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Meet Our Staff

Counseling and Psychological Services at UC Santa Cruz is a decentralized service with professionally trained counseling psychologists located in many of our colleges and in our central counseling office in the Cowell Student Health Center Building. The staff members come from a variety of backgrounds and have special interests and experiences in helping students explore various issues. The following is a list of counseling psychologists and their locations.

Please keep in mind that although some of us have a particular interest in some areas, all of us on staff are aware of the social pressures and cultural characteristics which affect particular groups in different ways. Therefore, we have been trained in aspects of multicultural counseling; gay, lesbian, and bisexual counseling; rape and sexual abuse counseling; and in counseling students with disabilities. The CAPS staff engage in mandatory and elective continuing education for mental health professionals.

Counseling and Psychiatry Staff

Gary Dunn, Ph.D., CAPS Director
CAPS Central Office
(831) 459-2628
Gary is a licensed psychologist who has experience and training in individual, couples and group therapy. He has a background in community mental health and hospital-based psychology. He is interested in the treatment of sexual abuse survivors, dissociative identity disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Gary’s primary training is in cognitive-behavioral therapy and strategic therapy. He is also interested in health psychology, healthcare administration, and leadership development.
MaryJan Murphy, Ph.D., Associate Director & Associate Director for Training & Clinical Programs
CAPS Central Office
(831) 459-2120
MaryJan is a licensed psychologist with a Ph.D. in counseling psychology and is the Training Director for our APA-Accredited Predoctoral Internship Program in Professional Psychology. She has experience and training in individual, couples, and group therapy, outreach and consultation, and supervision and training. Her training has included integrative and developmental approaches to psychotherapy. She is interested in training and supervision, women's issues, eating disorders, rape and sexual assault, issues facing reentry students, relationship concerns, and career development.
Mark Kutcher, M.D., Lead Psychiatrist
CAPS Central Office
(831) 459-2628
Dr. Kutcher is a board certified adult psychiatrist. He has worked in campus mental health settings for the past 16 years. Previous positions include Assistant Professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Staff Psychiatrist at the University of Texas, Austin and an investigator on numerous Psychopharmacology research studies.
Sara Bassler, M.D.
Dr. Bassler is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. She attended medical school at UC Davis and law school at UC Berkeley.
She worked for many years with San Mateo County Mental Health Services before joining our staff.
Maya Borgueta, Psy.D.
Porter College, Room D229
(831) 459-2572
Maya is a clinical psychologist who is passionate about working with college students from an integrative, strengths-based perspective. She particularly enjoys helping students address issues related to academic concerns, stress and anxiety, adjustment to college life, sexual health and relationships, family relationships, sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual and interpersonal violence, and school-work-life balance. She also has a special interest in working with students from diverse and multicultural backgrounds, including students of color, multiracial/multiethnic students, immigrants, international students, and first-generation college students.
Emilie Cate, Ph.D.
CAPS Central Office
(831) 459-2753
Emilie is a licensed counseling psychologist experienced in providing individual, couples and group therapy. She enjoys working collaboratively and from a strength-based perspective with all students, particularly international, first generation, graduate, and transfer students. Emilie specializes in issues associated with stress and mood; relationships; sexuality; LGBTQ identity; disability and ability; social justice issues; and the intersection of multiple identities. Her theoretical orientation integrates mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral, and multicultural approaches to therapy.
Doylene Chan, Ph.D.
Porter College, Room D228
(831) 502-7190
Doylene is a licensed psychologist who provides individual, couples, group, and crisis counseling. Her therapeutic style is warm, collaborative, pragmatic, and empowering. She operates from an integrative theoretical approach primarily consisting of evidence-based treatments such as interpersonal process theory and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Some of her interests include stress management, survivors of abuse, cultural identity, spirituality, bereavement, and suicide prevention. She has experience working at university counseling centers, private practice, and teaching academic courses.
Blair Davis, Psy.D.
Stevenson College, Room 208
(831) 459-5883
Blair is a licensed psychologist with experience treating mood and anxiety disorders, relational issues, substance abuse, trauma, identity issues, and life transitions. She has provided individual, group, crisis, and couples therapy at several universities, including an art college, at an agency for people with disabilities, and at a low-fee therapy clinic. Blair tailors her approach to suit the needs and personality of each student, combining cognitive-behavioral, insight-oriented, client-centered, and art therapy, as well as mindfulness. She enjoys helping students learn about themselves and feel more self-accepting, as well as collaborating with them to plan for change and growth. Her areas of interest include drug and alcohol issues, gender and sexuality, the arts, popular culture, and eating disorders and body image.
Robert Edmund, M.D.
CAPS Central Office
(831) 459-2628
Dr. Edmund is a board certified adult psychiatrist. He has also completed training in child psychiatry and in adult psychoanalysis. He sees students at the CAPS central office on a part time basis.
Audrey Kim, Ph.D.
Social Sciences 1, Room 259
(831) 459-1373
Audrey is a licensed psychologist with experience in individual, couples, and group therapy. Audrey generally approaches counseling from a developmental and growth-oriented perspective using insight-oriented as well as cognitive behavioral techniques. Her areas of interest include relationship issues, eating concerns, and career counseling. She especially enjoys working with students of color, first generation college students, and graduate students.
Amy Mandell, LMFT
Social Sciences 1, Room 257
(831) 502-7193
Amy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Prior to becoming the Case Manager at CAPS, she worked as a therapist and case manager at multiple community mental health settings including a foster and adoption care agency in Oakland, and a GLBTQ therapy center in San Francisco. She enjoys working with young adults, families, and couples. Her therapeutic approach is collaborative and strength-based with an emphasis on multicultural competence. Her areas of expertise and interest include anxiety, depression, relationship issues, GLBTQ issues, cross-cultural services, bipolar disorder, psychosis, eating disorders, grief and loss, AB540 students, self-harm, veterans, foster care, sexual abuse survivors, and identity formation.
A. Patrice Monsour, Ph.D.
College 8, Room 212 Academic Building
(831) 459-2109
Patrice is a licensed psychologist with a background in clinical/community psychology and Zen Buddhism. Her interests include spirituality, GLBT issues, multicultural counseling (especially with Middle Eastern students), healing from child abuse, and working with transfer and reentry students. She integrates developmental, existential, and Buddhist approaches to counseling.
Jodi Mulder, LCSW
Oakes College, Room 225
(831) 459-2220
Jodi is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has a background working in school social work, an international community agency, and private practice. In her work with students, she integrates cognitive behavioral techniques, insight oriented therapy and motivation interviewing. Her interests include family and relationship dynamics, substance abuse, students in transition, and spirituality. She enjoys working with international students, incoming freshman and student athletes.
Edward Olvera, LMFT
CAPS Central Office
(831) 459-2628
Edward is a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist. He is psychiatry case management experienced in crisis intervention working with individuals who are having problems maintaining day-to-day responsibilities and studies as a result of mood problems, substance use, and overwhelming stress. Oriented to helping you make practical changes to take care of your mental, emotional and physical well-being.
Jenner Rosgen, M.A., LMFT, Case Manager
CAPS Central Office
(831) 459-2895
Jenner is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Prior to becoming the Case Manager at CAPS, she worked as a therapist and case manager at a residential treatment facility for adolescents in the foster care system and at a drug and alcohol treatment facility. Jenner’s approach is interactive, empathetic, collaborative, and respectful. Jenner has worked with a variety of issues and has worked with diverse populations and people of all age groups. Her areas of expertise and interest include anxiety, depression, LGBTQI issues, trauma, PTSD, sexual abuse survivors, addiction, divorce, parenting skills, stress management, relationships, grief and loss, foster care, and self harm.
Belinda Rubalcava, LCSW
ARC, Room 229
(831) 459-1818

