Schedule a presentation about our services for your class/group
Personal/Mental Health Counseling Sessions
Free and confidential Counseling and Mental Health Services are available in person, via Zoom or by Phone to currently enrolled students who are physically in the state of California. Please fill out the contact form on our Health Services main page to request an appointment or call the:
- Oceanside Health Center at 760.795.6675
- San Elijo Health Center at 760.757.2121 x7747.
Sessions are 50 minutes, one time per week for up to six consecutive weeks. One-time drop-in crisis sessions of up to 50 minutes are also available. Sessions may be used for individual, relationship, or family counseling. Some common reasons to seek mental health counseling are:
- Generally overwhelmed with life
- Difficulties at school or work
- Stress and anxiety
- Depression
- Grief
- Difficulty with sleep
- Relationship challenges
- Substance abuse
- Concerns about eating
- Sexuality
- Gender identity
- Traumatic life experiences
- Pressure/trauma related to marginalization
Groups: Offered during Fall & Spring Semesters!
- Autism Space - MONDAYS
Mondays 3-4pm. In collaboration with SAS. Facilitated by Van Ethan Levy. Please email vlevy@miracosta.edu for link. - Recovery Support - WEDNESDAYS
Wednesdays 12-1pm. Facilitated by Tammah Watts. Meeting ID: 895 5118 2128, Password: 14622. Please email twatts@miracosta.edu for more information. - QT (Queer Time) for LGBTQIA+ Students - WEDNESDAYS
Wednesdays 5-6pm. In collaboration with LGBTQIA+ Equity. Facilitated by Van Ethan Levy. Please email vlevy@miracosta.edu for link. - Cultivating Wellbeing: A Support Group for Undocumented/Mixed Status Students and
their Loved Ones - THURSDAYS
5:45-6:45pm select Thursdays at the Community Learning Center (CLC) campus (room 307) and Zoom. In collaboration with UPRISE. Facilitated by Nidya Ramirez Ibarra in English & Spanish. Please email nramirezibarra@miracosta.edu for more information. - Living with Loss and Coping with Grief - FRIDAYS
12-1pm select Fridays via Zoom. Facilitated by Anjou Parekh. Meeting ID 867 1066 6156, Password: 770097.
Our Team
The Mental Health Counseling Team is comprised of a diverse group of professionals and includes Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors, and pre-licensed counselors and associates.
We have been trained to look at the world from a systemic, humanistic, social justice, and equity-minded perspective. We consider the whole person in our work with students. This includes focusing on past and current experiences, including the impact the larger system has on lived experiences. We therefore consider the impact of social injustices and systemic inequities on individuals, including acknowledging and examining systems, policies, and practices of oppression that students have experienced.
As clinicians, we are in solidarity for social justice and equity, both here at MiraCosta and in the larger community. We are here for all students and as an additional source of support for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and LGBTQIA+ students in the MiraCosta community, both through individual counseling and through scheduled group sessions.
Anjou Parekh, LPCC 7945 (she/her/hers)
Associate Faculty / Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Anjou is a licensed psychotherapist who supports individuals with a wide range of
issues, including anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma and PTSD, grief
and loss, and other life transitions. Anjou offers talk therapy as well as Eye Movement
Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). She is also a certified yoga instructor and
blends elements of yoga and mindfulness-based approaches into her sessions as appropriate.
Anjou’s client-centered, solution-focused approach allows her to use a variety of
research-based therapeutic practices to support clients in their treatment goals.
She provides a confidential, warm, and nonjudgmental environment in which clients
can explore their thoughts and feelings as they move forward in their life journeys.
Her perspective is trauma-informed, multicultural, and LGBTQIA+ affirming. In Anjou’s
prior public health career, she spent over fifteen years managing healthcare programs
for women, children, and families, both domestically and internationally. Though she
was born in Canada and raised there and in the USA, Anjou has had the privilege of
working and living in a variety of countries in both Asia and Latin America, including
India, Japan, China, Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. She also speaks several languages,
including Spanish and Gujarati.
