Meet Our Staff
Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) at UC Santa Cruz is a part-centralized, part-decentralized service, with professionally trained masters- and doctoral-level clinicians located in our central counseling office in the Cowell Student Health Center complex and in various locations around campus. Our staff members come from a variety of backgrounds and have a special interest in and experience with helping students explore various issues. We provide a wide range of mental health and wellness services to UCSC students and the UCSC community.
Please keep in mind that although some of us have a particular interest in specialty areas, all of us at CAPS are aware of the social pressures and cultural characteristics that affect particular groups in different ways. We have been trained in aspects of multicultural counseling, including working with LGBTQI students, addressing rape and sexual abuse, and counseling students with disabilities. CAPS staff engage in ongoing mandatory and voluntary continuing education for mental health professionals.
The following is a list of our staff members and their locations. Note that we do not provide drop-in counseling, so if you are interested in finding out about and/or starting services with CAPS, please stop by our central office or call us during business hours at (831) 459-2628. You can also find more information about our services on our Counseling Services, Psychiatry, and Groups & Workshops web pages.
MaryJan Murphy, Ph.D., CAPS Director
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
CAPS Central Office
(831) 459-2120ABOUT: MaryJan is a white cisgender female-identified licensed psychologist. She has been working in University Counseling Centers for more than 25 years and has devoted much of her professional career to training and mentoring doctoral interns, postdoctoral fellows, early career psychologists, and practicing psychologists in a university counseling center. She has experience in individual, couples, and group therapy; outreach programing; and education and also directs the APA-Accredited Internship in Health Services Psychology and the Postdoctoral Fellowship program.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION AND INTEREST: MaryJan takes a multicultural, feminist, and cognitive-behavioral approach to therapy. She is interested in training and supervision, women's issues, eating disorders, trauma, and career development. Other areas of interest include leadership development, counseling center administration, and developing a multiculturally and social justice–focused counseling center.
Nadia Damani-Khoja, Ph.D., Associate Director, Equity in Mental Health
Pronouns: She/Her
ABOUT: Nadia identifies as a South-Asian American Muslim female. She was born in Pakistan, grew up in TX, and has also lived and worked in the UAE and Canada. She earned her MBA in Management, MA in Marriage & Family Therapy, and PhD in Counseling Psychology. Nadia has varied clinical experiences with diverse clients and has worked in many different systems, including university counseling centers, non-profit, VAMC, community health clinic, school district, and private practice. She completed her pre and post-doctoral trainings at UC Berkeley CAPS and prior to joining UCSC was the Outreach, Education, and Prevention Coordinator and staff psychologist at MIT University Student Mental Health & Counseling Services. She also speaks Urdu, Hindi, and Gujarati languages.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION AND INTEREST: Nadia is keenly aware of the struggles and barriers to accessing mental health services for college students, especially for the marginalized and underserved student population, and therefore she pays special attention to ensuring ease of access for all. She is passionate about promoting well-being for all students, especially students of color, international, 1st gen, immigrant, South Asian, and Muslim identified. Her special interests include leadership development, supervision, outreach, and creating inclusive and equitable systems. Nadia’s approach to therapy is relational, multicultural, and systemic.
Richard H. Enriquez, Ph.D, Associate Director for Training
Pronouns: He/Him/His
CAPS Central Office
(831) 459-4799Richard is a cisgender male, gay identified, married, Mexican American, Christian, originally from the Los Angeles area. He completed his Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Palo Alto University with an emphasis in Diversity and Community Mental Health (DCMH). He is a long-time slug, having earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology and completing his postdoctoral fellowship here at UCSC. Richard approaches psychology from an integrative perspective, incorporating cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT), and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) to meet students’ individual needs.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION AND INTEREST: Richard’s clinical interests include alcohol and other drug use, religion and spirituality, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders. He has experience with a wide range of populations and settings, including ethnically diverse populations, adult populations (ages 18-61), LGBTQ-identified clients, residential substance treatment, community mental health, and college counseling. Richard believes in working collaboratively with students, helping them identify their personal goals and supporting them in their journey.
