence, Human Trafficking, Empowerment, and Trauma-Informed Care, Cultural Considerations, Power/Privilege/Oppression, Working with LGBTQIA+ Survivors, and Resilience Skill Building. Sabrina also regularly facilitated groups with community members on the topics of Healthy Relationships, Consent, Media and Porn Literacy, Unpacking Gender Norms, Jealousy, Communication, Identity Exploration, Anger, Safety with Technology, and Resilience Skill Building.

Sabrina approaches healing work by understanding the relationship that exists between individuals, our communities, and the systems we are raised within. Her professional framework is informed by and continues to develop within the values of anti-oppression, anti-racism, decolonization, transformative justice, disability justice, reproductive justice, body inclusivity, harm reduction, gender equity, and sexual liberation. A few of her clinical interests include mindfulness, somatic-based practices, trauma and survivorship, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ experiences, intersectional identity exploration, sex therapy, and community-based approaches. 

Sabrina is a queer, multiracial Filipina-American who loves sunshine, karaoke, and her cat, Steven. When not at work, you might find her scoping out thrift stores, growing her vinyl record collection, or taking in a view of the sunset.

2nd Year Post-MSW Clinical Social Work Fellows

KG Gehrich, MSW

KG Gehrich (she/her), received her MSW from the University of Montana, her MA in Intercultural Youth and Family Development from the University of Montana, and her BA in Psychology from Ohio University. 

She has worked for the last 12 years in various nonprofits, including at a Child Advocacy Center (CAC), where she advocated for children who experienced harm and supported their caregivers, and at the University of Montana's Student Advocacy Resource Center (SARC), where she provided counseling and advocacy to students who experienced identity-based harm including sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, and harassment, as well as gender identity discrimination and racism.  

KG believes the work that people do to process and make meaning from their experiences is sacred and beholds their passages through the heartbreaks and celebrations of life with great reverence. She enjoys employing somatic approaches, mindfulness, and internal family systems/parts work into her practice. She is passionate about social justice; abolition, restorative justice, harm reduction, tribal sovereignty, and reproductive justice informs her work with students. She believes in bell hooks’ assertion that “rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion.”  

KG identifies as queer and pansexual and finds her spiritual home in the outdoors. Soccer was a near-daily part of her life until a devastating injury in 2019. Now, she is learning to harness her body as a resource for resiliency. KG loves to travel and try new foods. She feels most invigorated and connected while hiking and trail running among natural landscapes that make her feel small. She enjoys live music, avidly listens to podcasts and watches documentaries, and awes at as many wildflowers as possible. 

Clinical interests: trauma, attachment, LGBTQ+ identity development, spirituality, aging, children and families, and holistic healing and wellness.

Jennifer Tai, MSW

Jennifer Tai, MSW

Jennifer Tai, MSW, ASW, is a 2nd-year Post-MSW Clinical Social Work Fellow. She received her BA in Communication Studies and Child and Adolescent Development, with a minor in Psychology at San Jose State University. She received her MSW and PPSC (Pupil Personnel Services Credentials) from San Jose State University as well.  

Before joining UHS, Jennifer interned at the Department of Family and Children’s Services within the foster care and adoption units. She also has experience as an academic coach at Pivotal, a nonprofit that supports foster youth in high school and higher education settings. Jennifer also has experience in school social work settings within the Berryessa Union School District and East Side Union High School District. There, she provided mental health counseling and group counseling sessions to students at Brooktree Elementary along with students at Andrew Hill High in the Emotional Disability/Special Education programs in therapeutic classroom settings. Jennifer identifies as a former foster youth and first-generation Asian American. She has experience facilitating spaces for socio-emotional skills building, grief and trauma groups, and foster youth communities. Jennifer’s clinical interests include trauma-informed care, holistic care, strengths-based therapy, social justice, intimate partner violence and sexual assault, intersectionality, foster youth identity, API/Asian American identity, grief counseling, women of color’s mental health and healing, PTSD, anxiety, and depression disorders.

Jennifer enjoys creative outlets such as making arts and crafts, watching musicals, and music, including attending music concerts. She also enjoys trying new food, especially dessert places, cooking, and exploring nature and beaches.

