September - November Counselor Spotlights

Haley Herdman

    I am a student in USC's MFT program. My hobbies include coaching, playing/watching sports, reading, hanging out at the beach, and engaging in feminist activism. I also like trying out a new restaurant in LA, being at the movies, or napping! A fun fact about me is that I played four years of Division I basketball at Loyola Marymount University. In addition to being a student and MFT Trainee, I am a basketball/strength and conditioning coach at Mira Costa High School and I also co-host a podcast called Mental Health Training Room. Our episodes are centered around advocating for student-athlete mental health, you can listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! The future will always be unknown but I can only hope in 10 years that I will feel happy, healthy, advocating for things I am passionate about, and doing so while surrounded by people I love and that love me back!
      I wanted to work for CPLA because a career goal of mine is to help children, adolescents, and families of underrepresented communities gain easier access to mental health services by implementing them into school settings. What better way to learn how to do this than by getting a first hand experience of being an MFT Trainee at a program that aligns perfectly with my goal?! I love how supported I feel by working at CPLA. The guidance I am provided with my my supervisors, FSP, and co-counselors is like no other. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and cannot wait to further my traineeship here at CPLA! I hope to change the world by radically accepting and empowering a child's individualism as a reminder that they are LOVED and in hopes for them to live a life free from fear, self doubt, or judgment of others. If everyone can accept others as their full selves in life, I believe the world would change.

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Angharad  Caceres

        I am a student in Pratt Institute's for Masters in Art Therapy program. I am passionate about art! Also crafting! Reading, sci fi, baking, camping, travel! Learning! A fun fact about me is that counseling is my 3rd career. I got my BA in Psychology from U of Oregon in 1995! I went on to get my Masters in Teaching at Lewis and Clark College and taught 4/5th grade for 4 years. I moved to Los Angeles and became a craft store owner and have been a mixed media art teacher for decades. Now I am an aspiring Art Therapist! I am still the owner of a craft supply company called Craftiness. I am also a mom to 2 kids/3 step kids-all grown up and spread out all over the country from Hawaii to Philadelphia. And I'm a grandmother! I'm also a dedicated daughter to my mom in Seattle, sister to my sibling in New York, and devoted auntie to my sister's two little kids. I fly a lot! In 10 years, I see myself doing ore school! I want to study how art therapy works on the brain!
         I wanted to work at CPLA because I love how the agency  makes room for creative arts approach techniques and offers training in things like sand tray therapy. And I love that they work in schools! I love how much support I have. My FSP has been amazing and I feel very taken care of here. And I love my clients, it really is a joy to work with them all. I love nothing more than validating a person’s experience and taking away any stigma they are living with. I want to empower every client to know their own capacity for change and growth. And I want my clients to have permission to speak up for themselves and to believe they deserve to be heard, accommodated and loved for who they are.

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Diana Quintanilla

          I am currently a student at Fuller Theological Seminary. In my free time, I enjoy running, yoga, spending time with family, and experiencing my culture through travel and food! A fun fact about me is that I was one of the last groups of people to experience the inside chambers of the UNESCO historical site of the Chichen Itza pyramid aka Temple of Kukulkan. I am also a volunteer teacher in my church and have also supported teens' spiritual and social-emotional development in past roles. My weekends are mostly restorative when I spend it with family, church and watching movies. In 10 years, I see myself writing a book!
            I wanted to work at CPLA because I felt that the agency has a very supportive system in place from FSP's roles, to supervision, and trainee relationships. I appreciated that CPLA took the time and extra step to connect me with different people in the agency and past alumni to get my questions answered regarding practicum experience when I was at my schools' practicum fair! I really like the partnership motto that is upheld in the course of traineeship, because it makes sense that it takes a village to support one student. I come from an education background and it is helpful to come to practicum and see staff being so welcoming and concerned for their students while maintaining an open stance to connecting with counselors once rapport is built. I hope the children that are brought into my office feel safe, loved, and that they belong in this world, so that they can then see their strengths and ability to create a change in their own world.