Jenner Rosgen, M.A., L.M.F.T., Associate Director, Integrative Behavioral Health
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Student Health Center, Room 1316
(831) 459-2895ABOUT: Jenner is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She has experience working in the mental health field for more than 20 years. Jenner has experience working as a therapist and case manager in 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.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION AND INTEREST: Jenner takes a client-centered approach to working with students. She believes that working with each student as an individual is important to her work. Jenner has training in cognitive-behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, and mindfulness. She feels that it is important to connect students to organizations and resources on and off campus to help student’s sense of community.
Tara Cryderman, Psy.D.
Pronouns: She/Her
Location: Kresge College
(831) 459-2753ABOUT: Tara is a licensed psychologist and marriage and family therapist. She identifies as a white cisgender female mother and first-generation college student. She came to UCSC as a generalist psychologist at CAPS from her previous role as training director and staff psychologist at a psychiatric inpatient hospital in northern California. In her previous roles she has spent her professional career providing individual, group, family & couple's therapy and providing clinical supervision to trainees from multiple disciplines. When not at work, Tara likes to hike, scuba dive and take walks at the beach with her dog.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION AND INTEREST: Tara works from a trauma informed care, psychodynamic and relational approach to therapy. Her clinical interests include; women’s issues, substance use disorders, training and supervision, trauma and adult family reconciliation. She is especially skilled at using trauma informed cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing therapeutic techniques.
Amelia Cutten, LCSW
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers/Ella
Student Health Center/CAPS
(831) 332-7596ABOUT: Amelia is a white cisgender female social worker who graduated with a Bachelor's degree in American Studies and Education from UCSC in 2006 before going on to pursue a Masters degree in Social Work with a focus in community development from Cal State East Bay. Amelia is a case manager providing care coordination and therapeutic services to the Student Health Center and CAPS, with a focus in supporting the out-of-state and Latinx student population. Prior to UCSC, Amelia worked for non-profit organizations in the Bay Area providing bilingual crisis services, care coordination, and therapy to people with developmental disabilities and youth in both the foster care systems and juvenile justice systems. Amelia incorporates a strength-based perspective into her clinical work and acknowledges the individual as the expert of their own experience.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION AND INTEREST: Amelia has particular interest and expertise working with former foster youth, undocumented students, first-generation students, transfer students, and the veteran student population. Amelia also has particular interest in working with substance use, harm reduction and recovery, Latinx students, trauma, interpersonal conflicts, grief/loss, and supporting community-building. Amelia is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Susan J. Gulbe Walsh, Ph.D.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
ABOUT: Susan is a white cisgender female, pansexual identified licensed psychologist (PSY 21766) and certified grief educator who has been working in mental health, social services, and educational settings for over 30 years. She has extensive training and experience in individual, couples, family, and group therapy, as well as mentorship and supervision of candidates for licensure as psychologists in California. As Susan’s journey has included many years of working through eating disorder recovery and significant grief and loss issues, she feels privileged to witness and support others who are struggling with these challenges.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION AND INTEREST: Susan is particularly interested in cultural, identity, eating, grief and loss, parenting, life transition, and sexual orientation issues while sustaining a professional passion about community mental health, social justice, and the interface between psychology and religion. Her therapeutic approach is integrative with an emphasis on interpersonal, imaginal, existential, feminist, and psychodynamic perspectives. Susan also draws on alternative treatment modalities to talk therapy such as expressive arts, mindfulness, and somatic practices.
Dean Khambatta, LMFT
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Location: Merrill College, Room 107A, 2nd floor
(831) 459-5346
ABOUT: Dean is a Queer, Trans, Parsi, second-generation Indian-American, multi-racial man born and raised in the Bay Area. Dean is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Multicultural focus. He earned his Master of Counseling from Palo Alto University and Bachelors of Arts in History of Art from UC Berkeley. Dean came to his work as a therapist through a background of sex-positive sex education and Queer peer support groups. Prior to UCSC, Dean worked in residential co-occurring treatment, college student mental health and community-based outpatient settings. Dean uses a Social Justice and anti-racist clinical lens. He collaborates with students to provide the emotional safety necessary to meet their goals. Dean prioritizes advocating for students. He feels it’s a privilege to support them on their journey.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION AND INTEREST: Dean’s approach to therapy is person-centered, gender-affirming, neurodiversity-affirming, strength based, and trauma informed. He partners with students to find the therapeutic approach that best meets their needs; his integrative approach often includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic, solution focused, and Feminist therapies. Dean has a special interest in working with students of color, Queer identified students, gender identity, and sexuality. Dean also has extensive experience working with identity development, neurodiversity, substance use concerns, chronic suicidality, mood and anxiety disorders, those previously incarcerated, and unhoused populations.