Psychiatry

Molly Anderson, NP

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 

Molly Anderson, NP, joined the UHS Psychiatry team in 2012. She received her BA in English Literature from Dartmouth College and her MS in Nursing from Yale School of Nursing. Her current interests include strength training, cooking, and spending time in nature.

Clinical interests: Mood and anxiety disorders, women's health, integrative approaches.

Read Molly's Staff Highlight

Ron Elson, MD

Psychiatrist 

Dr. Ron Elson joined the UHS Psychiatry team as the Chief of Psychiatry in 1994 and now serves as staff psychiatrist. He received his MD from the University of Maryland and his MPH from UC Berkeley (Health Policy and Planning). Ron interned in Medicine at Michael Reese Hospital, Chicago. He completed residencies at UC San Francisco (Psychiatry) and at UC Berkeley and the US Public Health Service (Public Health and Preventive Medicine). Ron is board certified in both Psychiatry and in Preventive Medicine. He was a Fellow in the Career Development Program in Global Community Health.

Ron is on the editorial board of the Berkeley Wellness Letter, a leading online and print resource for evidence-based wellness information. He is also on the board of Bay Psychiatric Associates, the largest psychiatry group in the East Bay. For many years Ron was on the UC Berkeley faculty and the director of a graduate Doctor of Mental Health Program. He has lectured and organized training in many areas of psychiatry and mental health. 

Clinical interests: Anxiety and depression. The importance of emotions and the integration of psychodynamic, interpersonal, and cognitive-behavioral areas when considering medication. Meditation/mindfulness. Art, writing and issues related to creativity. Normative life and developmental issues — particularly in relation to academic work, and graduate student issues.

Teray Kunishi

Teray Kunishi, 

PMHNP-BC

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Teray first joined UHS in 2021 for a PMHNP internship. Prior to joining UHS, Teray was practicing as a licensed naturopathic doctor in Berkeley and becoming a parent. She received her undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines and her naturopathic medicine education from Bastyr University in Seattle. 

Teray completed her Masters Entry Nursing Program at UCSF. She loves singing, going on hikes with family and friends, and growing orchids. Teray is currently reading sci-fi and fantasy with non-male leads in non-Western settings. She has a clinical interest in chronic pain and illness and how it intersects with mood and behavior, integrative mental health, psychedelic therapy, and mind/body medicine.

Additional languages: Tagalog

Veronica Lopez

Veronica Lopez, PMHNP-BC

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 

Veronica Lopez joined the UHS Psychiatry team in 2017. She received her BA in Psychology from UC Santa Cruz and her MS in Nursing from UC San Francisco. She has a total of 20+ years working in various mental health settings and roles including outpatient community mental health, residential facilities, inpatient psychiatry, emergency psychiatry, and emergency room/hospital psychiatric consultation. She is currently serving as a board member for a community mental health organization and volunteers with asylum seekers. 

Clinical Interests: First generation college students, underrepresented populations, experiences with psychosis or unusual, alternative states, trauma, crisis work, and students accessing mental health support for the first time that are uncertain and curious about the role that psychiatry can have in their mental health journey.

Additional Languages: Spanish

Jessica Lu, MD

Psychiatrist

Jessie Lu joined the UHS Psychiatry team in 2023. She received her MD and MPH from UCLA and completed her psychiatry residency there as well. She has worked for several organizations: a private practice in Maryland specializing in women's mental health, American University student health, and an online mental health start-up. Jessie is board-certified in adult psychiatry. 

Her clinical interests include mood and anxiety disorders, mental health during pregnancy and post-partum, working with people from different backgrounds and all identities, and most of all she enjoys the process of getting to know each individual and working with them to find ways to make them feel better.

Maria Cristina Mendoza head shot

Maria Cristina Mendoza, MD

Psychiatrist

Cristina Mendoza, MD, joined the UHS Psychiatry team in 2014. She attended the University of Chicago where she received her BA in Psychology and MS in Teaching. She received her MD at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis and completed her medical internship and residency in psychiatry at New York University. She continued in subspecialty training and research in neurocognitive disorders and geriatric psychiatry at the University of Regensburg Germany, where she co-authored papers in dementia studies.

Her clinical interests include integrative psychiatry, neuropsychiatric, and neurocognitive disorders, phase of life and role transitions, cross- and multicultural issues in mental health, trauma recovery, Jungian and psychodynamic schools of psychotherapy, interpersonal and social rhythm therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy.  

