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
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Therese Funk Executive Director, & Co-FounderIn 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.
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Karen LeeClinical Director
Karen Lee, LMFT-LPCC joined Counseling Partners of Los Angeles as the Clinical Director in July 2020. Yet she had been an admirer of the organization for almost 12 years when she first met the Executive Director Therese Funk at the Greater Los Angeles MFT Consortium. Karen noted that she knew she would be a good fit for CPLA due to the word “partners” in the organization’s name. With over 20 years of professional experience in the field of community mental health, partnership is one of the most valuable keys to serve the community successfully. She is excited to partner with the CPLA staff, the schools, and the families to provide best practice treatment and caring support to our student population.
Karen comes to us with a successful tenure in quality assurance, clinical training and best practice compliance. She held positions in program management, student and supervisor training, clinical onboarding and strategic planning. Karen is thrilled to be a part of the vision of strengthening school communities, creating hope, empowering students and their families to reach their fullest potential. Karen@counselingpartnersofla.org
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THE CPLA FIELD SUPPORT TEAM
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Jen VitanzaSenior Field Support PersonJen 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.
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Yoseline Lopez- MarroquinField Support PersonYoseline'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.
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Ilusion MillanField Support PersonIlusion 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.
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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
Ms. Therese Funk
Ms. Yoseline Lopez-Marroquin
Mrs. Marcy Woodhull Polhemus
Bishop David O’Connell is a special advisor to CPLA
Ms. Andrea Curthoys
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.