Debbie Andorka I am studying at California State University Dominguez Hills. I love singing and spending time with family and friends, being active with Pilates, swimming, and hiking, as well as doing whatever I can do to bring positive mental health to our communities to make them stronger and happier. I have been a bilingual elementary teacher, early childhood administrator, K-12 school counselor, adjunct professor at Pepperdine instructing teachers in how to work with second language students, and a happy and fulfilled mother. I look forward to treasuring my time working as a therapist with students in the future. I see myself continuing to work with children and families in mental health healing in addition to guiding others to do the same. I have loving experiences working with elementary kids and I also believe everyone can grow stronger and happier with a spiritual connection, so CPLA has given me the opportunity to train with kind and caring supervisors, field support, administrators and teachers to bring compassionate healing to children and their families. I am grateful to be in a program that offers valuable evidence-based training to me as well as providing compassionate needed services to families, especially to the children in those families. I am also grateful to be part of a supportive and compassionate team of supervisors, administrators, teachers, and field support who demonstrate kindness and integrity for the individual student’s health and happiness. With that support, I bring students a treasure chest of strategies to love and care for themselves, their families, and their friends. Sarah Oldfield I graduated from Pepperdine University with eligibility for dual licensure for MFT & LPCC. I enjoy spending my free time with my family, especially my 5-year-old Son & 12-year-old fur baby (dog) Rhino. I also enjoy going to the beach, practicing Jiu-Jitsu, and traveling. My favorite self-care activities include indulging in old movies on Turner Classics, acupuncture, and massages. When I'm not working for CPLA, I also work as an Intake Counselor for Del Amo Hospital, an inpatient psychiatric facility. I also hold an additional position as a Handle With Care Trainer, focusing on verbal de escalation to avoid physical altercations with patients. This trainer position perfectly compliments my martial arts background. When I'm not working I enjoy being a dedicated family member and supporting my family any way I can. In 10 years, I hope to have a thriving private practice while also continuing to dedicate myself to community mental health with a focus on children and adolescents. My goal is to help children and adolescents develop the tools necessary to become a successful member in their community. To me, a successful member in their community means being able to help those in need while also tending to their own needs and facing the world as an undaunted human, capable of mastering challenges. I wanted to come work for CPLA because I grew up Catholic and understand the community very well. I also remember what it is like to be school aged and having someone you can talk to about everything, can be a saving grace. I LOVE working for CPLA because of the complete support. From Therese & Karen and all of the FSPs as well as the stellar supervision, I feel completely supported in every avenue. Robert Kenyon I am currently attending Pepperdine Graduate University of Education and Psychology. I enjoy traveling around California with my wife, watching movies, and playing my weekly dungeons and dragons campaigns with my friends. Before coming to CPLA, I worked as a Lead Case Manager at an apartment building that supported people who had experienced homelessness and were living with severe mental health challenges. I am very lucky that I am currently in a position where I can spend my time focusing solely on CPLA and school. I love working for CPLA because they provide excellent supervision/training, advocate for both students and practicum interns, and, most importantly to me, will go the extra mile to make sure that a child is getting the help they need. A great example of this is when I was working with a student that had been experiencing suicidal ideation for several months and needed to move his meeting time to a day when my advisor was unavailable. I discussed the situation with Therese and within five minutes she agreed to be available for supervision on her day off if anything happened with the student. CPLA helped me discover that I have a true passion for working with children. I see myself working with children not just in 10 years, but for the rest of my career. With CPLA having helped me discover a passion for working with children, much of my original career goals have changed. At some point, I would like to work with either insurance or county mental health programs to lower the barriers to high quality mental health care for all children and their families. However, if I could change the world of one child, it would be for them to truly believe that they have the resilience to get through hard times and that they are worth it. Anne Qin I attend Fuller Theological Seminary. I am very involved with my local church and work on staff part-time as an administrator. In this role, I get to support the many families and children that attend our church! I love trying out new recipes, exploring new restaurants (I’m a huge foodie!), photography, and singing! In 10 years I’d really like to collaborate with non-profits that work to strengthen communities and serve the members of my community who are in need.
When you are truly seen and loved just the way you are, it will strengthen you to see what your purpose is in life. Once you know what your purpose is, you will be a gift that will bless your circle of support, your community and the world. This is what I hope to be able to help children see! I LOVE the support I receive from the CPLA supervisors and my colleagues. They have provided incredibly helpful advice as I’ve navigated challenges as a new clinician. It has helped me grow tremendously! I have a passion for helping people going through difficult transitions and I want to help them see their strengths. CPLA offers me the opportunity to work with students who are making the challenging transition of going back to in-person learning!
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Katie Holmes I graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a BA in Psychology and minor in child and adolescent development. I am currently attending Pepperdine University and will earn a MA in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy this spring. In my free time I love to exercise and go to the beach. I also enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends! I wanted to work for CPLA after learning about their mission of supporting at-risk youth and underserved communities. I enjoy working with children and adolescents, and I especially wanted to work in a school setting to provide mental health services to families who may not be able to access these services in their community. I love that CPLA allows counselors to have freedom to use different therapeutic techniques and interventions, but also provides extensive training and support. If there is ever a crisis or difficult situation, I know that I can always reach out to my FSP, supervisor, and other members of CPLA, for additional support and guidance. Aside from being a CPLA counselor, I also work part time as an assistant to the Clinical Training department at Pepperdine University, where I work with graduate students completing their internship. If I could change one child's world, I would want to provide them with a safe space where they feel valued and supported. This is a crucial time in their development, and providing unconditional positive regard and empathy can make a lasting impact in their life!In 10 years, I plan to start a non-profit organization that provides counseling and holistic services to youth and young adults. I would like to continue providing affordable and accessible services, while focusing on early intervention. Lauren Albrecht I’m currently attending Pepperdine University and will earn a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy in June 2022.
I love gathering with friends and family, traveling, taking long walks with my dog, and taking care of orchids. I volunteer at various organizations and am currently the president of my high school’s alumni council and a trustee on its board. I’m committed to supporting the LGBTQ+ community and ensuring diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice remain a part of our conversations. I’m a mom of two teenagers and raising them influenced me to go back to school to become a therapist. In 10 years I hope to be working in a group private practice helping parents improve their relationships with their kids, so they can better navigate today’s high-pressured academic environment and adopt healthy life skills. I also hope to help kids find their voice, believe in themselves, and feel empowered to improve their world. I was drawn to CPLA because of its mission of providing counseling to underserved and low-income families in a school environment. The support from CPLA is amazing! From the leadership of Therese and her team, the FSPs, and experienced supervisors to the vital resources and training, CPLA is a fantastic organization for MFT trainees. |
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