Outside of work, she enjoys camping and hiking, the making and sharing of food and music with family and friends, the movies, a good book, and travel.

Additional languages: German

Aurora Ortiz, NP

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Aurora Ortiz (she/her), joined the UHS Psychiatry team in 2016. She received her Masters of Science in Nursing from the University of California, San Francisco. In addition to her role at CAPS, Aurora provides psychiatric services to children and adolescents, and clinical training to nurse practitioner students at La Clinica de la Raza in Oakland.  

Her clinical interests include Latinx mental health, immigrant mental health, transgender mental health, complex trauma, ADHD, and integrative mental health. A Bay Area native, Aurora also lived and worked in Italy for several years. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring the outdoors, dancing, reading, cooking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Additional Languages: Spanish and Italian 

Kristine Panik, MD

Psychiatry Director

Kristi Panik, MD, joined the UHS Psychiatry team in 2008. She received her MD from the University of South Florida and her General Adult and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry training from the UC Irvine Medical Center. Kristi has been the Psychiatry Director since 2017. She loves hiking and listening to live music. Regular yoga and meditation are an important part of her life. 

Clinical interests: Holistic approaches for cultivating psychological wellness, incorporating mindfulness and meditation practices within the treatment framework, transitioning off psychiatric medications, and autism and other developmental issues.

Sharon Smart, MD

Psychiatrist

Sharon Smart joined the UHS psychiatry team in 2016. She received her MD and PhD (Pharmacology) from the University of Washington in Seattle and completed her residency in Adult Psychiatry at UCSF in 2002. Before UHS, she worked with a team focusing on psychosis treatment and then for 12 years supporting victims of violent crime at the UCSF/SFGH Trauma Recovery Center. She enjoys reading, running, hiking, and time with her family and cats.  

Clinical interests: Trauma responses, mood and anxiety disorders, psychosis, interactions between sleep and mental health, understanding compassion-focused interventions and impact on wellbeing and resilience. 

Brandon Vance

Brandon Vance, MD

Psychiatrist

Brandon Vance joined the UHS Psychiatry team in 2018. In addition to working at UHS, he also runs a psychotherapy and integrative psychiatry private practice, supervises community psychiatric nurse practitioners, and occasionally works in county psychiatric inpatient wards. 

Brandon received his MD from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and completed his psychiatry residency at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He is board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Brandon co-founded a hip-hop social justice music group, the Justice Arts Collective, where he composes and plays. The group's music video won first place at the My Hero International Film Festival in 2017. 

Clinical interests: Cognitive behavioral psychotherapy, integrative medicine, cross-cultural and trans-cultural psychiatry, accelerated response therapy, and hypnotherapy. 

CAPS Administrative Staff

Edgar Camacho

Edgar Camacho

Administrative Assistant

Edgar Camacho Graduated from UC Berkeley in 2023, with a bachelor's degree in Economics and a minor in Public Policy.

In his spare time, he enjoys cooking and baking all kinds of desserts. He loves listening to music. He also loves being outdoors, whether that be going for a hike, lying on the beach, or having a picnic at the park.

An Administrative Assistant is pictured

Gravity Emanuel

Administrative Assistant

Gravity Emanuel joined UHS in 2021 as a Contact Tracer and transitioned into an Administrative Assistant role for Student Mental Health in 2023. Gravity hails from the East Coast, specifically in Maryland.

In their free time, Gravity likes to cook, bake, and roller skate.

Charmaine Harris

Administrative Assistant 

Charmaine Harris joined CAPS in 2013 after working for three years as a clinical assistant with UHS. Her role in CAPS includes providing support to students, staff, and faculty, completing ergonomic evaluations for CAPS staff, and assisting with staff scheduling. Charmaine graduated from Cal State East Bay in 2015 with a degree in Human Development. She loves spending time with family/friends, listening to music, reading, playing cards, going on nature walks, and traveling.