Audrey Kim, Ph.D.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Social Sciences 1, Room 259
(831) 459-1373ABOUT: Audrey is a 1.5-generation Korean American, born in Korea but raised primarily in North America. Audrey really enjoys helping students figure out who they are and what they want to do with their life, because she felt rather confused about these things in college, and it took her a while to discover her passion for psychology. After majoring in American Civilization, she worked in the corporate world and in L.A.’s Skid Row as a domestic Peace Corps volunteer before completing her Ph.D. in Counseling/Clinical/School Psychology at UC Santa Barbara.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION AND INTEREST: Audrey works from a feminist, multicultural perspective in which she collaborates with students to help them gain insight into their problems and develop practical skills to improve their academics, relationships, and everyday functioning. Audrey especially enjoys working with students of color, first-generation college students, and graduate students.
Lain Lease, L.M.F.T.
Pronouns: Lain/They/He/She
Student Health Center, Room 1335
(831) 459-1476ABOUT: Lain is transgender/nonbinary, queer, and white. Lain graduated from UCSC after successfully transferring from community college and before obtaining a masters degree in Counseling Psychology. Lain is a case manager providing therapeutic services and care coordination for both the Health Center and CAPS. Lain's experience includes working with Medi-Cal, integrative behavior health, transgender care, and
collaborative support for pregnant and parenting teens. Lain has a great appreciation for the trees, ocean view, and awesome people that can be found on campus.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION AND INTEREST: Lain approaches behavioral health through the lens of social justice. Lain has extensive experience working with gender identity, chronic pain, panic attacks, anxiety and neurodiversity. Lain's approach includes an eclectic blend of curiosity, mindfulness, somatic awareness, unconditional positive regard, solution-focused techniques, a dash of play, and a sprinkle of internal family systems.
Erica Lopez, L.M.F.T.
Pronouns: She/Her
Location: Porter College
(831) 459-2572
ABOUT: Erica is a licensed marriage and family therapist with experience
providing individual, couples, family, and group therapy. From the onset of her career,
she has worked with diverse and underserved populations in different settings: home,
academic, health, and in-custody. As an immigrant woman of color and first-generation
college student, with a migrant background, she is passionate about working with
individuals who face similar experiences.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION AND INTEREST: Erica takes an individualized and
trauma informed approach to treatment, which can involve cognitive-behavioral therapy
(CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), strength-based solution-focused brief therapy
(SFBT), and mindfulness practices. She has interest and experience in working with
anxiety, depression, adjustment, relationship struggles, stress management, and sexual
trauma (survivors or perpetrators).
Jessica Magallanes-Evans, Psy.D.
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Rachel Carson College, Room 212, 2nd floor
(831) 459-2109Jess is a cisgender, Latinx, Queer woman, born and raised in Southern California. She is a Clinical Psychologist with a Multicultural focus. She earned her doctorate degree at Pepperdine University, and has been working in college and university counseling centers since 2011. She has previously worked at Santa Monica College, New Mexico State University, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and CSU Chico. Jess works from a Person-Centered therapeutic framework, while incorporating cognitive-behavioral, solution focused, and trauma informed therapies. Jess’s work is largely attentive to the intersections of various parts of identity, including culture and ethnicity, sexual identity, and gender. Her goal is to work collaboratively with students to identify changes they wish to experience in their life, highlight personal strengths and resilience, and help them create a roadmap to facilitate movement towards their goals. Her hope is that each student she works with will feel authentically seen, develop a clearer sense of their unique personal values, and have the flexibility and confidence to create change when needed.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION AND INTEREST: Jess has a special interest in working with students of color, student activists, first generation students, and Queer identified students. She also has a special interest in sexual and gender identity development, family relationships, culture and ethnicity, and socio-political stress.
