Schedule a classroom presentation about our services for your class/group.
Personal/Mental Health Counseling Sessions
Free and confidential Counseling and Mental Health Services are available in person, via Zoom or by Phone to currently enrolled students who are physically in the state of California. Please fill out the contact form on our Health Services main page to request an appointment or call the:
- Oceanside Health Center at 760.795.6675
- San Elijo Health Center at 760.757.2121 x7747.
Sessions are 50 minutes, one time per week for up to six consecutive weeks. One-time drop-in crisis sessions of up to 50 minutes are also available. Sessions may be used for individual, relationship, or family counseling. Some common reasons to seek mental health counseling are:
- Generally overwhelmed with life
- Difficulties at school or work
- Stress and anxiety
- Depression
- Grief
- Difficulty with sleep
- Relationship challenges
- Substance abuse
- Concerns about eating
- Sexuality
- Gender identity
- Traumatic life experiences
- Pressure/trauma related to marginalization
ADHD Testing
We now offer ADHD testing for students! Contact us for more information or to schedule.
Groups: Starting week 3 (Feb 6)
Social Skills Group for Students on the Autism Spectrum
Mondays, 3pm-3:50pm. Interested in developing new social skills or practicing social interactions with others? In collaboration with Student Accessibility Services. Facilitated by Van Ethan Levy (Health Services) and Krystle Taylor (SAS). Email vlevy@miracosta.edu for information & link.
Group for Black Students
Tuesdays, 4pm-4:50pm. Student-only space for Black students to share experiences and build community. In collaboration with Student Equity & UMOJA. Facilitated by Tammah Watts. Email twatts@miracosta.edu for information & link.
Recovery Support Group
Wednesdays, 12pm-1pm. An anonymous mutual support group for individuals with addictive problems, led by a licensed mental health professional, using a self-empowering (SMART Recovery oriented) approach to change. Facilitated by Tammah Watts. Meeting ID: 994 3013 6808, Password: 052613
Prism Collective
Wednesdays, 5pm-5:50pm. An affirming space for all LGBTQIA+ students to share experiences, speak about the nuances of their identities, and build community. In collaboration with Student Equity. Facilitated by Van Ethan Levy (Health Services) & fran bautista (LGBTQIA+ Equity). Email vlevy@miracosta.edu for information & link.
UPRISE Group
Mondays, 5pm-6pm. Support group for undocumented students and their loved ones. In collaboration with UPRISE (through Student Equity). Facilitated by Nidya Ramirez Ibarra, in English and Spanish. Email nramirezibarra@miracosta.edu for information & link.
Our Team
The Mental Health Counseling Team is comprised of a diverse group of professionals and includes Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors, and pre-licensed counselors and associates.
We have been trained to look at the world from a systemic, humanistic, social justice, and equity-minded perspective. We consider the whole person in our work with students. This includes focusing on past and current experiences, including the impact the larger system has on lived experiences. We therefore consider the impact of social injustices and systemic inequities on individuals, including acknowledging and examining systems, policies, and practices of oppression that students have experienced.
As clinicians, we are in solidarity for social justice and equity, both here at MiraCosta and in the larger community. We are here for all students and as an additional source of support for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and LGBTQIA+ students in the MiraCosta community, both through individual counseling and through scheduled group sessions.
Angelica Porras, ACSW (she/her/hers)
Clinical Case Manager
Angelica is a registered Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW). She received her
master’s in social work from Cal State University San Marcos (CSUSM) and is a MiraCosta
alumni. She has experience working as a Child and Family Specialist for Rady Children’s
Outpatient Psychiatry where she worked closely with families to link them to resources
that would meet their basic needs and eliminate barriers to access. She helped support
families by educating them in how to navigate public resources and increase their
understanding of the mental health system. Angelica returned to MiraCosta, first as
a mental health counseling intern and now has the pleasure to serve as the Health
Services Clinical Case Manager. In this role, she will not only apply her mental health
counseling and crisis intervention skills but will additionally support students in
a more holistic way by coordinating and connecting them to community resources and
services, for a more comprehensive wellness experience. Angelica is competent in a
variety of therapeutic modalities such as cognitive, solution focused, and mindfulness-based
approaches.
