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Bethanie John I am a student at Pepperdine. I originally applied to Pepperdine to get an ABA Masters, but quickly realized MFT was a better fit for me and was luckily able to switch tracks. I am now going for dual-licensure and completing my final semester this summer; I can't believe it. It has felt like I've been in school for a long time and it has gone by quickly all at the same time. I am also a freelance dog sitter and a part-time nanny to twin boys. One of my passions/interests is... old cars, just kidding!! I wish I had exciting hobbies, but the truth is I am a huge introvert and passionate about introverts. I love watching TV and movies. I enjoy reading, but at the end of the day, it's TV over everything. What would I like to be doing in 10 years? This is a tough question to answer because there are many options in this field and many ways to combine my interests with therapy. I am open to experiencing different aspects of this field in order to find and create my fit within the mental health community. The next couple of years of being pre-licensed feels like the time to explore and really find my niche. In 10 years, I will be continuing to align my values with my career. I hope in 10 years, mental health and health care, in general, are not only adequate but really serving and helping populations most in need and deserving of care. I saw Therese and Karen speak during a practicum class at Pepperdine. When Therese and Karen started to speak, I hoped they would consider me to train at CPLA. I loved their dynamic, their personalities, and their passion. Their banter with each other indicated that CPLA had a great working environment and the way they spoke about what it was like to work at CPLA made CPLA my top choice immediately. I also thought working with children in a school setting felt like the next gradual step for me because I have a lot of experience babysitting and nannying. I thought CPLA would be a great way to continue working with children but with the added mental health aspect. What is comforting to me about therapy is that the therapeutic relationship is the most important and effective aspect of therapy. I hope that I can impact children by giving them my complete time, attention, presence, and non-judgement during the session, and in doing so, validate them and their experience. I think children feeling accepted just as they are can be very healing for them. It has been such a great experience being part of the CPLA community. I really enjoy the school I am based in and clients I get to work with. I am grateful for all of the supervisors I've been able to train with. Everyone is equally passionate and brings different perspectives, life and work experiences that have all impacted my professional work. I now have high expectations before going to another site because I want supervision and training to be as on-point as it is at CPLA. Kenzie Jenest I am currently studying at Pepperdine University, graduating in May 2022 with my MA in Clinical Psychology and an emphasis in Marriage & Family Therapy. My passions include mental health awareness and advocacy, accessible healthcare, sustainable living, helping people connect to their bodies, and many others. As for hobbies, I love reading, cooking, camping, weightlifting, and doing yoga. I consider myself a lifelong student because I am endlessly curious and wanting to learn more. You can usually find me reading a book or two…or three. I actually quit my full-time job before starting with CPLA because I wanted to dedicate my last year of grad school to practicum and coursework (I feel very lucky to have been able to do this!) Before making the professional leap into mental health, I worked mostly in the entertainment industry. That industry is obviously quite different from this work, but it allowed me to learn from others, grow as a person, and finally pursue my current career path. In my spare time, I like to volunteer and practice self-care, which looks like hanging out with loved ones, eating delicious food, spending time outdoors, and moving my body. In 10 years, I hope to be living in a cute little house covered with vines with my partner and a few dogs, working as a therapist with adolescents and adults (individuals and couples). But who knows! I’m a planner at heart, but I also want to keep my options open. I love connecting people to resources they need and I also love teaching, so I am considering working in multiple facets of the mental health field. At the very least, I want to show kids and young adults that help is out there. I also hope to show kids and young adults that safe and healthy relationships are possible and that they are capable of cultivating these relationships. As most of my clients know by now, I want to help them accept the notion that change is the only constant and that life can be uncertain but ultimately worth living. I initially wanted to work for CPLA because my original goal was to be a high school counselor. We didn't have any emotional support at the schools I attended, and I wanted to be that person for children. I always felt that there was more to being a kid than just being a student, and there's much more to counseling than just focusing on academics! I love working for CPLA because there is so much built-in support. I never feel like I’m going at it alone, and they truly honor and emphasize the training element of their agency. There are endless resources and opportunities to learn more, which is my favorite thing to do. Additionally, I have enjoyed being able to form honest therapeutic relationships with kids who might have never had this experience before. It is immensely rewarding watching children learn more about themselves and apply the skills they learn in counseling in their everyday life. Katarina Avalos I earned my bachelor's degree from California State University, Fullerton in 2019 and am now getting my Master's in Clinical Psychology from the same institution. I am excited