The UHS CAPS 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.
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Tegan Adams, PsyD Licensed Psychologist Pronouns: she/her |
Tegan (she/her) is a licensed clinical and sport psychologist who joined CAPS in 2022. She has spent her career in college counseling, supporting undergrad and grad students through brief individual (and partner) therapy, crisis support, and performance and mental wellness work—especially with student-athletes. She’s also led therapy groups for both undergraduate and graduate students. Tegan earned her master’s in Sport Psychology and a doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. Her approach is supportive, culturally informed, and strengths-based. She collaborates with students to help them build self-awareness, self-acceptance, and confidence as they move toward goals that feel right for them. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Tegan has lived in the Bay Area for over 15 years. She enjoys being outdoors—especially near the water—with her family, and is always up for a good cup of coffee. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Cansu Badstubner, LMFT Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Pronouns: she/her Referral Coordinator |
Cansu (she/her) joined the UHS CAPS team in 2024 as a Referral Coordinator. Originally from Turkey, she earned her BA in Sociology and Psychology from Koc University in Istanbul, and studied abroad at the University of Wollongong and San Francisco State University. After graduation, she volunteered at Horizons for Homeless Children in Boston before returning to San Francisco to earn her MS in Clinical Psychology at SFSU. Cansu has provided therapeutic support in a variety of settings, including the SFSU Psychology Clinic, Edgewood Center for Children and Families, RAMS Inc. Wellness Initiative, and SFSU CAPS. Her work has focused on university students, youth, and families. Her professional interests include cultural identity, social justice, international student issues, and strength-based and evidence-based approaches (CBT/DBT). Outside of work, Cansu enjoys being in nature, walking, painting, music, movies, travel, and time with family.
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Bianca Barrios-Montoya, PhD Licensed Psychologist Undocumented Student Program Counselor |
Bianca Barrios-Montoya 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 |
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Monica Becerra, PhD Licensed Psychologist Pronouns: She/Her/Her |
Monica Becerra (she/they/ella) joined UHS in 2021 as a postdoctoral fellow and became a licensed psychologist in 2023. She earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in Counseling Psychology (Career Counseling emphasis) from Southern Illinois University, completed her internship at the University of Oregon, and holds a B.A. from UC Irvine. Monica is also a former transfer student from Riverside City College. A proud queer, bicultural Latina and first-generation college student, Monica draws from her lived experiences as a daughter of Mexican immigrants to support students navigating higher ed, family/cultural expectations, and identity development. Her clinical interests include Latine/BIPOC mental health, family dynamics, intergenerational trauma, career exploration, and holistic healing. She provides services in English, Spanish, or Spanglish. Outside work, Monica enjoys hikes, food with loved ones, anime and k-dramas, and exploring art and astronomy. She is a fellow of APA’s Psychology Summer Institute and Division 17’s Leadership Collaborative. |
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William Berkhout, PsyD Licensed Psychologist Pronouns: he/him |
Bill (he/him) is a licensed psychologist who joined CAPS in 2022. Prior to that, he served as a staff psychologist and Assistant Director of Outreach and Prevention Services at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he also earned his bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and History. He completed his PsyD in Clinical Psychology at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2018. Bill’s work is grounded in critical theory, feminist, and liberation psychologies. He’s passionate about community-based intervention and creating affirming, inclusive spaces where empathy, empowerment, and advocacy go hand in hand. His clinical interests include identity development, trauma-informed healing, and supporting Latinx, Native/Indigenous, undocumented, and Fine and Applied Arts students. Outside of work, Bill enjoys spending time with family, hiking, organic gardening, cooking, listening to music, traveling, and being cautiously optimistic about his Chicago sports teams. |
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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. |
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Nicole Buitrago, PsyD Licensed Psychologist Pronouns: She/her |
Nicole Buitrago, PsyD (she/her) is a licensed psychologist who identifies as a Queer femme, Latinx, SF-born native, neurodivergent, social justice wounded warrior, first-generation former college student. She obtained her doctorate in psychology in 2019 from Alliant International University, California School of Professional Psychology, San Francisco Campus. She is a trauma informed, culturally affirming therapist with 7 years of university counseling experience. She previously worked at SF State for 4 years prior to coming to UC Berkeley. Nicole completed her pre-doctoral internship at Stanford University, where she worked closely with the Native American Cultural Center. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship focused on community outreach at San Jose State University. She completed a practicum at Mills College where she became an undocually. She has primarily served Queer and Gender Expansive folx of Color, first-generation college students, and is also a skilled generalist, having worked at diverse universities in the Bay Area. |
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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 from New York City who has lived and worked in the SF Bay Area for nearly 20 years. He is a full-time staff psychologist at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, with specialized training in anxiety reduction, mindfulness-based stress reduction, conflict resolution, and leadership wellness coaching. Don enjoys supporting students in psychology, business, and law. His warm, interactive, and culturally responsive counseling style blends insight-oriented, cognitive-behavioral, and solution-focused approaches. He tailors each session to meet students’ unique needs, aiming to build self-awareness, reduce emotional burdens, strengthen relationships, and promote overall well-being. |
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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 |
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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.
