Counseling Staff | Student Affairs and Campus Diversity

Jen Rikard Jennifer Rikard, Ph.D.

Director

Pronouns: she/her
Languages: English, ASL
Education: Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology
My favorite place on campus is: The community garden near the Children’s Center

Dr. Jennifer Rikard is a licensed psychologist who completed a doctoral internship at the University of Miami School of Medicine. She is a developer of the e-CHECKUP TO GO intervention programs, used on over 600 campuses worldwide. She is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, adjunct faculty in SDSU's American Indian Studies, and a founding member of the Native American and Indigenous Faculty/Staff Association.

Michael Juan

Michael Juan, Ph.D.

Associate Director

Pronouns: he/him
Languages: English
Education: Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology
My favorite place on campus is: The ARC when no one is around

Dr. Michael Juan is a licensed clinical psychologist providing client-centered and culturally-informed mental health services to the students of San Diego State University since 2013. Prior to coming to SDSU he accumulated over a decade of experience in community mental health, serving individuals with severe mental illness as a therapist and clinic manager in South Bay San Diego.

Dr. Juan has specific clinical interests in the areas of multicultural counseling, community mental health, severe and persistent mental illness, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Prior to his work in community mental health, Michael gained six years of experience working with individuals with special needs. He has a passion for working with diverse and under-served populations. In his time at SDSU, he has obtained specialized experience working with former foster youth, first-generation students, and student athletes. He currently serves as a Representative for University Services on the University Senate and officer for the SDSU Bayanihan Filipino American Faculty and Staff Association. Additionally, he is a lecturer in the College of Education’s Counseling and School Psychology Program and continues to serve in several community based endeavors. Outside of SDSU, Dr. Juan remains busy as a therapist in private practice, a trainer in the community on diversity and multicultural topics in psychology, and an advocate in the Filipino American mental health community of San Diego.

Douglas Thomson, Ph.D.

Assistant Director / Psychology Internship Training Coordinator

Pronouns: he/him
Languages: English
Education: Ph.D., Counseling Psychology (Emphasis in Men’s Issues), University of Missouri
When I am feeling stressed, I help myself by: Biking or swimming

Dr. Douglas Thomson serves as Assistant Director and Doctoral Internship Training Coordinator. He immigrated from Canada to the U.S. in 1996. He has been employed at Counseling & Psychological Services since 2006. He has interests in the areas of training and supervision, privilege, spirituality, and college student career development. He provides individual counseling to students, supervises graduate psychology interns, and acts as a liaison to Project Rebound students on campus.

Mary Joyce Juan, Ph.D.

Clinical Director

Pronouns: she/her
Languages: English
Education: Ph.D., Psychology (Counseling Psychology), University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
When I am feeling stressed, I help myself by: Taking long breaths out

Dr. Mary Joyce Juan serves as Clinical Director, managing the provision of clinical services at C&PS. Dr. Juan has provided client care in various settings, including college counseling, community mental health, and Veterans Affairs hospitals. She trained as a pre-doctoral intern at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System (APA-accredited). Additionally she trained as an Advanced Postdoctoral Fellow in Women's Mental Health at the VA San Diego Healthcare System, where she specialized in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and treating interpersonal trauma with Prolonged Exposure and Cognitive Processing Therapy, the latter of which she is a designated provider.

As a licensed psychologist, Dr. Juan’s approach to working with students is centered on nurturing self-compassion. In therapy, she draws largely from DBT, and emotion- and trauma-focused approaches, while honoring students' multicultural perspectives. Her clinical interests are in the areas of trauma and PTSD, with a focus on sexual assault; intersectionality and identity integration; women's issues; emotion regulation; and graduate student development, particularly for doctoral students of color. In addition to providing individual and group therapies, she is a clinical supervisor for psychology pre-doctoral interns at C&PS. At SDSU, Dr. Juan is Co-Chair of the university-wide Sexual Violence Task Force and lead researcher for the biennial Sexual Violence Campus Climate Survey. Outside of C&PS, Dr. Juan has organized around issues affecting women and the Pilipino American community.

C&PS THERAPISTS

Cristina Antonucci, Psy.D.