Julia Ragen, Psy.D.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Porter College Annex (Modular Building near Meadow), Room B
(831) 502-8029
ABOUT: Julia is a licensed psychologist with more than 15 years of experience at college counseling centers and community mental health settings on both coasts (and in New Mexico!). She grew up in New Jersey, and has lived in California since 2011, with some years in Albuquerque and then Brooklyn, NY. Her identities include being white, being Jewish, and being allied, both personally and professionally, with the queer community; she embraces a stance of cultural humility. Julia works from a collaborative, feminist/multicultural/relational frame with a psychodynamic foundation to engage in a therapy that fit best each student's needs. She uses a holistic framework to work with each student to find ways to create change—working together to help relieve distress and find strength and empowerment. Julia works from an understanding that our intersecting identities and histories impact our experience of the world, which in turn impact our well-being.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION AND INTEREST: Julia is a generalist clinician who enjoys working with all students on concerns including adjustment/transitions, depression, anxiety, trauma, suicidality, self-harm, racial trauma, and identity development issues, among other experiences. She offers additional experience and expertise in mindfulness practices, existential/humanistic theory, and incorporating cultural relational and social justice values as part of treatment. Populations of interest/experience/expertise include sexual identity development, gender identity development, African/Black/Caribbean (ABC)-identified students, HIV/AIDS, students who struggle with attentional difficulties/ADHD, and graduate students.
Anastassia Schectman, LMFT
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Student Health Center, Room 1310
(831) 459-1383ABOUT: Anastassia Schectman is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, with a M.A. in Counseling Psychology, who provides therapeutic services and service coordination with CAPS and Student Health, with a focus on international students. Anastassia emigrated to the United States in her early adolescence from Russia, and is fluent in both English and Russian. Anastassia acquired her B.A. from UCSC in 2011 and has since worked in the local community with various populations and settings, including; residential programs, school setting, home visiting, foster youth, marginalized populations, adult mental health, and early intervention with families with young children. Anastassia is third generation to work in a University setting, and is appreciative of the opportunity to enjoy the stunning views and trails of this campus.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION AND INTEREST: Anastassia enjoys working with individuals with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. She has special training and experience working with trauma, attachment injuries, dual diagnosis, multicultural identity development, and family issues. Anastassia uses a trauma informed approach of meeting people where they are, with unconditional positive regard, and collaborating on goals. Anastassia frequently utilizes motivational interviewing, mindfulness, psychoeducation, emotion focused therapy, as well as cognitive based approaches.
Niki Severson, LCSW
ABOUT: Niki is a white and Latinx, cisgender female, straight-identified, clinical social worker. She has lived in many places including on both coasts, but was born and raised in CA and received all her higher education through the UC system (UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz). She was a first-generation college student. Niki came to her work as a therapist by way of a background in academia, education, and research in public health and social work focused on health inequities in marginalized groups. Previous to UCSC Niki worked in community mental health, most recently running a day treatment center in Salinas, CA. Niki works from a feminist, social justice framework and sees therapy as a collaborative process of transformation that is often connected to larger processes of social change. She strives to create a relaxed, open atmosphere in which students can explore challenges and move towards feeling more connected to themselves and others.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION AND INTEREST: Niki integrates interventions from cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and narrative therapy into her work with students, and has a particular interest in meditation and somatic-based practices. She has experience with a range of settings and diverse populations, and clinical experience that includes mood and thought disorders, anxiety, and depression. Niki welcomes all students, particularly 1st generation and graduate students, with a special attention to topics of identity development, gender and sexuality, family and romantic relationships, and religion/belief systems.
Danielle Smith, Ph.D.
About: Danielle is a licensed psychologist with experience supporting clients with mood and anxiety disorders, relationship or family problems, and developmental or adjustment concerns in a variety of settings (outpatient psychiatry departments and mental health clinics, school-based settings, children’s advocacy centers, partial hospitalization programs, and a federal prison camp). Danielle is a white, cisgender, straight-identified female who has lived and has worked in multiple states including New Jersey, Texas, and California. She is also a first-generation college student.