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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. |
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Ebony Ellis, LCSW Licensed Clinical Social Worker Pronouns: She/Her/Hers |
Ebony Ellis joins UHS with over ten years of experience in community mental health, specializing in crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and program development and implementation. Personal Interests: attending concerts, sporting events, traveling, shopping, tacos, and resting. |
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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. |
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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 |
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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. |
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Carrie Guthrie, LCSW Licensed Clinical Social Worker Clinical Director Pronouns: she/her |
Services in 2007. She earned her BA in Psychology and Anthropology at UC Berkeley and her master’s in Clinical Social Work from the University of Chicago. After completing a postgraduate fellowship at CAPS, she worked for seven years in community mental health in San Mateo County, where she completed intensive training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and pursued post-graduate studies in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. Carrie later returned to CAPS as the Hospital Coordinator, supporting students hospitalized for mental health concerns and providing general counseling. She also worked concurrently as a foster care/adoption home study social worker. In 2015, she became Assistant Director of Community Resource Development and High-Risk Programs. She was named Interim Clinical Director in 2017 and permanent Clinical Director in 2019. Outside of work, Carrie enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, biking, gardening, cooking, and playing music. |
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Amber Jaiza Jones, LCSW Licensed Clinical Social Worker
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. |
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Holly Landsbaum, LCSW Licensed Clinical Social Worker Pronouns: she/her |
Holly Landsbaum, LCSW (she/her), joined CAPS in 2005 as a post-MSW fellow and became a staff counselor in 2007 after serving as interim hospital coordinator. She spent 12 years on the UHS High-Risk Hospital Team, supporting and advocating for students in crisis. From 2018–2021, she coordinated the post-MSW fellowship program, helping expand and strengthen its training model. Holly holds a BFA from the University of New Mexico and an MSW from San Francisco State University. She has completed comprehensive training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and extensive study in relational psychodynamic theory and practice. Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, she worked in Bay Area nonprofits focused on immigrant rights and community organizing. Her counseling style is collaborative, relational, strengths-based, and justice-oriented, centering students’ goals, identities, and lived experiences. She is deeply committed to supporting students through challenges while honoring cultural and sociopolitical context. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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.
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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 |
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Gina Midili, PhD Licensed Psychologist |
Gina Midili (she/her) grew up in the Bay Area and is a UC Berkeley graduate. She has been a member of the CAPS community since 2010 when she joined as an intern. Prior to her work at Cal, Gina worked in Bay Area and Boston public schools and community mental health agencies and was a member of a mobile crisis team. Gina enjoys supporting students throughout their journey at Cal, including navigating transitions and exploring post-graduate opportunities. Her clinical work focuses on supporting student-athletes, LGBTQ student population, career exploration and assessment, and crisis support.
Outside of work Gina enjoys spending time with her family (including pets!) and friends, cooking, gardening, and playing tennis.