Anna Gomez (she/her/hers)
Mental Health Counselor
Anna is a student intern, currently studying at National University to pursue her
master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. Anna received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology
from National University with a focus in Child Psychology. While pursuing her bachelor’s
degree, Anna worked as a Massage Therapist and earned Holistic Healthcare Practitioner
volunteer hours at a local hospital. This was where she got the privilege to volunteer
in the oncology and children’s oncology wards of the hospital and where she learned
the value of active listening. Currently, Anna works as an advisor in higher education,
and enjoys any chance to help fellow students. Anna was born and raised in Los Angeles
California, but moved to sunny San Diego seventeen years ago. In her free time, Anna
enjoys spending time with her eleven-year-old daughter, baking, and enjoying nature.
Anna exercises mindfulness activities in her daily life and has recently started meditating
as much as possible. Anna looks forward to exercising mindful-based therapy approaches,
cognitive approaches, emotion focused therapy, and solution focused therapy. Anna
is honored to work with students at MiraCosta College.
Anjou Parekh, LPCC 7945 (she/her/hers)
Associate Faculty / Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Anjou is a licensed psychotherapist who supports individuals with a wide range of
issues, including anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma and PTSD, grief
and loss, and other life transitions. Anjou offers talk therapy as well as Eye Movement
Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). She is also a certified yoga instructor and
blends elements of yoga and mindfulness-based approaches into her sessions as appropriate.
Anjou’s client-centered, solution-focused approach allows her to use a variety of
research-based therapeutic practices to support clients in their treatment goals.
She provides a confidential, warm, and nonjudgmental environment in which clients
can explore their thoughts and feelings as they move forward in their life journeys.
Her perspective is trauma-informed, multicultural, and LGBTQIA+ affirming. In Anjou’s
prior public health career, she spent over fifteen years managing healthcare programs
for women, children, and families, both domestically and internationally. Though she
was born in Canada and raised there and in the USA, Anjou has had the privilege of
working and living in a variety of countries in both Asia and Latin America, including
India, Japan, China, Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. She also speaks several languages,
including Spanish and Gujarati.
Arianna Escobar, APCC (she/her/hers)
Mental Health Counselor
Arianna is an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC). She received her M.S.
in multicultural community counseling and social justice education from SDSU (CBB)
program. Arianna has worked with diverse populations including adults, adolescents,
system-involved youth and families. Her clinical experience includes supporting clients
in eating disorder recovery, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, self-harm, substance
use and trauma. In addition to utilizing an eclectic therapeutic model, Arianna has
experience integrating CBT, DBT and EFT interventions to empower her patients and
meet their therapeutic needs in a variety of therapeutic settings such as group homes,
residential treatment centers, community college and high schools. Arianna’s commitment
to addressing cultural factors, social injustices, systemic issues and familial dynamics
has influenced her therapeutic work. She is passionate about strengthening clients’
relationships with themselves and increasing their sense of self-compassion and authenticity
in order to live a more fulfilling life.
Carolina Lopez (she/they)
Mental Health Counselor
Carolina identifies as a daughter of a migrant, a mixed-status student, and a non-binary,
queer, Latin womxn. She is a first-generation graduate student seeking a degree in
Multicultural Community Counseling at San Diego State University (SDSU). Carolina
graduated with a psychology degree from Cal State San Marcos (CSUSM) in 2022. She
decided to seek a degree in counseling after recognizing how important it is to have
mental health professionals that are representative of their clientele. She is interested
in serving and providing therapy to Spanish speaking and minority groups. In the near
future, she aspires to receive her PhD in clinical psychology and open her own clinic.
In her spare time, Carolina enjoys dancing, playing instruments, and going on hikes.
She enjoys cooking and trying new foods from different cultures. She loves to learn
about people and spend quality time with her family. Carolina also loves to take trips
to Mexico to reconnect with her ancestral roots. She aspires to visit every country
in the world.