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Geetha Chandroth

           I am a student at Pepperdine University. I am extremely passionate about social justice advocacy and music (compositions, singing, playing saxophone). During my free time I enjoy hiking and camping. A fun fact about me is that my first word was goat! I am currently a Graduate Assistant on Pepperdine's Clinical Training Team - WLA Campus and have worked with chronic OCD/Anxiety as an Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) Coach. I am also working towards co-founding a non-profit organization to teach young people about social injustice in classroom settings. In 10 years, I see myself creating low-barrier mental health care for individuals who might not have access to it otherwise, specifically serving kids and families in the unsheltered community. I also hope to be an adjunct professor and nurture the next generation of mental health professionals.
             Throughout my professional development, I have had an affinity to working with children. I have been fortunate to have many different opportunities working with children, but I had never worked with children clinically. CPLA provided me with an incredible opportunity to try on being a child psychotherapist and support some of the most vulnerable populations. I feel incredibly humbled being apart of it. Generally, I have struggled with waking up early in the morning however, it has been so easy to wake up and go to my school because of the incredible students, staff, and teachers. This has been one of the most fulfilling positions I have had in my graduate career and I'm so excited to continue working with these kids! Additionally, I absolutely adore the supportive team CPLA provides to counselors. From the CPLA staff to supervisors, there has never been a time I haven't felt supported in my role. I hope to change the world in a myriad of ways. There are many different paths I have been thinking about walking - and my aspirations change as I learn about new opportunities - however, I see myself creating low-barrier mental health care for individuals who might not have access to it otherwise, specifically serving kids and families in the unsheltered community. I also hope to be an adjunct professor and nurture the next generation of mental health professionals.

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Kenia Garcia

       I am a student at Cal State University, Dominguez Hills. My hobbies include walking my dog with my partner and going to the gym. I am passionate about making crafts with my circuit joy and making curly hair style tutorials. Some of my interests include becoming fluent in sign language, learning to play the piano and investing in the stock market! A fun fact about me is that I am technically 6 years old....because I am a leap year baby. My birthday comes every four years. I will turn 7 next year (I finally get an "official birthday"). In 10 years, I hope to have opened up my own private practice in the San Gabriel Valley to support bridging the gap between the Latinx Community and mental health. Also, providing a stipend for a Latina obtaining her master's in MFT in my alma mater.
          As someone who grew up not knowing mental health counseling existed I found it valuable that CPLA is providing support to communities that might not have access to mental health care due to systemic poverty. What I love about working with CPLA is I feel nurtured, supported and cared for by CPLA admin. All the ladies are wonderful. If I ever have questions my FSP is always open to answering them and if she does not know the answer she is able to reach out to the other ladies for support. I also love the multiple trainings throughout the year to assist us in supporting our clients. Lastly, I appreciate the counselor drive created by admin that has an amazing amount of resources for us currently as trainees and resources when we graduate. I hope to change the world through representation. Representation matters. I aspire to give hope to my Latinx community and hopefully clients are able to see a reflection of themselves through me.

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Clarke Rose

        I am a student at Cal State University, Fullerton. My hobbies include social justice, learning about other cultures and parts of the world, cooking vegetarian meals, hosting friends and family, dancing, second hand fashion and vintage, liberation and empowerment for marginalized populations. A fun fact about me is that I speak fluent French. Some of my other lives include: I grew up in the theatre and wanted to be an actor for as long as I could remember, I moved to Paris when I was 20 and got my undergraduate degree there, I then worked as a nanny in Southeast Asia for three months, and then I moved to Australia where I lived for about a year and a half. I'm really passionate about being exposed to other ways of living and other parts of the world. In 10 years, I will have a cute little cottage and be working in private practice. I will be living in a sweet town not too far from a city working with women and couples. I will be considering going back and getting my phd so I can start work in university. I will definitely have a dog, an amazing closet of vintage and thrifted goods, and a super regulated and calm nervous system!
     I wanted to work at CPLA because I was so positively impacted by school counseling as a young girl that I could not pass up the opportunity to help others in the same way.  love being in a school environment. It is very special to be able to work with other adults in varying capacities who are passionate about working with kids. I love getting to spend my day talking to the youth and understanding them and helping them grow! I want to empower young women to value themselves beyond their looks and what they can "give" to others. I want them to learn how to make choices for themselves, advocate for their well-being, and follow their wildest dreams.

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Dale Tarr

         I am a student at Pepperdine University. My passions and interests include: finishing my degree March 2024, completing my hours and becoming an LMFT. When I have time, I love to travel, read fiction and sit by a fireplace when it is snowing. I have always been fascinated with what motivates people and the human condition. I knew that going to graduate school and working at my practicum site was something I wanted to focus on. Therefore, I put most other parts of my life on hold and do not currently have other positions. I love reinventing myself and have done so multiple times. Becoming an LMFT is a lifelong dream. It's never too late! In 10 years, I see myself as a psychotherapist working with people throughout the lifespan to live their best life and help them work through conflicts that are stopping this from happening.
       I wanted to work at CPLA because I loved their mission, and I understood that I was going to a site run by smart, capable, and compassionate professionals who cared about their approach, treated all people involved with respect and high esteem. Their attitude was so positive and that was contagious! CPLA is an exceptional organization. They offer a world-class operation, exceptional support and supervision and a mission statement that spoke to me. Through CPLA I have met top and exceptional professionals who care and appreciate everyone's contribution. I am continuously impressed by their trainings, compassionate understanding, and great care for who those who are lucky enough to work with them. I hope to change the world, even if it is one child's world, by giving a child a safe place during their session so they learn to internalize unconditional acceptance and caring.

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