Areas of Specialization and Interest: Danielle’s approach to therapy is centered on creating a strong therapeutic relationship. She frequently uses skills and strategies from Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help her clients better understand their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors while at the same time taking meaningful steps toward change. She has special interests in supporting those struggling with thoughts of suicide or self-harm, healing from traumatic experiences including sexual or interpersonal violence, and working with first-generation students.
Haidi Song, Ph.D.
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Stevenson, Room 271, 2nd floor
About: Haidi is a cisgender, Asian, woman, grew up in China, first generation college student. She is a Counseling Psychologist with a Multicultural focus; studied Literature and Applied Psychology and attended college in Shanghai China; gained her master degree in Counseling Psychology from University of Minnesota in Twin Cities and doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology at Auburn University in Alabama. She completed her doctoral and post-doctoral trainings at Stanford CAPS prior to joining UCSC CAPS and was a staff psychologist and a Mandarin speaking therapist at USF CAPS. She has worked in community mental health, college counseling, and outpatient hospital with diverse populations presenting various concerns, including: depression, anxiety, substance use issues, trauma, psychosis, body image concerns, family and relationship distress, identity development and cultural adjustment issues.
Areas of Specialization and Interest: Haidi’s approach to therapy integrates psychodynamic interpersonal process orientation, CBT interventions, and feminist theories through cultural relational lens. She enjoys working with international students, Asian identified students and people holding marginalized or oppressed identities regarding their cultural/ethnic background or gender and sexual identities. She likes to work with clients and support them exploring different ways to build mental wellbeing and self-compassion and she feels privileged to be part of their healing journey.
Shuyun David Lo, M.D., Director of Psychiatry
CAPS Central Office
(831) 459-2628ABOUT: David is a board-certified psychiatrist who has worked in college mental health centers for more than 10 years. He attended medical school in Chicago and trained in psychiatry at University of California, San Francisco.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION AND INTEREST: David treats students with a holistic attitude and considers medications, psychotherapy, and exercise as all part of the treatment. David is interested in the integration of mental health with physical health, at both the individual and system levels. He also has expertise in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder and in various psychotherapies.
Kacy Bonnet, M.D.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
CAPS Central Office
(831) 459-2628ABOUT: Kacy is a board-certified psychiatrist who is interested in working with young adults in a compassionate, collaborative, and integrative way. She completed her medical training at UCLA and her psychiatry residency at Stanford. She is a California Bay Area native and enjoys cooking, staying active, and being in the outdoors.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION AND INTEREST: Kacy is passionate about early intervention and using a resiliency-focused approach to help students feel equipped to thrive in college and in the world beyond, regardless of their background or current struggles.
Michael Gadbaw, M.D.
Pronouns: he/him
Location: CAPS Central Office
Phone: (831) 459-2628
ABOUT: Dr. Michael Gadbaw is board certified in Adult and Child psychiatry. He attended the USC Keck School of Medicine for medical school and Stanford University where he did his residency in adult psychiatry and fellowship in Child and Adolescent psychiatry. He also served as chief resident and concentrated in psychotherapy and education.AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION AND INTEREST: He has a particular interest in Psychodynamics, Psychoanalysis, Attachment Theory, Buddhism, and Trauma. He has particular expertise in treating ADHD, PTSD and Eating Disorders. When providing psychiatry care and determining pharmacological treatments, he takes a holistic and developmental approach, striving to understand someone’s unique experience and story.
Christine Merriman, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
CAPS Central Office
(831) 459-2649ABOUT: Christine is the psychiatry case manager at CAPS. She is a cisgender female bisexual-identified, licensed clinical social worker with experience in individual, couples, family, and group therapy on both coasts. Christine has worked in mental health, healthcare, and end-of-life care, as well as residential treatment and school-based prevention/intervention programs focused on child abuse and juvenile delinquency. As a multicultural/biethnic feminist, with a personal experience of emigration and re-entry to the United States, Christine meets each student with openness and respect, utilizing a developmental and systems approach that takes into account cultural and environmental factors, as well as emotional, physical, and spiritual strengths.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION AND INTEREST: Christine has particular expertise and interest in the areas of sexual abuse/assault; people raised in nontraditional homes, including foster care, guardianship, and adoption; student athletes and musicians; living with serious or chronic illness; death and dying; grief and loss; mindfulness; and integrative therapies.