Jesus D. Mendez Carbajal, APCC (they/them/theirs/él)
Mental Health Counselor
My name is Jesus and I am a bilingual (Spanish/English) Associate Professional Clinical
Counselor (APCC). I am 29 years old, queer, non-binary, undocumented, DACA recipient,
and come from a mixed-status family. I was born on Nahua land in Guerrero, Mexico
and raised locally in Kosa’aay (San Diego) on Kumeyaay land. After high school, I
enrolled at San Diego Mesa College and successfully transferred to San Diego State
University (SDSU) in 2013 where I received my B.A. in Chicana/o Studies with a minor
in Women’s Studies in 2016. In 2020 I received my M.S. in Counseling from SDSU’s Community
Based Block (CBB) Multicultural Community Counseling and Social Justice Education
Program. My professional, volunteer, educational and lived experiences make me an
effective multicultural counselor capable of working with clients from all walks of
life. I acknowledge that while the issues we face are personally experienced, they
are connected to systems of power, privilege and oppression and their impact extends
beyond ourselves. I draw from person centered, experiential, emotion focused and motivational
interviewing theories as well as mindfulness and spirituality as appropriate. Overall,
I am a passionate life-long student of healing, plant knowledge, astrology, emotional
wellness, mental health, and spirituality.
Judith Flores Romero (she/her/ella)
Mental Health Counselor
Hola! My name is Judith Flores Romero. I am a first-generation Mexican American college
student and single parent. I identify as Chicana. I am Bilingual (Spanish/English)
and use Spanglish as a tool to communicate on a daily basis. I work at the MiraCosta
Community Learning Center as a Campus Aide III. I am a former MiraCosta College PUENTE
(2010) student. I received my bachelor’s degree from the University of California
Riverside in Women Studies. Currently, I am a graduate student at the San Diego State
University for the Community Based Block (CBB): Multicultural Counseling and Social
Justice Education Master’s program. I am passionate about helping those in need, especially
the non-traditional college students who come from historically underserved communities.
I use a people-centered approach and draw from my lived experiences to connect with
the people that I work with. I am interested in working with mindfulness- based therapies,
solution focused therapy, art therapy, healing the inner child and trauma informed
therapy. Outside of work and school I enjoy being in nature, exercise, meditation,
and practicing yoga. I love finding alternative therapeutic practices to incorporate
into my daily routine.
Latia Hoskins (she/her/hers)
Mental Health Counselor
Latia is a graduate student at San Diego State University pursuing her Master’s in
Multicultural Counseling and Social Justice Education. SDSU is where she also received
her BA in Linguistics with a minor in Psychology. Originally from Norfolk, Virginia,
she was stationed in San Diego, California in 2011 with the United States Navy and
has since made the city her home. Her studies in Linguistics and Psychology branched
out to a desire to teach and bridge educational gaps in communities that need it most.
She has worked in many different industries and proudly served as a mentor, tutor,
and ESL teacher which has given her exposure to diverse communities; of various age
ranges, ethnic groups, and neurodiverse populations. In addition to English, Latia
is fluent in American Sign Language. She is also a certified Yoga instructor with
a love of international travel and exploration. Latia approaches work with the individual
in mind to tailor-fit any and all services provided. As an intern Latia looks forward
to enhancing her skills in person-centered therapy with an emphasis on integrative,
holistic treatment and mindful practices.