Pronouns: they/them
Languages: English
Education: Psy.D., Psychology, Illinois School of Professional Psychology
My favorite place on campus is: The Koi pond by Scripps Cottage

Dr. Cristina Antonucci is a licensed psychologist with experience providing both individual and group therapy, as well as supervising and teaching graduate students. They trained as a predoctoral intern at Johns Hopkins University Counseling Center and completed their post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Chicago Student Counseling Services. While they specialize in student populations, they have worked in a variety of inpatient and outpatient community mental health centers.

Dr. Antonucci holds an integrated approach to treatment drawing upon psychodynamic, humanistic, multicultural, and existential models of healing. Their clinical interests include identity development, intersectionality, relationship issues, social justice, trauma and working within the LGBTQIA+ community. Dr. Antonucci is one of two therapists at C&PS who are trained in and offer EMDR. In addition to providing therapy, Dr. Antonucci serves as an Outreach Co-Coordinator at C&PS.

Zemed Berhe, Ph.D.

Pronouns: she/her
Languages: English, Tigrinya
Education: Ph.D., Counseling Psychology (Emphasis in Multicultural Psychology), Seton Hall University
When I am feeling stressed, I help myself by: Taking a long walk and listening to music

Dr. Zemed Berhe is a psychologist with specialized training in trauma-focused treatments and evidence-based practices, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. She has extensive training working with diverse populations and experience in conducting individual, group, and couples therapy.

Dr. Berhe trained at the New Jersey Veterans Affairs for her pre-doctoral internship and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Veterans Affairs in Long Beach, with a specialized focus in trauma-related disorders and individuals struggling with emotional dysregulation, suicidality, and interpersonal issues. Her clinical interests include trauma, stress, racial/ethnic identity development, African American mental health, and multicultural counseling. Throughout her work, Dr. Berhe strives to incorporate racial-culturally sensitive approaches in working with adults, couples, and families. In addition to providing therapy, Dr. Berhe is Co-Coordinator of C&PS’s Bounce Back Retention Program.

Devon Berkheiser

Devon Berkheiser, Psy.D.

Pronouns: she/her
Languages: English
Education: Psy.D., Clinical Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology
When I am feeling stressed, I help myself by: Exercising and watching reality TV

Dr. Devon Berkheiser is a licensed clinical psychologist. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology at Rutgers University in New Jersey, before moving to San Diego to attend graduate school at the California School of Professional Psychology. She started her career at C&PS as an intern, and she is happy to now be a full-time faculty member. Her other training experiences include working in community mental health clinics and substance abuse treatment facilities.

Dr. Berkheiser’s treatment approach focuses on building a strong collaborative relationship with students, which provides the foundation for increasing insight and making positive changes. Dr. Berkheiser strives to help students identify their own strengths so that they feel empowered to be the best versions of themselves. Her clinical interests include substance misuse, anxiety, depression, women’s issues, and relationship issues. In addition to providing therapy, Dr. Berkheiser serves as Outreach Co-Coordinator at C&PS and co-hosts the State YOU. podcast.

Diana Bull, Ph.D.

Pronouns: she/her
Languages: English
Education: Ph.D., Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology
When I am feeling stressed, I help myself by: Talking to others and getting in a good cry if needed. Talking to others really helps me lift the weight off my shoulders so that I have space for other things in my life.

Dr. Diana Bull is a licensed clinical psychologist with interests in reducing the stigma of mental illness, peer mentoring and education, and suicide prevention. She completed her APA-accredited doctoral internship at Western Youth Services in Mission Viejo, CA. Her clinical interests include working with anxiety and stress related conflict, depression, relationship conflicts, life transitions, substance use and suicide prevention.

Dr. Bull co-coordinates and teaches in the Bounce Back Retention Program and provides training to faculty and students on suicide prevention. She created and co-coordinates Aztecs Reaching Aztecs (ARA), a program focused on helping students build meaningful relationships with other students. Being an alumna of SDSU and fellow Aztec, she loves this university and is thankful to have the opportunity to be working with the current students who attend SDSU.

Todd Carson, Psy.D.