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Kusha Murarka, PsyD Licensed Psychologist Director of Training Pronouns: she/her |
Kusha (she/her) is a licensed clinical psychologist and Director of Training for Student Mental Health at UC Berkeley, joining the team in 2017. She earned her PsyD from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in 2007. Kusha is dedicated to advancing mental health training through an anti-oppressive framework grounded in collaboration, equity, inclusion, and belonging. She is active in training director communities locally and nationally. Since 2005, Kusha has worked with university students across the US, providing brief counseling, group therapy, outreach, supervision, and mentorship. She prioritizes culturally centered care with an intersectional social identity lens. Formerly, she served as the SSWANA wellness counselor, supporting this community on campus. Originally from the Midwest, Kusha enjoys California’s outdoor life and spending time with family through cooking, singing, dancing, and hiking. Her clinical interests include multicultural counseling, identity development, immigrant families, depression, suicide prevention, social anxiety, and graduate student wellness. |
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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.” |
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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 |
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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 |
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Bini Sebastian, PhD Licensed Psychologist Pronouns: She/her/hers |
Bini Sebastian (she/her), joined the UHS CAPS team in 2022 as a health psychology intern, continued as a postdoctoral fellow, and was hired as a staff psychologist in 2024. Bini earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of Missouri, where she also received her M.Ed. She completed her bachelor’s in psychology at the University of North Texas. She has experience working in university counseling, integrative behavioral health, and community mental health centers. Bini views mental health through a multicultural, biopsychosocial-spiritual lens and integrates mindfulness and psychosomatic practices in her clinical work. She enjoys collaborating with local leaders, healers, educators, and artists to co-create decolonized spaces for mind-body-spirt healing. Bini also loves working with students and hopes to bring liberatory and consciousness-raising practices to spaces in higher education, specifically through teaching courses on identity development and holistic well-being. Bini loves interweaving 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. In her free time, Bini loves practicing yoga, writing poetry, singing, and cuddling with her pet snake, Maya. |
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Lexi Session, LCSW |
Lexi attended California State University, Fullerton for undergraduate school and earned her MSW as a first-generation college student from San Jose State University in 2019. Lexi is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience supporting various populations in community-based settings throughout the Bay Area. Lexi has experience as a case manager and therapist working with youth in the foster care, probation, and adoption systems. She has a background in providing trauma-informed approaches to support individuals navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, substance use, etc. Additionally, she is passionate about advocating for and supporting marginalized communities as she has extensive experience working with various identities such as people who identify as BIPOC and LGBTQIA |
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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 |
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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.
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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 how 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 |
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Nancy Ellen Tavolacci-Arista, LCSW Licensed Clinical Social Worker |
Nancy earned her Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from San Francisco State University in 2003 and has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) since 2011. She also holds a Bachelor’s Degree and Secondary Education Teaching Credential from the State University of New York at Geneseo. With 20 years of experience, Nancy has worked in community and school-based non-profits in San Francisco and Oakland. She serves as a mental health evaluator for immigrants seeking asylum and other immigration protections. Her work focuses on foster youth, immigrant families from Mexico and Central America, survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault, and diverse Bay Area communities. Nancy uses a compassionate, culturally informed, and solution-focused approach to make mental health services accessible and supportive. Her clinical interests include developmental transitions, trauma healing, immigrant support, parenting, stress management, CBT/DBT skills, and healing through activism and social justice. |
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Sam Tourek, PhD Licensed Psychologist |
Sam joined the CAPS team in 2013. He earned his MA from Northwestern University and his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Minnesota. Sam completed his internship and postdoctoral fellowship at UHS. His therapy approach is dynamic and experiential, integrating existential psychotherapy, attachment theory, multiculturalism, and emotional work to help clients deepen self-understanding and grow. As a former student-athlete, Sam focuses on supporting UC Berkeley’s athletics community, working with student-athletes, coaches, and trainers to navigate challenges related to injury, performance, and retirement. He also leads the mindfulness meditation group and emphasizes multicultural competence in counseling. Sam enjoys building campus partnerships to support underserved populations. Outside work, he likes playing baseball and golf, hiking, camping, and doing crossword puzzles. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 |