Natasha Jackson, LMFT 127257 (she/her/hers)
Mental Health Counselor
My name is Natasha Jackson, and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist from
San Diego, CA. I obtained my Bachelor's Degree from SDSU, and completed my Graduate
program at Argosy University. I am grateful to offer individuals a space to gain
awareness and develop strategies that put them in the driver’s seat of their life’s
challenges. I always knew that I wanted to be in the helping profession and I am lucky
and honored to be able to do this work. As a Black Therapist, I see the value of
representation in the mental health field and find unique opportunities to support
my clients who can often feel misunderstood by therapists who may not share this aspect
of their identity. Furthermore, I am passionate about working with members of the
following communities: body positivity, LGBTQ+, racial justice, military spouses,
and single mothers. I am an English-speaking Therapist who has worked in the mental
health field for the last ten years, with experience in both residential and outpatient
settings, treating adolescents, adults, families, and couples. I am confident in
treating a wide array of diagnoses and needs including depression, anxiety, life
transitions, perinatal and postpartum difficulties, self-harm and behavioral issues,
academic and employment challenges, grief, and trauma. My therapeutic approach is
collaborative, direct, and compassionate using evidence-based practices that support
those in improving their life and situation most quickly and effectively.
Nidya Ramirez Ibarra, LMFT79561 (she/her/hers)
Mental Health Counselor
Nidya Ramirez Ibarra is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Licensed Marriage and Family
Therapist who grew up in Escondido, CA. As an immigrant and past community organizer,
she entered the mental health field aware of how social and systemic factors shape
the emotional, physical, relational, and psychological wellbeing of individuals, families,
and communities. Nidya received her Master's degree in Counseling with a concentration
in Marriage and Family Therapy from San Diego State University. Foundational to Nidya’s
practice is Narrative Therapy with a trauma-informed, collaborative, and client centered
approach. Nidya also integrates somatic experiencing, EMDR, motivational interviewing,
and solution focused modalities. Nidya is looking forward to working with students
and utilizing her knowledge and years of experience as a therapist to co-create a
space to initiate change, gain insight, build skills, and establish support. Prior
to joining the mental health team at MiraCosta College Nidya was part of the Mobile
Crisis Response Team and supported individuals in the community experiencing a behavioral
health crisis’ such as suicidal ideation, grave disability, and increased symptoms
of depression, psychosis, mania, or substance use. Also, for 8 years Nidya worked
at a local non-profit with families, individuals, and children struggling with trauma
due to intimate partner violence and sexual abuse. Currently Nidya enjoys continuing
to be involved in the community by facilitating support groups, giving presentations,
and providing clinical supervision.
Nikki Gee, APCC (she/her/hers)
Mental Health Counselor
Nikki is an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) and has been passionate
about working with and learning from students for over 25 years. She received her
BSE in Special Education and master's degrees in Higher Education Administration and
Multicultural Counseling and Social Justice. She is a first-generation graduate who
has navigated the college experience as a person of color and a non-traditional student.
Her challenges in finding a therapist of color for herself led to a late career change
into counseling. Nikki’s experience in administration and counseling provides a unique
insight into the challenges students face and the chance to celebrate their success.
She is passionate about challenging the stigma and beliefs attached to mental health,
especially for students of color. Her approach is trauma informed, LGBTQIA+ Affirming,
solution and client centered. She draws from multicultural, systems, mindfulness and
motivational interviewing theories when working with students.
Purvi Bhakta (she/her/hers)
Mental Health Counselor
Purvi is from Long Beach, California but has been lucky enough to call San Diego home
since 2021. She is currently a graduate student at the University of San Diego pursuing
her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and received her BA in Psychology
with a minor in Communication Studies from California State University, Long Beach
in 2021. During that time, she worked with young children tutoring them to enhance
their basic language and math skills while also interning at Helpline Youth Counseling
where she worked with at-risk high school students. As a counselor-in-training, Purvi
values the many aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy.
For fun, she enjoys traveling, spending time with her friends and family, working
out, and exploring San Diego. In addition to English, Purvi also speaks Gujarati.
Coming from the South Asian community, she is very passionate about bringing more
awareness of mental health to underserved communities and being a resource for South
Asian youth in a way that she never had growing up.