Valerie Luluquisen

Administrative Assistant 

Valerie joined UHS in 2009 after working in the travel industry for 27 years. At UHS she worked in HR, Social Services, and volunteered at the information desk and Administration before joining the CAPS department in 2013. Valerie loves walking by the beach, hiking, cooking, baking, and crocheting.
Katie Morasco head shot

Katie McCrory

Executive Assistant

Katie joined the UHS CAPS team in 2017. She is currently working on her BS in Psychology from Oregon State University and will graduate in the Spring of 2021. In addition to providing support for students, staff, and faculty, Katie serves as the administrative coordinator for the Post-MSW Fellowship committee, as well as the scheduling assistant to the CAPS director. She enjoys reading, hiking, and spending time with her family.

An Administrative Assistant is pictured

Reagan Reid

Administrative Assistant

 Reagan joined UHS in 2023. She received her B.A. in Sociology from San Francisco State University. Her areas of Expertise are Patient Advocacy, Community Health Education, Promotion & Training, Social Services.

Reagan grew up between the East Coast and Germany. She recently returned to The Bay Area after living in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) and serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Fiji. She finds solace in the outdoors and enjoys hiking and traveling throughout Northern California during her free time.

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Brandy Saldana

Communications Specialist 

Brandy joined UHS in April 2022 to provide support to the restructuring of the Mental Health team and provide communication and outreach coordination for the highly-anticipated Campus Crisis Response program launch. In addition to being a UC Berkeley graduate, Brandy comes with over 6 years as a Project and Communication Coordinator with the Office of Environment, Health and Safety and over a year with the Center for Studies in Higher Education as an Event Specialist. Before joining UHS, she was a freelancer providing digital marketing and graphic design support specifically for non-profits and small businesses. In November 2021 she received her Certificate of Marketing from UC Extension.

Areas of expertise: Website Management, Communications and Outreach, Graphic Design, Social Media: Content Creation, Social Media Content Marketing, Email Marketing, Content Strategy, Branding.

Camarin Sanford, MPA

Senior Mental Health Project Manager & Policy Analyst 

Camarin joined the University Health Services Counseling and Psychology Service team in 2023. She received her BA in psychology from Clark Atlanta University. She received her Masters of Public Administration from San Francisco State University and a certificate in Nonprofit Leadership & Strategic Management from San Francisco State University. To UC Berkeley, Camarin brings over 10 years of combined experience in strategic planning, nonprofit management, service design, consulting, and project management.

Camarin enjoys international travel, cooking, painting, watching football in Fall, and spending time with family and friends.

Michele Swide Lew

Administrative Assistant 
Michele Swide Lew joined CAPS in 1992. Her main role is student services and triage where she ensures students are getting timely appointments scheduled same-day or beyond. Michele graduated from UC Berkeley with an English degree and enjoys water coloring, writing, and anything vintage.
JoAnn Torres head shot

JoAnn Torres

Assistant Director, Business & Operations 

Campus Mobile Crisis Response

AJ Kaur

Amarjit Kaur

Program Manager

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers 

Amarjit Kaur is an LMFT, with over 15 years of experience in the mental health and education fields. She completed her undergraduate and graduate work at San Francisco State. Her experience includes working within non-profit organizations, K-12 Schools, and most recently as a Clinical Supervisor with San Francisco's Street Crisis Response. She is well-versed in program development and implementation, crisis intervention, and training. 

In her spare time, AJ often boxes and weigh lifts. Spending time with friends and family is often a highlight of her day or week. Traveling is now limited, but definitely a coveted activity.     

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Michael Amador

EMT/Paramedic 

Michael is an EMT/Paramedic for the Campus Mobile Crisis Response team. Michael started at UC Berkeley in November 2023, and enjoys being able to walk to work from his home in Berkeley. He has been working in EMS for 9 years; 5 years as an EMT in the San Francisco Bay Area, and 4 years as a Paramedic in South Lake Tahoe.

In his spare time, he enjoys drawing and spending time with his wife and two small cats.  

Campus Mobile Crisis Response Program Assistant is Pictured

Cedric Bowser

Campus Mobile Crisis Response Program Assistant

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Brandon Song

EMT 

Brandon graduated from UC Berkeley in 2023 with a BA in Public Health. Later that year, he joined the Campus Mobile Crisis Response (CMCR) program as an Emergency Medical Technician. Brandon received his EMT certificate from UCLA’s Center for Prehospital Care in 2020 after returning home to Los Angeles due to COVID-19. Before joining CMCR, he spent several years providing emergency medical services for patients in LA and the Bay Area. Brandon has experience in various EMS environments including ambulances, hospitals, concert venues, sports games, and other large events.   