Anthony Licciardone (he/him/his)
Mental Health Counselor
Anthony is a graduate student at the University of San Diego pursuing his Master’s
in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. He received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology
with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies from Pennsylvania State University
in 2022. During that time, Anthony volunteered as a hotline counselor providing clients
with emotional support, crisis intervention, and referral to community resources and
basic needs case managers. As a professional clinical counselor trainee, Anthony is
interested in a person-centered, strengths-based approach to counseling. He is passionate
about increasing the accessibility of resources and reducing the stigma surrounding
mental health for college students. In his free time, Anthony enjoys hiking, traveling,
listening to music, and learning about nature and wildlife.
Ariana Nieves (she/her/hers)
Mental Health Counselor
Ariana is a graduate student at California State University San Marcos pursuing her
Master's in Social Work. She identifies as a first-generation Mexican American college
student, a 'cycle breaker', and speaks both Spanish and English. She received a Bachelor
of Arts in Social Policy and Public Service, as well as Education Sciences, from the
University of California Irvine. She has experience working several roles as a case
manager, mental health crisis counselor, and looks forward to being a part of the
Mental Health Services at MiraCosta College. Ariana utilizes an empowerment and strengths-based
approach to counseling and supports creating a safe space for folks to address the
roots of their wounding and healing.
Arianna Escobar, LPCC 13931 (she/her/hers)
Associate Faculty / Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Arianna is an Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). She received her M.S.
in multicultural community counseling and social justice education from SDSU (CBB)
program. Arianna has worked with diverse populations including adults, adolescents,
system-involved youth and families. Her clinical experience includes supporting clients
in eating disorder recovery, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, self-harm, substance
use and trauma. In addition to utilizing an eclectic therapeutic model, Arianna has
experience integrating CBT, DBT and EFT interventions to empower her patients and
meet their therapeutic needs in a variety of therapeutic settings such as group homes,
residential treatment centers, community college and high schools. Arianna’s commitment
to addressing cultural factors, social injustices, systemic issues and familial dynamics
has influenced her therapeutic work. She is passionate about strengthening clients’
relationships with themselves and increasing their sense of self-compassion and authenticity
in order to live a more fulfilling life.
Carolina Lopez (they/she/he)
Mental Health Counselor
Carolina identifies as a daughter of a migrant, a mixed-status student, and a non-binary,
queer, Latin womxn. She is a first-generation graduate student seeking a degree in
Multicultural Community Counseling at San Diego State University (SDSU). Carolina
graduated with a psychology degree from Cal State San Marcos (CSUSM) in 2022. She
decided to seek a degree in counseling after recognizing how important it is to have
mental health professionals that are representative of their clientele. She is interested
in serving and providing therapy to Spanish speaking and minority groups. In the near
future, she aspires to receive her PhD in clinical psychology and open her own clinic.
In her spare time, Carolina enjoys dancing, playing instruments, and going on hikes.
She enjoys cooking and trying new foods from different cultures. She loves to learn
about people and spend quality time with her family. Carolina also loves to take trips
to Mexico to reconnect with her ancestral roots. She aspires to visit every country
in the world.
Claudia Alvarado-Sasse (she/her/ella)
Mental Health Counselor
Claudia is a Clinical Mental Health Counseling student at the University of San Diego.
After working with the San Diego community for over 10 years and seeing firsthand
the high need for culturally competent, accessible, and adequate mental health services,
she became motivated to pursue her master's degree to help address this gap and bring
high quality mental health services to all. Claudia was born in East Los Angeles,
raised on both sides the U.S.-Mexico Border between Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
and Calexico, California by a loving family and community, and has lived in Kumeyaay
land (San Diego) for over 17 years. She speaks Spanish, English, a little Brazilian
Portuguese and is very fluent in Spanglish. Since as far as she could remember, Claudia
has always aspired to have a career helping others and fighting for justice. Her principles
and approach to counseling are guided by social justice, anti-racism, equity, disability
justice and inclusion using a strength-based, collaborative approach through building
therapeutic partnerships. Taking a person-centered approach combined with Cognitive
Behavior Therapy (CBT) with an emphasis on Mindfulness CBT, Claudia believes that
every single person has strengths and is an expert in themselves; while her role as
counselor is to hold space for client problem-solving, learning new coping strategies,
and developing self-efficacy. In her free time, Claudia enjoys spending time with
her friends and family, going to the beach, practicing yoga, dancing, painting, and
finding humor and joy in the day-to-day.