James Katz
James is a white, gay, cisgender male-identified doctoral intern and attends Alliant International University, Emeryville. He earned his B.A. in psychology at Chico State for his undergraduate degree and during this time had an internship at the Counseling and Wellness Center where he did outreach and classroom presentations on the importance of taking care of mental health while in an academic setting. He has had experience working in community mental health settings providing individual, couples, family, and group therapy to underserved, low-income populations as well as those diagnosed with serious mental illness.
James takes a cognitive-behavioral (CBT) approach to therapy as well as incorporating dialectical-behavioral (DBT) and acceptance and commitment (ACT) interventions. James also is interested in using a multicultural and social justice approach to therapy and is interested in working with the LGBTQ+ population as well as other populations who have been marginalized and discriminated by society. James is interested in working with individuals experiencing anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, and providing trauma-informed care to those who have experienced trauma and complex trauma.
Mitchell Rees
Mitchell is a doctoral psychology intern and a sixth-year Ph.D. student at Palo Alto University. He is a white cisgender man and lifelong Bay Area resident. Mitchell is a UCSC alumni and graduated in 2016. He has focused on providing psychotherapy and support services to college and university students. His experience also includes working with diverse populations, such as teens facing substance use challenges, adults with psychosis or schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, and low-SES community members in the Bay Area. Outside of his professional endeavors, Mitchell is passionate about animal welfare and enjoys staying active through hiking, yoga, and weightlifting. In his downtime, he loves to unwind with friends while playing video games and board games.
Mitchell is passionate about working with male-identified students, focusing on masculinity of identity. He also specializes in working with gaming and internet subcultures, helping students to cultivate a healthy relationship with technology. More broadly, he enjoys supporting students as they explore their emerging identities, intimate relationships, mild-moderate addiction challenges, spirituality, and the search for meaning and purpose in their lives.
Bita Roshannia
I identify as a cisgender-heterosexual 1st-generation-immigrant female of middle eastern descent. I am 29-years old and I immigrated to the US at the age of 9. I am deeply connected to my ethnic roots and multicultural identity as an Iranian-American woman and I strive to bring awareness to issues of diversity in my clinical practice. I received my B.A. in psychology in 2017 then completed my M.A. in 2019. I am currently in the 7th year of my doctoral training and I am excited to spend this academic year here with you all as a SLUG!
My areas of expertise are in working with university students at UCC's and working at inpatient hospitals. I absolutely love working with a wide range of diverse young adults with brilliant minds on university campuses who inspire me daily to learn and grow alongside them. My other area of expertise is providing trauma-informed care and working with high acuity mental illness in inpatient settings.
Camara Chea, PhD
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Camara is a neurodivergent, Cambodian American and Southeast Asian, cisgender woman. She identifies as nonreligious but spiritual, and mostly heterosexual (it’s still a journey for her!). Camara was born and raised in the Central Valley and is a daughter of two Cambodian refugees. She earned her B.A. in Psychology, with a minor in Sociology, from the University of California, Santa Cruz (and is a returning Banana
Slug!). Camara obtained her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Utah. She completed her predoctoral psychology internship at Stanford University Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).Camara’s interests include identity exploration and navigation, interpersonal relationships, grief and loss, existential concerns, social justice, anxiety, OCD, depression, life transitions, sexuality, impostorism, trauma, healing, burnout, executive functioning, eating and body image, and intersections and contexts of dis/empowerment, oppression, marginalization, and liberation.
Camara uses an integrative approach infusing Multicultural-Feminist Therapy, and likes to draw from self-compassion work, mindfulness and mind-body approaches, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Camara takes a warm and relational approach to therapy and feels honored to be a part of her clients’ journeys as they experience life, give space to unpack their emotions and narratives, and move toward the life they want to have, authentically and meaningfully. Camara hopes for the people she works with to feel seen, heard, and known in the time spent together.