Pronouns: he/him
Languages: English
Education: Psy.D., Psychology (Emphasis in Integrative Psychology), California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University
My favorite place on campus is: Sitting in a comfy chair, enjoying a cup of coffee, gazing down the valley, on the Storm Hall Patio

Dr. Todd has been Counseling Faculty at C&PS since Fall 2015. He provides individual and group therapies for SDSU students with a humanistic/person-centered therapy style that also integrates other fields of psychology, philosophical, and spiritual ideas. He enjoys working with students adjusting to college, dealing with life stressors, grieving losses, and struggling with test anxiety. He especially enjoys supporting graduate students and those that identify as LGBTQIA.

In addition to these therapies, he is a co-coordinator of the Aztecs Reaching Aztecs program, which aims to build stronger and more authentic connections between students. He also coordinates the Successful Community Living program, is a member of the [email protected] Coordinating Committee and the Hazing Prevention Tasks Force, teaches Bounce Back, supervises trainees, and supports the FratMANners/SISSTER programs of the Well-being & Health Promotion department. He also presents to the university community about a wide range of topics, including managing test anxiety, matters of multiculturalism and diversity, and privilege in our society.

Yu-An Chien, LCSW, MSSA

Pronouns: she/her
Languages: English, Mandarin
Education: M.S.W. (Concentration in Clinical Mental Health), Case Western Reserve University
When I am feeling stressed, I help myself by: Focusing on one simple thing at a time, going to the beach for a quick walk, and eating chocolate

Yu-An Chien is a licensed clinical social worker. Prior to joining the C&PS clinical team, Yu-An worked with individuals and families from diverse backgrounds in community- and school-based settings in Ohio. She has experience in psychosocial assessment, crisis intervention, individual and family counseling, and community outreach.

Yu-An utilizes a collaborative and person-centered approach with cultural competence. She enjoys working with students to gain self-awareness, increase connection and self-compassion, and build on their strengths. She also commits to creating a warm and empathetic space for all her clients while assisting them to explore self-identity and motivation for change and growth. Her areas of interest include mood-related concerns, stress management, life transitions, trauma, and adjustment-related issues. When not in the office, she enjoys reading, cooking from scratch, exploring new hiking trails and beaches, and hanging out with family and friends.

Martin Doucett

Martin Doucett, Ph.D.

Pronouns: he/him
Languages: English
Education: Ph.D., Psychology, California School of Psychology, Alliant International University
My favorite place on campus is: The turtle pond

Dr. Martin Doucett is a licensed psychologist and a graduate of SDSU. Before returning to his faculty position in January 2020, he served as Associate Director of C&PS for 4.5 years. Over his 20 years of service to the university he has supervised pre-doctoral trainees and has been the liaison to Student Ability Success Center and Student Health Services where he provided consultation and oversaw psychological assessments for students with disabilities related to mental health conditions. He has also served as a liaison to Well-being & Health Promotion and Housing and Residential Education where he fostered relationships and assisted in programming that supports SDSU students. Dr. Doucett developed a short-term biofeedback program to address academic stress and trained graduate student interns in the administration of this intervention. He has also developed a neurofeedback program to assist students with issues of focus and attention resulting from ADHD and traumatic brain injury. He developed and implemented the Anger Management Program at C&PS, and co-developed the Civility/Citizenship Workshop (now Successful Community Living) for students mandated to an early intervention/diversion program for violating campus code of conduct policies. Dr. Doucett also served as a co-chair on the Sexual Violence Task Force at SDSU, which is charged with supporting students who have experienced sexual violence and educating the campus community.

Dr. Doucett has a strong interest in cultural, gender, and sexuality and how these factors of human diversity inform therapy. He has lived in Bahrain and has traveled extensively. He enjoys working with international students from the Middle East and Latin America. Dr. Doucett has been a member of the Safe Zones training team, and sat on the LGBT Advisory Board, which was charged with the development and implementation of the Pride Center on the SDSU campus. He has also served as faculty advisor to SDSU’s Queer Student Union. He is certified in relationship violence and helped to develop and implement a court-certified program for treatment of relationship violence among gay and lesbian couples at the San Diego Gay and Lesbian Center. Additionally, Dr. Doucett conducts workshops and trainings with community groups and county agencies on various aspects of family violence, gay/lesbian culture, and biofeedback. He has presented at numerous conferences on his work using biofeedback to address academic stress.