Rachel Yi Ling Benson, AMFT (she/her/hers)
Mental Health Counselor
Rachel is a registered associate marriage and family therapist (AMFT). She received
her Masters's Degree in Counseling Psychology and specialized in Marriage and Family
Therapy (MFT) with Distinction. She is originally from Hong Kong, and she speaks several
languages, including Cantonese and Mandarin. Rachel believes every person is unique,
and she also understands how difficult it is for clients to deal with emotional issues
such as separation, divorce, and death. She has partnered with students who experienced
depression, anxiety, imposter syndrome, social anxiety, stress, grief, and academic
and employment challenges. Rachel has worked in various school districts with diverse
populations and has hosted many workshops, such as time management, love languages,
and self-care-related topics. Rachel enjoys working with individuals and their families
through different challenges of life. She is passionate about working with members
of the following populations: single mothers, LGBTQIA+, young children, teenagers
and young adults, college students (international students, adult re-entry students,
DACA students etc.), and military families. Rachel is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization
and Reprocessing (EMDR), Brainspotting, sand tray and sand play therapy, Gottman Couple
Therapy, and Play Therapy with young children. She leans toward person-centered and
integrated therapy, such as Solution Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy, Somatic therapy, internal family system, DBT, and mindfulness
practice. She was fortunate to learn about sand tray therapy from the World Association
of Sand Therapy professionals. She believes that using an integrated therapy approach
and evidenced-based interventions can help her clients reach their highest potential
and achieve their goals. In her free time, Rachel enjoys traveling, spending time
with all her pets, friends, and family, skiing, fishing, playing instruments, crafting,
painting, shopping, enjoying nature, playing video games, and eating yummy food around
the world.
Tammah Watts, LMFT 111562 (she/her/hers)
Associate Faculty / Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Hi, I’m Tammah and thanks for your time. I consider it a privilege to be a Mental
Health Counselor here at MiraCosta College. Foremost for me is to meet the client
where they are in life with genuine regard and understanding in support of their self-actualization.
That is to say, I holistically support that you know yourself best and I honor your
unique journey towards optimal healing. I, therefore, incorporate an eclectic therapeutic
approach and find that Solution-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy (CBT), and Motivational Therapy among others are effective when supported
by a foundational stance of acknowledgement for one’s identity and their inherent
right to equitable and just expectations. My background includes a life devoted to
serving people and communities. For over 25 years, I served as a Program Manager for
a private, nonprofit Child Abuse Prevention Agency in San Diego County and was responsible
for the establishment and operation of residential treatment facilities, school-based
programs, mental health outpatient clinics and innovative family services. My specializations
in Child, Youth, and Student Services, Foster Care and Intensive Wraparound Family
Support Services, Mental Health Treatment, Cultural Diversity, Innovative Delivery
System Modalities for Person-Centered Care, and Direct Clinical and Substance Abuse
Recovery Practices help to further inform my volunteerism and community engagement.
I am passionate about nature and conservation and currently am the Southern California
Chapter Representative on Audubon California, Board of Directors and Buena Vista Audubon
Society (Oceanside) Board of Directors. I am certified as a SMART Recovery Facilitator,
Domestic Violence Advocate, Mindfulness-Based Meditation, Cultural Diversity, and
a Clinical Trauma Professional. My education is a mix of attendance at community colleges,
4-year universities and ultimately earning my Masters in Counseling Psychology from
National University. I am a Licensed marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). My first
book, Keep Looking Up: Your Guide to the Powerful Healing of Bird watching, with Hay
House Publishing, will be out April, 2022.
Tanya D'Angelo, APCC (she/her/hers)
Mental Health Counselor
Tanya D’Angelo is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) and Associate Professional
Clinical Counselor (APCC). She graduated from San Diego State University with a Master
of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling,
specializing in Psychiatric Rehabilitation. Tanya has experience working with individuals
and groups while they worked through challenges related to confidence, motivation,
adjusting to disabilities/differences, relationship challenges, and career changes.
