LGBTQ Mentoring Program Coordinators

Welcome, Anteaters! As a Post-Doctoral Fellow with a focus in working with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) my goal is to help make mental health more accessible to populations who have been historically excluded from the system. Whether you are coming to talk about school, work, family, or relationships, your identities are an influential part of the spaces you navigate

My therapy style is a collaborative process that involves understanding who you are and what obstacles get in the way of you and your wellness. Sometimes these obstacles are external and sometimes they are internal. We will work together to add new tools to your toolbox and strengthen the tools you’ve already got. And as your feelings arrive, we will welcome them and invite them to the conversation.

I look forward to being with you in the here and now.

Welcome to the UCI Counseling Center! I am incredibly honored to work with the UCI student community, serving as one of the psychology interns this year! I identify as a Latina, cis-gendered female from Los Angeles, California, and am currently working towards my Psy.D. at  Pepperdine University. I utilize an integrative perspective, incorporating cognitive behavioral therapy and third-wave approaches (i.e., acceptance and commitment therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy) with multicultural, social justice, and trauma-informed approaches. Working with communities and individuals who have been historically underserved and disenfranchised is a personal and professional passion I hold.  This has led me to work with individuals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities, socioeconomic statuses, ages, religious and spiritual beliefs, and differing physical and psychological abilities.

Undergraduate and graduate studies signify various significant life transitions that we all may need help navigating. It is my goal to empower students by creating a safe and open healing space where we can collaboratively identify and move towards your mental health goals. I also aim to connect students with the various on and off-campus resources to encourage personal growth and academic success. As a Latina, I aim to support and uplift the Latinx and BIPOC communities, recognizing our own diversity and wide array of experiences. Other interests include the multicultural concerns or challenges, family of origin challenges, first-generation college students, trauma, anxiety, depression, adjustment challenges, and resilience/empowerment.

Outside the UCI Counseling Center, I enjoy paddleboarding, going to the beach, watching TV/movies, attending live concerts, and spending quality time with my friends, family, and dogs!