Maria Elena Garibay

Maria Elena Garibay, LMFT

Pronouns: she/her
Languages: English, Spanish
Education: M.A., Counseling Psychology (Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy), Argosy University
My favorite place on campus is: The turtle pond

Maria Elena Garibay is a licensed clinical therapist. She is a proud alumna of SDSU where she obtained her BA in Psychology. Maria Elena has experience providing group, individual, couples and family counseling. She has had the opportunity to work in different settings, including schools, a crisis house, non-profit community clinics, and outpatient drug and alcohol programs.

Maria Elena is passionate about working with students and helping them through Cognitive Behavioral, Systems, Client-Centered approaches, being sensitive to cultural and spiritual values. She has worked with diverse populations and is familiar with the process of acculturation and how this can play a role in family dynamics, self-identity and academic success. She has a passion for working with underserved populations and working on decreasing mental health stigma.

Erika Hess, LMFT

Pronouns: she/her
Languages: English, French
Education: M.S., Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, San Diego State University
When I am feeling stressed, I help myself by: Practicing mindfulness and creating! Recently, I have been creating through collage art and playing music.

Prior to joining C&PS in 2017, Erika Hess engaged with individuals, families, and communities for 12 years in community-based mental health and non-profit agencies around concerns of trauma, mental health recovery, substance misuse, relational and family violence, and navigating systems of immigration and justice. Her previous employment also included research on interventions for psychosis in the UCSD Psychiatry Department and clinical supervision in the SDSU MFT Program. Erika received her Bachelors in Psychology from the University of Minnesota and she studied abroad and interned in Dakar, Senegal.

Erika’s approach is grounded in narrative therapy, which centers you as the expert of your life, focuses on (re)connecting with personal and collective skills, strengths, values and committed actions, and honors the effects of sociopolitical context on your wellbeing. Her clinical interests include: trauma, anxiety, mindfulness, psychophysiology, cultural adjustment, and the effects of social narratives/discourse on health and identity concerns. In addition to offering individual and couples therapy at C&PS, she enjoys offering a support group for emerging helping professionals, supervising graduate student interns, co-coordinating the center’s Biofeedback and EMDR programs, and collaborating with the International Student Center. She is also a contracted provider with Survivors of Torture, Intl., a local non-profit supporting those seeking political asylum.

Jerry Kropp, Psy.D.

Pronouns: he/him
Languages: English
Education: Psy.D., Psychology, Alliant International University
My favorite place on campus is: Chipotle

Dr. Jerry Kropp has been employed at C&PS since 2009. He coordinates the Peer Education Program and social media for C&PS. He also provides individual therapy and is involved with many of the other services, including co-coordinating the ASPIRE program. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona.

Throughout his professional career, Dr. Kropp maintained a private practice that primarily focused on providing individual therapy and conducting psychological assessments, worked at multiple inpatient and outpatient psychological facilities and programs, and provided therapy for individuals with a history of alcohol and drug use. He also has extensive experience working with court-mandated forensic populations, including authoring a dissertation that examined the personality profiles of male stalkers.

Erika Mora, LMFT

Pronouns: she/her
Languages: English, Spanish
Education: M.A., Counseling Psychology, Argosy University
When I am feeling stressed, I help myself by: Taking some time to notice what is making me feel stressed and rearranging my activities and mindset

Erika Mora is a licensed marriage and family therapist. Prior to joining the C&PS clinical team, Erika worked at hospitals, schools, homes, and community settings with children, teens, and families of diverse cultural backgrounds, providing trauma- and culturally-informed services.

Erika enjoys working collaboratively with students to support them in their journey of life. Erika is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy, in addition to other evidence-based practices. Erika is passionate about the practice of gratitude on a daily basis and incorporates it into her work. Erika is a Mexican Immigrant and provides services in both English and Spanish. Outside of C&PS, Erika can be found anywhere outdoors and taking any opportunity to travel and experience new adventures.