Ehsan Falasiri, Psy.D
Pronouns: He/Him
Ehsan is a Middle-Eastern cisgender man, born and raised in Hamburg, Germany. A fourth-generation Iranian mystic, he holds a degree in clinical psychology and specializes in supporting individuals and communities navigating integration challenges. Ehsan enjoys walking through the redwood forest and spending time with his dog Nahla.
Ehsan's expertise lies in addressing acculturation distress and intergenerational trauma. He employs an integrative therapeutic approach that emphasizes psychoanalytic and somatic techniques. Fluent in German, Farsi, and Dari, Ehsan brings experiences from diverse settings, including community mental health, college counseling centers, private practice, and psychiatric institutions.
Elizabeth Holden, Psy.D
Pronouns: she/her/hersElizabeth's clinical approach integrates relational/interpersonal therapy, humanistic therapy, and feminist psychology. Elizabeth is passionate about supporting emerging adults with identity development concerns by using affirmative language, a person-centered focus, and strength-based interventions. She understands that due to environmental pressures, social location, power/privilege, and systems of oppression, it is essential that care be collaborative and individualized each student's specific needs.
Elizabeth recently completed her doctorate in clinical psychology (PsyD) at the University of San Francisco where she researched the sexual identity development of plurisexual women. She is a White, bisexual/queer, cis-gender woman and she grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. Elizabeth's emerging clinical/professional interests include somatic therapies and body healing, spirituality, and complex trauma. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys being outdoors, crafting, and spending quality time with family/friends.
Elizabeth's clinical approach integrates relational/interpersonal therapy, humanistic therapy, and feminist psychology. With 3 years of university counseling experience, she is passionate about supporting emerging adults with identity development concerns by using affirmative language, a person-centered focus, and strength-based interventions. She understands that due to environmental pressures, social location, power/privilege, and systems of oppression, it is essential that care be collaborative and individualized to each student's specific needs.
Jackson Liguori, MA
Pronouns: he/him/his
Location: CAPS Central Office
(831) 502-7220Jackson Liguori is a psychologist from Los Angeles, CA. He completed his undergraduate degree in psychology from at Yale University and his PhD in counseling psychology at Arizona State University.
Jackson takes a client-centered approach to working with students. His clinical interests include mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma, identity exploration, and spirituality. He has experience with a wide range of populations including those from ethnically diverse backgrounds, LGBTQIA+-identified clients, and college students.
Austin Brockmann, MS, Intervention Specialist
Pronouns: He/him/his
Austin Brockmann earned his Masters degree in Developmental Science from Oregon State University in 2020. In his studies and professional life, Austin has diverse experience in research, teaching, policy, staff training, grant management, outpatient health services, nonprofit administration, and services for the unhoused. Austin is originally from Santa Cruz County, and is eager to use his experience to improve lives in his local community.
Peter Ferrante, Intervention Specialist
Peter grew up in the Bay Area and graduated from UCSC in 2001 (BA Psychology, Merrill). He has over 20 years of experience working with youth in the juvenile justice system (San Luis Obispo County, Multnomah County, and Maricopa County). In his free time, he enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, inline hockey, and walking his dog Toby on the beach.
Rachel Gillis, Intervention Specialist
Rachel earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Women and Gender Studies from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2004 and has gone on to study Community Health Work, Psychology, and Kinesiology. She has been immersed in the health and wellness field for the past two decades. Her professional work experiences include yoga studio management, non-profit mental health and residential treatment, and supporting youth with disabilities in the school system. Rachel is excited to be a part of the UCSC campus community and to support student well-being and success.
Tanya Castillo
CAPS Central Office
CAPS Administrative Supervisor, Office Manager
(831) 459-4276
Hanna Begnell
CAPS Central Office
CAPS Assistant
(831) 459-2628
Heather Dawson
CAPS Central Office
CAPS Assistant
(831) 459-2628
Luke Jensen
CAPS Central Office
CAPS Assistant
(831) 459-2214
Supervising Staff
Counseling Staff
Psychiatry Staff
Psychology Interns
Postdoctoral Fellows
Campus Mobile Crisis Team
Front Office Staff