Jesus D. Mendez Carbajal, APCC (they/elle)
Associate Faculty / Mental Health Counselor
Jesus is a bilingual (Spanish/English) Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC).
They are 31 years old, queer, non-binary, undocumented, a DACA recipient, and come
from a mixed-status family. Jesus was born on Nahua land in Guerrero, Mexico and raised
locally in Kosa’aay (San Diego) on Kumeyaay land. After high school, they attended
San Diego Mesa College and transferred to San Diego State University (SDSU) where
they received a B.A. in Chicana/o Studies with a minor in Women’s Studies in 2016.
In 2020, Jesus received their M.S. in Counseling from SDSU’s Community Based Block
(CBB) Multicultural Community Counseling and Social Justice Education Program. Jesus
understands that while the issues people face are personally experienced, they’re
also connected to systems of power, privilege and oppression and their impact extends
beyond the self. Working with Jesus means experiencing attentive support and expansive
curiosity. Overall, Jesus is a passionate life-long student of healing, plant knowledge,
astrology, emotional wellness, mental health, and spirituality.
Judith Flores Romero (she/her/ella)
Mental Health Counselor
Hola! My name is Judith Flores Romero. I am a first-generation Mexican American college
student and single parent. I identify as Chicana. I am Bilingual (Spanish/English)
and use Spanglish as a tool to communicate on a daily basis. I work at the MiraCosta
Community Learning Center as a Campus Aide III. I am a former MiraCosta College PUENTE
(2010) student. I received my bachelor’s degree from the University of California
Riverside in Women Studies. Currently, I am a graduate student at the San Diego State
University for the Community Based Block (CBB): Multicultural Counseling and Social
Justice Education Master’s program. I am passionate about helping those in need, especially
the non-traditional college students who come from historically underserved communities.
I use a people-centered approach and draw from my lived experiences to connect with
the people that I work with. I am interested in working with mindfulness- based therapies,
solution focused therapy, art therapy, healing the inner child and trauma informed
therapy. Outside of work and school I enjoy being in nature, exercise, meditation,
and practicing yoga. I love finding alternative therapeutic practices to incorporate
into my daily routine.
Julie Choi-Trepkau (she/her/hers)
Mental Health Counselor
Julie is a counseling intern and graduate student working towards a Master of Arts
in Counseling Psychology at National University. She received a Master of Science
in Anthropology and Development Studies from The London School of Economics and Political
Science, and a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Anthropology from Barnard College,
Columbia University. Julie began teaching mindfulness practices in 2003, specializing
in the traditional method of Ashtanga Yoga. She lived overseas for 15 years and shared
yoga with students in Asia and Europe while based in Hong Kong and Hamburg, Germany.
Upon returning to the U.S. in 2013, Julie began teaching elementary school, as well,
including yoga and mindfulness for kids in school. Julie’s favorite ways to spend
her personal time are with her family, traveling, reading, writing, being in nature,
and practicing yoga. Like yoga, Julie believes that therapy should be a client-led
process that unfolds in a supportive and accepting space in which students can feel
safe and free to have their unique and evolving needs responded to with a compassionate
and individualized approach.
Nidya Ramirez Ibarra, LMFT79561 (she/her/hers)
Associate Faculty / Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Nidya Ramirez Ibarra is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Licensed Marriage and Family
Therapist who grew up in Escondido, CA. As an immigrant and past community organizer,
she entered the mental health field aware of how social and systemic factors shape
the emotional, physical, relational, and psychological wellbeing of individuals, families,
and communities. Nidya received her Master's degree in Counseling with a concentration
in Marriage and Family Therapy from San Diego State University. Foundational to Nidya’s
practice is Narrative Therapy with a trauma-informed, collaborative, and client centered
approach. Nidya also integrates somatic experiencing, EMDR, motivational interviewing,
and solution focused modalities. Nidya is looking forward to working with students
and utilizing her knowledge and years of experience as a therapist to co-create a
space to initiate change, gain insight, build skills, and establish support. Prior
to joining the mental health team at MiraCosta College Nidya was part of the Mobile
Crisis Response Team and supported individuals in the community experiencing a behavioral
health crisis’ such as suicidal ideation, grave disability, and increased symptoms
of depression, psychosis, mania, or substance use. Also, for 8 years Nidya worked
at a local non-profit with families, individuals, and children struggling with trauma
due to intimate partner violence and sexual abuse. Currently Nidya enjoys continuing
to be involved in the community by facilitating support groups, giving presentations,
and providing clinical supervision.