Patricia Murillo, Psy.D., LMFT

Pronouns: ella/she/her
Languages: Spanish, English
Education: Psy.D., Marriage and Family Therapy, Alliant International University
When I am feeling stressed, I help myself by: Engaging in spiritual activities, talking with my spouse or family, playing rock band, and reading a book.

Dr. Patricia Murillo is excited to form part of the Counseling & Psychological Services team. Dr. Murillo is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and also holds a Pastoral Care and Counseling Masters degree from the University of San Diego.

Dr. Murillo works within a holistic approach to well-being and makes use of client centered, trauma informed, and strength based practices. Prior to forming part of the C&PS team, Dr. Murillo worked with individuals, families, and couples in several community mental health settings. Dr. Murillo deems it an honor to walk with individuals in their personal journeys and looks forward to working with and providing support to students at SDSU.

Gabby C. Navarro, LMFT

Pronouns: she/her
Languages: English
Education: M.A., Marriage and Family Therapy, Alliant International University
When I am feeling stressed, I help myself by: Making a to-do list, working out, or engaging in a deep breath meditation from one of my favorite meditation apps

Gabriela Contreras Navarro, or “Gabby”, is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She is originally from Texas, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Texas State University and enjoyed being a part of many organizations including Greek life. Prior to her position at C&PS, Gabby worked in various settings including non-profits, schools, and an intensive outpatient setting providing therapy and crisis services. Gabby has experience in and enjoys working with individuals, families, and couples.

Gabby has a love for working with the college population, as she recognizes the growth and personal development that can take place and the hard work that is needed to do so. She uses a client-centered and culturally sensitive approach in all of her work, collaborating with the student to try and reach the best possible outcome.

Koko Nishi, Psy.D.

Pronouns: she/her
Languages: English
Education: Psy.D., Psychology, George Washington University
When I am feeling stressed, I help myself by: Stress baking, going to the beach, and treating myself to some boba tea!

Dr. Koko Nishi is a licensed psychologist and has worked at Counseling & Psychological Services since 2015. Koko received her BA in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego and completed her Masters in Psychology and Education at Teachers College Columbia University. Prior to becoming a psychologist, Koko taught English in Japan through the Japan Exchange Teaching (JET) program and worked in residence life at Columbia University and University of California, Berkeley. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at University of California, San Diego with an emphasis in suicide prevention, outreach, and mental health promotion.

Koko’s clinical interests include college success and wellbeing, adjustment and life transitions, anxiety, depression, trauma, social justice and diversity concerns, Asian and Asian American mental health, interpersonal relationships, and identity development. She is the co-founder, along with SDSU alumnae Kathy Nguyen, of the (AAPI)phany workshop series, a program that addresses the intersection of Asian American Pacific Islander identity and mental health, in addition to co-facilitating the Womxn of Color Empowerment Group with Dr. Zemed Berhe. Koko has also gained specialized experience in working with graduate students, traditional and non-traditional first-generation students and former foster youth at SDSU. Koko is passionate about collaborating with campus partners to create outreach programs that raise awareness and promote resources to help reduce mental health stigma, particularly within underrepresented/marginalized populations.

Ricky Pope

Ricky J. Pope, Ph.D.

Pronouns: he/him
Languages: English
Education: Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, Western Michigan University

Dr. Ricky Pope is a clinical/counseling faculty therapist. He transferred from San Diego Mesa College before earning both a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a Masters degree in Education with a concentration in Counseling from SDSU’s Community Based Block Program. Dr. Pope trained at the University of California, Irvine, for his pre-doctoral internship. He completed his Postdoctoral training at Alvarado Parkway Institute, an inpatient psychiatric hospital where he provided clinical care to individuals with acute and chronic mental illness.