Belinda is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Her clinical experience includes individual, couple, group and family therapy in schools, residential facilities and non-profit agencies. She uses an integrative approach to therapy utilizing insight and behavior based theories, including art therapy. Belinda is passionate about working with students from low-income backgrounds, students of color, first generation college students, AB 540 students and transfer students.
Peg Shemaria-Hedman, Ph.D.
Kresge College, Room 162
(831) 459-4481
Peg is a licensed psychologist with a PhD in clinical psychology and a background in clinical/community psychology. Her interests include GLBT issues, spirituality , multicultural counseling and recovering from various forms of abuse. She integrates counseling from a developmental, existential and self psychology perspective.
Susan Gulbe Walsh, Ph.D.
Family Student Housing, Apt. 712
(831) 459-2377
Susan is a licensed psychologist who has training and experience in individual, couples, and group therapy, as well as a background working in social service, mental health, and educational settings. She is particularly interested in cultural, identity, and eating issues and is passionate about community mental health, social justice, and the interface between psychology and religion. Her therapeutic approach is integrative with an emphasis on imaginal, existential, and psychodynamic perspectives; she also draws on treatment modalities such as expressive arts therapy, mindfulness and somatic practices.
Dr. Lidia Zylowska, M.D.
CAPS Central Office
(831) 459-2628
Dr. Zylowska is a board certified adult psychiatrist. In addition to general adult psychiatry, Dr. Zylowska has specialized in adult ADHD and mindfulness-based approaches in mental health. Her background includes extensive clinical and research experience at UCLA and in private practice in West Los Angeles. She is an alumnus of the Robert Wood Johnson Scholarship and a co-founding member of the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center. She is the author of “The Mindfulness Prescription for Adult ADHD” book. Dr. Zylowska is also interested in integrative psychiatry and is a member of the International Network of Integrative Mental Health.

