Counselor Spotlight!

September : Claudine Rozsa 

​I am currently studying Clinical Psychology at Azusa Pacific University. I wanted to be apart of CPLA’s team because they’re welcoming, supportive and an inspiring agency that helps communities. I love traveling, trying new food, being surrounded by good people and taking care of myself. I love working with CPLA because I feel the support and love this agency has for helping others. In 10 years, I hope to see myself still traveling the world, living in a beautiful city and being a professor at a university helping future clinicians, while still seeing clients. I love working in the mental health field. I feel so lucky that I get to love the work I do while being surrounded by other inspiring people. I thrive to keep growing and learning about the world, culture and people. I hope to change the world by being authentic and hopefully inspiring others to be their authentic self. I also hope to inspire my clients in letting them know that there is a safe space for them to be accepted and get help.

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October: Wendy Palma  

I am in my final year at Mount Saint Marys University, Los Angeles. I am pursuing a Master’s of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy with an !Enlaces! certification, which prepares me to provide adequate and culturally competent treatment to the Spanish-speaking community. I selected CPLA to complete my traineeship due to their passion for introducing counseling services to schools to support children through their development. I am a registered behavioral technician and have been working with children on the spectrum for over three years. I enjoy reading about varying subjects, spending time with friends, practicing yoga and meditation. I sincerely appreciate CPLA's openhearted and encouraging environment,  which promotes growth and advancement for clinicians entering the field. In ten years, I see myself holding a Doctorate in Psychology and having a private practice. Additionally, I would love to help first-generation students by supporting them further in their education and other areas that allows them to reach their goals. I hope to profoundly impact children and families; lives in a meaningful way to help them believe and trust in the power within themselves.

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November: Brandy Cannon & Nadia Pena 

​Brandy Cannon

​I came to CPLA to help students achieve mental health at a time in their lives I would have liked to received help. I love working for CPLA because it gives me the opportunity to help students thrive.
I am passionate about helping sexual abuse survivors, helping single mothers, and acheiving racial justice. My hobbies have been ballroom dancing, martial arts, and road biking. I also volunteer as a marriage and family therapist trainee at Living Success Center - San Gabriel Valley, do business consulting, am a licensed certified public accountant, am a full-time graduate student, and am a full-time mom. In 10 years, I see myself working for my own organization so I can personally enact changes in the mental health industry that dismantle systemic barriers that are preventing people in non-dominant groups from becoming mental health clinicians. I hope to change the world by helping my clients be more of who they would like to be and by mentoring other people to help them become skilled clinicians.

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Nadia Pena 

​I came to CPLA because I felt CPLA’s ethics and values aligned with my own personal values. I also wanted to be part of an organization providing change in our community. The staff is very supportive and AMAZING! Thank you CPLA staff! The organization is also consistent with providing us with trainings. The trainings have helped me improve my knowledge of ethics, laws, policies, and procedures. I enjoy going to the beach and spending time with my son. Before the pandemic, my son and I used to visit Disneyland, Knott's, Universal Studios every week. ​Yes, I currently work as a full time Substance Abuse Counselor at Martin Luther King Community Hospital in Los Angeles. I have been with this organization for almost a year. I also work as a part time Substance Abuse Counselor for Behavioral Health Services. I have been with BHS for 10 years. In 10 years, I see myself as a licensed clinician living in South Dakota and providing Equine Assisted Therapy. I can only attempt to inspire my clients like I was once inspired by my personal counselor. I hope that I can be a role model and provide my clients with a positive counseling experience. 

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