An alumnus of SDSU, Dr. Pope is honored to engage in outreach and support across the campus, foster academic readiness by teaching a Bounce Back course, and provide individual and group therapy. His general clinical interests involve working with emerging adults, exploring racial and ethnic identity concerns, treatment of depression and anxiety, addressing men’s issues, and supporting first-generation students to persist toward degree completion. The foundation of Dr. Pope’s therapeutic approach is humanistic. He also incorporates humor, cognitive-behavioral, multicultural, social justice, and mindfulness-based approaches to his therapeutic style. As a first-generation college student, he is aware that higher education, whether it is undergraduate or graduate school, can be a challenging yet rewarding time in life. He wants to assist students in identifying existing strengths, bolstering areas of growth, and locating resources to actualize their potential.

Manuel Rivera, LMFT

Pronouns: he/him
Languages: English, Spanish
Education: M.S., Marriage and Family Therapy, San Diego State University
When I am feeling stressed, I help myself by: Playing blues, rock, and soul on guitar

Manuel Rivera has worked at Counseling & Psychological Services since 2011. He is currently the Coordinator of the Master's and Post-Master's Training Program, and provides individual and group supervision to a multi-disciplinary team of interns. Besides providing individual, couples, and group therapy to the SDSU community, Manuel is also the developer and facilitator of C&PS’s Everyday Mindfulness & Meditation workshops.

Manuel was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, and is bilingual in Spanish and English. He has lived in Puerto Rico, Texas, and the Bay Area, calling San Diego home since 1996. He is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley. Before coming to SDSU, his clinical experiences included working with military service members and their families, working with adolescents and families involved with San Diego’s Juvenile Court and Community Schools, couples work, and community mental health. Manuel’s approach to therapy is collaborative and inclusive, and he is particularly interested in working with people as they develop autonomy, personal agency, and resilience in the face of adversity.

Emily Roberts-Parker, Psy.D.

Pronouns: she/her
Languages: English
Education: Psy.D., Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University
My favorite place on campus is: The koi pond because it is so peaceful, surrounded by trees, and has turtles

Dr. Emily Roberts-Parker is a psychologist who completed her pre-doctoral internship at CSUSM Student Health and Counseling Services (APA accredited) and post-doctoral residency at UCSD Counseling and Psychological Services. Dr. Roberts-Parker was a previous trainee at C&PS and is thrilled to be working with students as a full time faculty member.

To help each person on their journey towards healing she works with each student in a collaborative and strengths-based way, while focusing on each student's unique intersecting identities. Her clinical interests include social justice, anxiety, body image, identity formation, grief and loss, and working with the LGBTQIA+ community and student-athletes. She has an integrated approach to treatment using Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness, and feminist approaches within a multicultural framework.

Mark Teles, Ph.D.

Pronouns: he/him
Languages: English, Portuguese
Education: Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, San Diego

Dr. Mark Teles is a full-time faculty psychotherapist at C&PS. He completed his APA-accredited doctoral internship at the Counseling Center at Pace University in New York, N.Y. and his post-doctoral fellowships at Metro Psychological and C&PS. Dr. Teles has extensive experience providing a variety of services to diverse students including individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, outreach, consultation, and crisis services. He has also worked with many students at San Diego State University through a variety of C&PS programs including the ASPIRE, Athletics, Aztec Choices, Biofeedback, and Bounce Back programs.

Dr. Teles has great appreciation for the uniqueness and complexity of persons as well as their circumstances. He therefore strives to be open, empathic, and collaborative in his approach. Dr. Teles is committed to helping students work through a variety of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, problematic substance use as well as other life challenges.

Shireen Trujillo, LCSW

Pronouns: she/her
Languages: English, Spanish, Farsi
Education: M.S.W., University of Kansas
When I am feeling stressed, I help myself by: Taking a long walk!

Shireen Trujillo is a licensed clinical social worker. She obtained her BA in Psychology from Point Loma Nazarene University and completed additional training at Loma Linda University. She also holds a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling. In addition to individual counseling, she enjoys facilitating group counseling, teaching in the Bounce Back program, and providing clinical supervision.

Shireen has worked in a variety of settings including community based mental health, non-profits, and schools, and has valued each of these experiences. She incorporates a strengths-based perspective into her work and enjoys working with college students as they navigate a variety of changes and experiences. Her special clinical interests include grief and loss, life transitions, spiritual and religious values, identity, purpose, and multicultural counseling. She is grateful to be a faculty member at C&PS serving the San Diego State community.