Nikki Gee, APCC (she/her/hers)
Associate Faculty / Mental Health Counselor
Nikki is an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) and has been passionate
about working with and learning from students for over 25 years. She received her
BSE in Special Education and master's degrees in Higher Education Administration and
Multicultural Counseling and Social Justice. She is a first-generation graduate who
has navigated the college experience as a person of color and a non-traditional student.
Her challenges in finding a therapist of color for herself led to a late career change
into counseling. Nikki’s experience in administration and counseling provides a unique
insight into the challenges students face and the chance to celebrate their success.
She is passionate about challenging the stigma and beliefs attached to mental health,
especially for students of color. Her approach is trauma informed, LGBTQIA+ Affirming,
solution and client centered. She draws from multicultural, systems, mindfulness and
motivational interviewing theories when working with students.
Rachel Benson, AMFT (she/her/hers)
Mental Health Counselor
Rachel is a registered associate marriage and family therapist (AMFT). She received
her Masters's Degree in Counseling Psychology and specialized in Marriage and Family
Therapy (MFT) with Distinction. She is originally from Hong Kong, and she speaks several
languages, including Cantonese and Mandarin. Rachel believes every person is unique,
and she also understands how difficult it is for clients to deal with emotional issues
such as separation, divorce, and death. Rachel has worked in various school districts
with diverse populations. Rachel enjoys working with individuals and their families
through different challenges of life. Rachel is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization
and Reprocessing (EMDR), sand tray therapy, Gottman Couple Therapy, and Play Therapy
with young children. She leans toward Solution Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy,
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, sand tray/sand play therapy, Art and Music Therapy,
and Play Therapy. She was fortunate to learn about sand tray therapy from the World
Association of Sand Therapy professionals. She believes that using an integrated therapy
approach and evidenced-based interventions can help her clients reach their highest
potential and achieve their goals
Tammah Watts, LMFT 111562 (she/her/hers)
Associate Faculty / Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Hi, I’m Tammah and thanks for your time. I consider it a privilege to be a Mental
Health Counselor here at MiraCosta College. Foremost for me is to meet the client
where they are in life with genuine regard and understanding in support of their self-actualization.
That is to say, I holistically support that you know yourself best and I honor your
unique journey towards optimal healing. I, therefore, incorporate an eclectic therapeutic
approach and find that Solution-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy (CBT), and Motivational Therapy among others are effective when supported
by a foundational stance of acknowledgement for one’s identity and their inherent
right to equitable and just expectations. My background includes a life devoted to
serving people and communities. For over 25 years, I served as a Program Manager for
a private, nonprofit Child Abuse Prevention Agency in San Diego County and was responsible
for the establishment and operation of residential treatment facilities, school-based
programs, mental health outpatient clinics and innovative family services. My specializations
in Child, Youth, and Student Services, Foster Care and Intensive Wraparound Family
Support Services, Mental Health Treatment, Cultural Diversity, Innovative Delivery
System Modalities for Person-Centered Care, and Direct Clinical and Substance Abuse
Recovery Practices help to further inform my volunteerism and community engagement.
I am passionate about nature and conservation and currently am the Southern California
Chapter Representative on Audubon California, Board of Directors and Buena Vista Audubon
Society (Oceanside) Board of Directors. I am certified as a SMART Recovery Facilitator,
Domestic Violence Advocate, Mindfulness-Based Meditation, Cultural Diversity, and
a Clinical Trauma Professional. My education is a mix of attendance at community colleges,
4-year universities and ultimately earning my Masters in Counseling Psychology from
National University. I am a Licensed marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). My first
book, Keep Looking Up: Your Guide to the Powerful Healing of Bird watching, with Hay
House Publishing, will be out April, 2022.
