Meet The CPLA Team

​CPLA is committed to bringing counseling and support to all under-served school communities so that every student has the best possible chance
for emotional well-being and a promising future. 

Executive Director Therese Funk is honored to lead a community of 
compassionate, dedicated & exceptional of counselors and support personnel.

                                 THE CPLA LEADERSHIP TEAM


​

Therese Funk ​

Executive Director, & Co-Founder 

In 2012, Therese co-founded CPLA with her long-time colleague , Monica Dessert after working for an Orange County based agency,  Outreach Concern. Therese worked there for five years, all of them with her co-founder Monica Dessert. She received her Bachelors degree in Psychology from UCLA where she worked on special projects of early applied behavior analysis (ABA) for autistic children under pioneer Dr. Ivar Lovass. It is at that time that she realized her passion for helping children, especially those facing obstacles and adversity.  She obtained an MBA from USC. and later, her Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from California  Graduate  Institute,  CPLA brings her full circle back to her roots, helping vulnerable children and adolescents achieve bright futures despite tremendous odds. Additionally, Therese serves on the Advisory Board of the Vision of Hope. She is a founding member of EveryChild Foundation and for 20 years has served on grant-making committees. She is very proud to have served as only the second woman president of a social club in LA, The Beach Club. 

therese@counselingpartnersofla.org

​

                 THE CPLA FIELD SUPPORT TEAM

Jen Vitanza

Senior Field Support Person

Jen began working with CPLA in January of 2016. She began as a counselor at St. Genevieve Elementary and High Schools; and moved into the Field Supervisor position in 2018. Jen received her Bachelor's in Psychology and her Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy  from California State University, Northridge. In addition to her work with CPLA, she has worked at the Mitchell Family Counseling Center at CSUN, and in a private practice setting at Social Coaching Club where she works with children, teens and families. As a Field Supervisor, Jen provides support and mentorship to counselors, as well as assists them through crises. She is committed to the professional growth and progress of each counselor and dedicates her time to ensure a safe and thriving school community. ​

​​​jen@counselingpartnersofla.org

Yoseline Lopez- Marroquin

Field Support Person

Yoseline's journey with CPLA began in 2012 when CPLA was founded. In 2014, she became a board member as a CPLA Alumni. She served as a counselor to St. Thomas the Apostle School, St. Matthias High School (back when it was an all-girls school), and Baldwin Park Head Start. Yoseline has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Global Studies from UC Santa Barbara; a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology, with a Child Studies Specialization from Antioch Los Angeles; and a Doctorate of Clinical Psychology degree from Antioch Santa Barbara. Yoseline's clinical training experiences have ranged from school counseling to community mental health at agencies such as: Outreach Concern, Inc., Star View Community Services, Children's Institute, Inc., and Cal State Long Beach Counseling and Psychological Services. Yoseline thoroughly enjoys connecting with others and motivating them to reach their infinite potential. Child at heart, she advocates for youth and their families, in effort to create a better society, one heart at a time. 

​​​​yoseline@counselingpartnersofla.org

Ilusion Millan

Field Support Person

Ilusion began working with CPLA in 2018 as a counselor at View Park Elementary School, and then continued her work at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Catholic School. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development from Pacific Oaks; and a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University, as well as a certification in Narrative Therapy from the Vancouver School of Narrative Therapy. Ilusion is familiar with the school system as a previous curriculum developer with Yale University. She is now continuing her new journey with serving families and communities as a Field Support Person. As a mother to two young adults, Ilusion heavily utilizes a strength-based approach, which continues to inspire her commitment towards children and families. 

​​​​​ilusion@counselingpartnersofla.org

Tasha Campbell

Operations Support Person

Tasha began working with CPLA in January of 2018 as a counselor at St. Joseph's and Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. She moved to the Field Supervisor position in the summer of 2019. Tasha first discovered her passion for working with children and their families when she volunteered at the Therapeutic Recreation Center, working with children with disabilities on social and communication skills. She then attended the University of Oregon, where she received her Bachelors in Psychology and Minor in Special Education, and her Masters in Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University. At Oregon, she was a research assistant at the Family Behavioral Health Lab, which studied on the affect of stress on families with a history of child abuse. Tasha has a passion for supporting children and adolescent's journeys in finding self-confidence and reconnecting them to their families. Tasha currently supports CPLA through her role as a "data analyst."

​tasha@counselingpartnersofla.org

                             THE CPLA BOARD TEAM

The community leaders that serve on our Board of Directors are volunteers that lend their time and expertise to guide our organization responsibly and effectively. Our board is made up of leaders from the private, non-profit and public sectors:
Ms. Andrea Curthoys
Mrs. Monica Taylor Dessert
Ms. Therese Funk
Ms. Yoseline Lopez-Marroquin
Mrs. Marcy Woodhull Polhemus
Bishop David O’Connell is a special advisor to CPLA

               THE CPLA VOLUNTEER COUNSELOR TEAM

The CPLA volunteer counselor team is a group of dedicated and compassionate Masters-level trainees and post-graduate associates working under the close supervision of licensed therapists. All members of the CPLA leadership team who oversee our volunteer counselors are experienced clinicians  and have undergone a thorough interview and screening process. Counselors attend  three days of intensive training prior to their school placements and additional monthly trainings throughout the school year. CPLA believes that consistent oversight and strong supervision of counselors are critical components in achieving success with the students we serve and to best support the training and growth of our counselors.