Leslie Wilson

Leslie Wilson, Ph.D.

Pronouns: she/her
Languages: English
Education: Ph.D., Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology
My favorite place on campus is: Any place where I can interact with students and learn about their experience at SDSU

Dr. Leslie Wilson is a clinical psychologist and has worked at Counseling & Psychological Services since 2001. She completed her predoctoral training in community based mental health as well as in university counseling as a pre-doctoral intern at SDSU's C&PS. She continued to specialize in university counseling with her post-doctoral experience at CSU San Marcos Counseling and Psychological Services.

Dr. Wilson is a founding developer of the e-CHECKUP TO GO intervention programs used on over 600 campuses worldwide. She has served as the Project Director of eCHECKUP TO GO since 2015. In addition to treating the full range of mental health issues, she has an expertise in Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Motivational Enhancement Treatment (MET) and trains faculty, staff, and interns in the use of MET with the college population. She also specializes in working with issues of grief and loss. Dr. Wilson coordinated the peer education program at Counseling & Psychological Services for seven years. She is an alumnus of San Diego State University (and Zura Hall).

CLINICAL CASE MANAGERS

Maddie Borkenhagen, LCSW

Pronouns: she/her
Languages: English
Education: M.S.W. (Concentration in Direct Practice), San Diego State University
My favorite place on campus is: Hepner Hall - iconic building and home base for the School of Social Work!

Maddie Borkenhagen is a licensed clinical social worker providing therapy and clinical case management to students at San Diego State University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University, Monterey Bay. Prior to this position, Maddie worked with college students at both Mira Costa Community College and SDSU C&PS, first as an intern then as an ASPIRE counselor.

Maddie has participated in intensive and ongoing Motivational Interviewing training with various populations and her approach to working with students is collaborative, solution-focused, and strengths-based. She is committed to social justice and assisting students with accessing the support and resources they need to enhance their well-being. Maddie is grateful to be a faculty member at C&PS serving our diverse student body, with a special interest in working with queer-identified students.

Vanessa Casanova, LCSW

Pronouns: she/her
Languages: English
Education: M.S.W. (Concentration in Children and Families), University of Southern California
When I am feeling stressed, I help myself by: Reading, working out, or relying on my social support like friends and family to talk to

Vanessa Casanova is a licensed clinical social worker providing clinical case management to students at San Diego State University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of California, San Diego. Prior to joining C&PS, Vanessa worked in various settings such as schools, a foster care agency, local government settings, and a non-profit community clinic. She has experience working with youth, individuals, couples and families and has clinical interests in trauma, anxiety, depression, and interpersonal conflict.

Vanessa enjoys utilizing a collaborative, psychodynamic, humanistic, and culturally-informed approach when working with students. She is committed to helping students find and access resources that will improve their lives and welfare. Vanessa is grateful and delighted to be serving as a faculty member for C&PS and to work with students in meeting their goals and in bettering their circumstances.

PROGRAMS & SUPPORT STAFF

Brooke Silveria, MSW

Programs Coordinator

Pronouns: she/her
Languages: English
Education: M.S.W. (Concentration in Administration and Community Development), San Diego State University
My favorite place on campus is: The balcony at Storm Hall overlooking Mission Valley

Brooke Silveria is a masters-level social worker. As Programs Coordinator, Brooke helps to ensure daily operations of the multiple programs offered by C&PS run smoothly. She aims to positively impact the well-being of students by maintaining and developing services that are effective, efficient, accessible, and responsive to student needs.

Brooke has previously worked and interned in settings such as community mental health, college counseling, and non-profit social services. She has experience directly supporting individuals as well as engaging in broader change efforts including needs assessment, outcomes evaluation, research, program design and development, and advocacy. She is passionate about stigma reduction, examining and addressing systemic inequities in human services, and using administrative work to support her colleagues so that they are in turn better able to support the individuals they serve.

Our administrative support staff

help students get connected to the proper therapist or program at C&PS. They are C&PS's first point of contact for students seeking services and take care of all initial scheduling, as well as assist with a large number of other administrative duties.

San Diego State University