Career & Wellness Counseling Library Staff

Chris Garcia, BS

Administrative Lead

Chris Garcia joined the CAPS Career Counseling team in 2011. He received his BS from St. Mary's College of California. His role at UHS includes connecting students with career-related resources and managing personality and interest assessments. He enjoys sports, video games, and graphic art.   
Kate Zuby

Kate Zuby, MS

Career Counseling Outreach Coordinator

Kate Zuby joined the CAPS Career Counseling team in 2018. She received her Master's degree in College Student Personnel Counseling in 2017 from San Francisco State University. Her role at UHS includes working with students, alumni, and community members to provide career exploration support for individuals struggling with career indecision. 

Kate has over six years of experience working in various educational settings as an undergraduate advisor, program coordinator, and career counselor providing one-on-one assistance and resources to individuals seeking career services. 

Career & Wellness Counseling Interns

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Will Headley, MS

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Magdalia Angel-Hurtado, MA 

Magdalia Angel-Hurtado (she/they/ella) is a third-year graduate student attending the University of San Francisco and working towards her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Social Services and a minor in Chicana/o Studies from the University of California, Davis. She has a Master’s degree in Ethnic Studies with an emphasis in Raza Studies from San Francisco State University.  

She identifies as a queer Latinx/Chicanx, a mother of two, and a recovering people-pleasing perfectionist. Magdalia is a community activist who is actively involved in Latinx LGBTQ+ Bay Area organizations and is originally from the Central Valley. She is committed to social justice and addressing healing and wellness within queer communities of color. 

Magdalia is passionate about spending time with her family,  Zumba, and taking power naps. 

Clinical interests: Latinx student mental health, LGBTQIA+ support, anti-racism and cultural humility, self-esteem/body image, unconditional self-love, intersecting identities, and a strengths-based focus. 

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Kenny Purizaga, BA

Kenny Purizaga Orejuela is a second-year graduate student at San Francisco State University specializing in Clinical Mental Health with a focus on college counseling. Originating from Peru, Kenny completed his undergraduate studies in Comparative Ethnic Studies/Disability Studies at UC Berkeley. Kenny is also a proud veteran, which has further enriched his commitment to fostering inclusive environments and providing support to individuals from all walks of life. His academic and personal passions converge at the intersection of higher education and mental health, with a particular focus on the unique challenges faced by first-generation college students. Kenny strongly believes that education should serve as a means of empowerment for everyone, regardless of their background, and he also recognizes the crucial role of mental health support in ensuring students' success. 

In addition to his academic pursuits, Kenny is an advocate for cultural competency and practices that acknowledge and respect the multifaceted experiences of individuals. He is deeply committed to promoting accessibility and understanding in mental health services, with a strong belief in the importance of considering how factors such as disability, race, legal status, LGBTQ+ identities, and class intersect and impact an individual's mental health and career prospects.

Kenny is excited about the opportunities ahead to contribute to the well-being of diverse student populations, advocating for their unique needs and challenges. 
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Omali Senaratna, MS

Omali Senaratna is a fourth-year clinical doctoral trainee at The Wright Institute, PsyD program in Berkeley, CA. She identifies as a queer, first-generation, Sri Lankan- American cis-woman, and advocates heavily for the demystifying of psychology to provide better mental health access and equity to underrepresented populations. As a first-generation college graduate, Omali bears ample awareness of the unique barriers that exist in higher education and the simultaneous empowerment knowledge and community brings. Thus, she strives to support students in navigating personal and academic stressors in order to fuel self-determined success and a positive college experience. Omali completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology B.S. at UC San Diego. She holds six years of clinical experience in ABA home care, school counseling, community mental health, and hospital settings, with predominantly high trauma and diverse patient caseloads. Omali's expertise in behavioral modification, motivational interviewing, mindfulness, relational psychodynamics, trauma-informed, and culturally humble practices streamline into a passionate commitment to promoting student wellness and client-centered care.

She emphasizes multicultural, feminist, and social justice values in therapeutic spaces to honor intersectional lived realities and highlight each individual's power within the greater systems. Omali is deeply excited to cultivate safe spaces for UC Berkeley students to explore their specific needs, navigate challenges, and prioritize self-care and mental health as they continue through their academic journey.