She draws on Motivational Interviewing (MI), Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), Solution
Focused Therapy (SFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and emphasizes
a strengths-based, collaborative approach. Tanya values each individual’s lived experience
and enjoys partnering with people as they progress toward their individual wellness
goals. Tanya’s background emphasizes vocational rehabilitation as a form of recovery
and she has several years’ experience supporting Veterans, job seekers, students,
and healthcare employees. She has partnered with clients while they were dealing with
depression, anxiety, imposter syndrome, social anxiety, chronic pain, recovery from
high control environments, and stress related to time management and executive functioning
challenges. Tanya has enjoyed working with brain injury survivors as well as people
with ADHD, Autism, and other neurodifferences. In her free time, Tanya enjoys hiking,
spending time with her kids and dog, and painting. She completed a Self-Compassion
in Psychotherapy certificate program through the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion
and she enjoys practicing compassion in her everyday life.
Van Ethan Levy, LMFT 118131, LPCC 8269 (they/elle)
Associate Faculty / Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Van is a queer, non-binary, trans, AFAB (Assigned Female at Birth), nBPOC (not Black
Person of Color), dually licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed
Professional Clinical Counselor. Van is passionate about holding space for all intersections
of one’s identity(ies). Van is dedicated to social justice & believes it is vital
to cultivate an awareness of our own internal strengths, specifically our resilience
as we continue to grow and discover ourselves. Van believes it is important to trust
and validate our experience(s) and journey(s). Van aims to use a trauma informed lens
and hope to help you learn ways to support yourself in the best way possible. Van
also provides trainings on trans and non-binary identities and is author of the interactive
book Exploring My Identity(ies) (2020).
* The mental health counseling team is under the co-leadership of the full-time mental health counselors, Abigail (Abby) Burd, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW 26867, and Ghada Osman, Ph.D., Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT 83472. They are in charge of program oversight and provide clinical supervision to the registered associates and graduate students, with limited availability for direct practice with students.
Abigail (Abby) Burd, MSW, LCSW 26867, PMH-C (she/her/hers/ella)
Full-Time Faculty / Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Abby is one of the two Full-Time Faculty members overseeing the mental health counseling
program. She also coordinates the Health Services' Peer Educators. Abby is a bilingual
(English/Spanish) clinical social worker with over 20 years experience in mental health.
Before joining MiraCosta College in 2020, she served the unique mental health needs
of community college students at San Diego City College for 13 years. There, she was
proud to help create innovative programming to reduce mental health stigma, particularly
for disproportionately impacted student groups. Abby is trained as a trainer in creating
LGBTQIA+ safe zones, suicide prevention gatekeeping, and mindfulness. Abby has been
a clinical supervisor on campuses and through her private practice since 2008, guiding
the next generation of pre-licensed social workers, marriage and family therapists
and clinical counselors. She is a culturally-humble, integrative clinician, drawing
upon Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solutions-Focused Therapy,
mindfulness, and trauma-informed approaches. Abby is certified in Perinatal Mental
Health and educated at San Diego State University (Master of Social Work) and Wesleyan
University in Middletown, CT (BA in Psychology-Sociology). Her first book, The Postpartum
Depression Workbook, was published in 2020.
Ghada Osman, Ph.D., LMFT 83472, C-IAYT (she/her/hers)
Full-Time Faculty / Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Ghada is one of the two Full-Time Faculty members overseeing the mental health counseling
program. Deeply trained in client-centered, trauma-informed work that is multicultural
in perspective and LGBTQPIA+ affirming, Ghada approaches her work with a cultural
humility that centers social justice and equity. She is a Brainspotting Consultant,
certified in EMDR and Yoga Therapies, and also incorporates in her work elements of
Cognitive, Narrative, and Internal Family Systems Therapies. Ghada is passionate about
the community college mission, having herself started her educational career as a
community college student. After receiving her Ph.D. from Harvard University and working
as a Professor for 10 years, Ghada returned to school and earned her M.A. in Psychology
with an emphasis on Marriage & Family Therapy from Chapman University. In addition
to her clinical work, Ghada serves as an examination reviewer for the Board of Behavioral
Sciences and as a committee chair for the statewide California Association of Marriage
& Family Therapists. She leads workshops and trainings on a range of mental health
topics. Her most recent book is Mental and Emotional Healing through Yoga: A Guiding
Framework for Therapists and their Clients.