to be graduating at the end of this year! When I am not at my site I also work as a substitute teacher and a graduate course assistant for an undergraduate Abnormal Psychology course. When I am not working or in school I enjoy exploring outdoors, playing guitar, and spending time with my friends and family. In 10 years, I hope to hold dual licensure as an LMFT and LPCC working in a community setting with children and/or individuals who require court mandated therapy. As a therapist, I hope that at minimum, I am able to be a compassionate and stable figure in the lives of those who need it most. I have worked both clinically and non clinically with children and adolescents for the past seven years. I wanted to continue my work with this population and came across CPLA. While searching for a practicum site, it was extremely important to me that I was part of a company that was dedicated to not only helping others, but also to providing new therapists with the support and guidance needed to flourish professionally and make differences in the lives of others. I was drawn to CPLA because not only do they provide all of this, but they go above and beyond to make our work as therapists feel appreciated. I love working for CPLA because of the wonderful support they provide for all of us Clinicians. Between the supervisors, FSP's and Director, even the most challenging of times feel manageable. There are continuous opportunities for us to learn and grow as therapists through consultations, monthly training, and student presentations, which are essential elements of creating compassionate and skillful clinicians. I also love that CPLA dedicates their time to work with underserved and low- income families. Being able to provide therapy to this particular population has been beyond rewarding and through this experience I have grown so much as both a person and a therapist. Stephany Martinez In 2018, I received my B.A. in Psychology from Cal State University Long Beach. Currently I am continuing my education at Pepperdine University where I will earn my Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. I chose to work for CPLA after learning how much their mission and values aligned with my own professional goals. Some of those professional goals include working with children and young adults in underserved communities. It was also important for me to work in an environment where respect and unconditional support is emphasized. I have enjoyed the flexibility of being able to apply different modalities into my work as I believe therapy is not a one size fits all. I am passionate about working in a field where I can help others become the best versions of themselves. Being a part of each client’s personal growth has been both rewarding and inspiring; everyday I am reminded that this career is truly where I am supposed to be. In 10 years, I hope to have grown into a stronger therapist and hope to continue making a positive impact in the lives of others. Lynnae Arredondo I received my bachelors in sociology and child development. I am currently obtaining my masters in social work from Ohio State University. I wanted to work for CPLA for a variety of reasons however, the first thing that caught my eye was the mission and the population CPLA serves. I have a passion for providing counseling to students in a school based setting because not only can we work with families to provide interventions in the home but we also have the opportunity to work with teachers to give guidance in the classroom. Providing one to one mental health counseling allows me to empower students to create changes in their lives and having the opportunity to do that brings me joy. Some of my interests include working out, walking my dog Ollie, traveling and eating at new places/trying different kinds foods ! In my past roles I have been a First Grade teacher, a Counselor where I helped children with social emotional skills.I have also worked as a Foster Care Licensor where I helped families become licensed to become foster/adoptive parents. Each of my roles have led me to know and love working with children and families and I am grateful to have had these amazing opportunities. In 10 years I see myself happily working as a therapist for children, families and couples. My goal is to help every client I work with to view their life/challenges with a new perspective. I hope to give them the tools to feel successful without my guidance and ultimately feel happiness and peace in their life. Sarai Rodriguez I received my BA in Human Development and Minor in Child Development from CSULB in 2018. I recently graduated from California State University, Dominguez Hills. I received my MS in Marital & Family Therapy. My number one favorite thing to do is spending time with my family. I also enjoy; crafting, walking my dog, and hiking when the weather is good. I am a mother to a soon-to-be 5-year-old, which keeps me pretty busy on top of the fact that I am a big introvert who loves to binge-watch shows in the comfort of my home. You'll see a bit of an extrovert in me when you catch me at Disney occasionally. Disneyland and California Adventure are one of my top ways to self-care! I enjoy the rides and the yummy treats while I am at the parks! In 10 years, I see myself working to improve our underserved communities. I still see myself primarily working with children and families and maybe by this time I have also added working with women who have struggled with infertility, child loss, and postpartum depression as this is something I have been challenged with myself and hope to one day be able to help others cope with their grief. Aside from professionally, on the personal side I hope to have my own home and add another child to our family and also a few more four-legged babies. I hope I am able to be a person in a child's life that reassures them that they are worthy and that they have so much to give and so much more to experience. If I am able to do this for a child then that would translate to how I would