Tyrone Totten (he/him/his)
Mental Health Counselor
Tyrone is a counseling intern and graduate student working towards his Masters of
Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of San Diego. He received
his Bachelor of Arts in Child and Adolescent Development from California State University,
San Marcos in 2023. Tyrone served in the United States Navy as an Information Systems
Technician. Tyrone is passionate about increasing accessibility of resources and reducing
the stigma and beliefs attached to mental health for people of color. Tyrone is interested
in a third-wave Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness approach to counseling.
In his leisure time, Tyrone loves spending quality time with his family and friends,
traveling, trying new foods, listening to music, watching sports, and working out.
Van Ethan Levy, LMFT 118131, LPCC 8269 (they/elle)
Associate Faculty / Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Van is a queer, non-binary, trans, AFAB (Assigned Female at Birth), nBPOC (not Black
Person of Color), dually licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed
Professional Clinical Counselor. Van is passionate about holding space for all intersections
of one’s identity(ies). Van is dedicated to social justice & believes it is vital
to cultivate an awareness of our own internal strengths, specifically our resilience
as we continue to grow and discover ourselves. Van believes it is important to trust
and validate our experience(s) and journey(s). Van aims to use a trauma informed lens
and hopes to help you learn ways to support yourself in the best way possible. Van
also provides trainings on trans and non-binary identities and is author of the interactive
book Exploring My Identity(ies) (2020).
* The mental health counseling team is under the co-leadership of the full-time mental health counselors, Abigail (Abby) Burd, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW 26867, and Ghada Osman, Ph.D., Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT 83472. They are in charge of program oversight and provide clinical supervision to the registered associates and graduate students, with limited availability for direct practice with students.
Abigail (Abby) Burd, MSW, LCSW 26867, PMH-C (she/her/hers/ella)
Full-Time Faculty / Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Abby is one of the two Full-Time Faculty members overseeing the mental health counseling
program. She also coordinates the Health Services' Peer Educators. Abby is a bilingual
(English/Spanish) clinical social worker with over 20 years experience in mental health.
Before joining MiraCosta College in 2020, she served the unique mental health needs
of community college students at San Diego City College for 13 years. There, she was
proud to help create innovative programming to reduce mental health stigma, particularly
for disproportionately impacted student groups. Abby is trained as a trainer in creating
LGBTQIA+ safe zones, suicide prevention gatekeeping, and mindfulness. Abby has been
a clinical supervisor on campuses and through her private practice since 2008, guiding
the next generation of pre-licensed social workers, marriage and family therapists
and clinical counselors. She is a culturally-humble, integrative clinician, drawing
upon Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solutions-Focused Therapy,
mindfulness, and trauma-informed approaches. Abby is certified in Perinatal Mental
Health and educated at San Diego State University (Master of Social Work) and Wesleyan
University in Middletown, CT (BA in Psychology-Sociology). Her first book, The Postpartum
Depression Workbook, was published in 2020.
Ghada Osman, Ph.D., LMFT 83472, C-IAYT (she/her/hers)
Full-Time Faculty / Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Ghada is one of the two Full-Time Faculty members overseeing the mental health counseling
program. Deeply trained in client-centered, trauma-informed work that is multicultural
in perspective and LGBTQPIA+ affirming, Ghada approaches her work with a cultural
humility that centers social justice and equity. She is a Brainspotting Consultant,
certified in EMDR and Yoga Therapies, and also incorporates in her work elements of
Cognitive, Narrative, and Internal Family Systems Therapies. Ghada is passionate about
the community college mission, having herself started her educational career as a
community college student. After receiving her Ph.D. from Harvard University and working
as a Professor for 10 years, Ghada returned to school and earned her M.A. in Psychology
with an emphasis on Marriage & Family Therapy from Chapman University. In addition
to her clinical work, Ghada serves as an examination reviewer for the Board of Behavioral
Sciences and as a committee chair for the statewide California Association of Marriage
& Family Therapists. She leads workshops and trainings on a range of mental health
topics. Her most recent book is Mental and Emotional Healing through Yoga: A Guiding
Framework for Therapists and their Clients.