Postdoctoral Fellows

Rebecca Klinger, Ph.D.
Cowell College, Room 206
(831) 459-3630
Becky is a Postdoctoral Fellow at CAPS. She graduated from Lehigh University with a PhD in Counseling Psychology and completed her internship at Colorado State University. She has experience and training with individual, couples, and group therapy in university counseling centers. Her approach to counseling focuses on building upon strengths and incorporates a culturally-focused interpersonal client-centered model. She enjoys working with students with a variety of concerns including but not limited to identity development and adjusting to difficult transitions. Although a generalist, her specific interests include LGBTQI concerns, healthy relationships, sexuality and gender spectrum, and affirmative sex therapy. Becky identifies as queer and is dedicated to supporting the LGBTQI community.
Julia Ragen, Psy.D.
Crown College, Room 207
(831) 459-2269
Julia is a Postdoctoral Fellow with a Psy.D. in clinical psychology from Yeshiva University in New York City; she completed her doctoral internship at UC Santa Barbara. Julia also holds a MA in Counseling from the University of New Mexico. Julia brings over a decade of training and experience in individual, group, family and couple therapy to UC Santa Cruz. In addition to a solid generalist foundation, Julia’s area of expertise include sexual minorities (LGBTQIQ) and gender identity and expression, including intersections of cultural identities and invisible minorities (e.g. HIV/AIDS). She particularly enjoys working with graduate students and with artists/creatives. Julia approaches treatment collaboratively, incorporating psychodynamic, interpersonal, attachment, and existential considerations to relieve distress and help create change.

Doctoral Interns

Stephanie Goldsmith, M.A.
CAPS Central Office
(831) 459-2620
Stephanie is a doctoral intern completing her PhD in Clinical Psychology at Loma Linda University. She has experience working with individuals, couples, and groups and she enjoys working with students of all ages and backgrounds. Stephanie has a wide range of clinical interests including identity concerns, sexuality, LGBTQQI issues, interpersonal relationships, communication concerns, trauma, self-harm behaviors, eating disorders, body image, and whole person care. Her therapeutic style is collaborative and she uses an integrative approached informed by psychodynamic, interpersonal process, gestalt, and cognitive-behavioral approaches to therapy.
Kipp Pietrantonio, M.A.
CAPS Central Office
(831) 502-7192
Kipp is a Doctoral Intern Completing his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at The University of North Dakota and he holds a master’s degree in Community Counseling specializing in working with clients from low-income backgrounds. Kipp utilizes a person-centered model of therapy integrated with multicultural awareness and a cognitive-behavioral model of change. He is particularly interested in working with students from various economic backgrounds and social classes, LGBTIQ identity development, acculturation concerns, depression, personality disorders, career concerns, gender issues, and substance abuse. Kipp is also passionate about advocacy at all levels of service and being involved in community and systemic change through outreach efforts.
Laura Turner-Essel, M.A.
CAPS Central Office
(831) 502-7220
Laura is a Doctoral Intern completing her Ph.D in Counseling Psychology at the University of Akron in Ohio. She has training and experience using a humanistic, multicultural, and feminist approach in her work with individuals and groups. She is excited to work with students from all backgrounds on a wide range of issues including anxiety and stress management, depression, life transitions, parenting, relationships, and identity development.