hope to change the world since this would help decrease the stigma on mental health and decrease suicide rates and increase healthy ways in which children can voice when they are struggling. I wanted to work for CPLA because of a few reasons: a. I did not have a great experience with school staff when I was in K-12, and more specifically when I was in high school. I wanted to "be the change" that I wish I would have received because it was much needed. b. Working with kids was always something I envisioned myself doing, I didn't know in what capacity, but I quickly realized how much of an impact a counselor can have in a child's life. And c. I often think about my childhood which leads me to think about how it would have been great to feel fully supported by someone as I was discovering who I was and figuring out my identity in this big world. I feel passionate about being that person for children. As an adult looking back, I know I was cared for and loved, but it did not always feel that way. Receiving counseling in a school setting as children is beneficial in so many ways! Some of those include learning to express themselves, acquiring healthy coping skills, learning mindfulness techniques for when they are feeling stuck, feeling validated, feeling heard, and one of the biggest ones is learning to reach out when things feel like they are falling apart, CPLA gave me the opportunity to be this person to children and it is honestly such a privilege. Additionally, while working for CPLA I have felt very supported and I love the community of counselors always sharing ideas and providing feedback to each other. I have also been very lucky to have such supportive supervisors that will hold your hand through the hard things that sometimes need to be done and then making sure you process if anything came up for you. Gabrielle Torres I am currently studying at Palo Alto University and working on my dual licensure (MFT & LPCC). I spent 4.5 years working as a Behavior Therapist with children on the Autism Spectrum. I learned the ins and outs of behavior modification and how this can help decrease our everyday "problems". But I have always had a passion for discovering what goes on behind those behaviors. This passion led me to pursuing my Masters in Counseling and taking what I have learned in my own life and experiences and using that to help support others in their self-exploration. I am (obviously) passionate about serving others. But in my free time, I am either spending time with my family and friends or working out in the gym. The body and the mind are muscles and they both should be worked on! I hope to change the world (even if it's just 1 child's world) by spotlighting the importance of mental health and complete wellness. Humans are flawed, and we will always be working on ourselves. But if we focus on being the best versions of ourselves every chance we get, we will all see each other for who we truly are-- people who yearn for understanding and have the need to be loved and supported. My ultimate goal is to leave the lives I've touched, desiring and demanding to know themselves more so they can show up for those in their lives. In 10 years, I see myself owning a private practice that focuses on total wellness. Meaning it will be a space that houses not only mental health therapy, but also nutrition and body wellness professionals as well. I am a huge believer in advocating for those who are not spoken for; the children and communities CPLA serves deserve a space to express themselves, whether good or bad. I wanted to be a part of a team who placed high importance on this! I love working for CPLA because it has given me a chance to touch the lives of impressionable children. Whether they are 5 years old or 13 years old, they have not only trusted me with supporting them, they have taught me to appreciate every moment I get on earth and to never take things for granted. Michaela Harris I am currently studying at Azusa Pacific University for my MFT degree. I currently work in retail and have managerial experience of over 5+ years. Recently, I was a manager at my retail job but decided to step down so that I could focus on my education. I was also a Girl Scout growing up. I am a very caring and passionate person who loves to help out my family and friends but also anyone in general. I try to go above and beyond to help anyone out if I can because I know what it is like to feel as though you do not have any support. Some of my hobbies/passions/interests are listening to crime podcasts, drawing, painting, and baking.
In 10 years, I see myself being more of an advocate for having more mental health services and resources provided in schools. My entire school career, I did not have a mental health counselor that I could have gone to about my mental health and I know a lot of schools do not have access to these sorts of resources. I hope to change the views on mental health and let others know that it is ok to want to work on their mental health and that just because you talk to someone about your problems or issues, it does not mean that you are crazy or something is wrong with you. I hope to show others that there are people out there who do care and support them, even if it's only 1 child's world that I change. I wanted to work for CPLA because it provides mental health resources/services to children and families. This was really important to me because I truly believe that children are the future and in order to succeed, children and families need to be supported in every way whether that is academically, socially, and/or mentally. I love working for CPLA because it allows me to be a support system to children and their families. I am able to relate to a lot of the different developmental stages our students may be currently going through and I am able to validate how they feel and show them that they are not alone and are not going to continue to be alone as they continue to grow in these areas. |
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