Meet Our Staff
Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) at UC Santa Cruz is a part-centralized, part-decentralized service, with professionally trained master's- and doctoral-level clinicians located in our central counseling office within the Cowell Student Health Center complex, as well as in various locations across campus. Our staff members come from diverse backgrounds and have a special interest in and experience with helping students explore a wide range of issues. We offer a variety of mental health and wellness services to UCSC students and the broader UCSC community.
Please note that while some of us have particular areas of specialization, all of us at CAPS recognize the social pressures and cultural factors that affect different groups in unique ways. We have been trained in aspects of multicultural counseling, including working with LGBTQIA+ students, addressing rape and sexual abuse, and supporting students with disabilities. CAPS staff also engage in ongoing mandatory and voluntary continuing education to further enhance their skills as 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.
- Pronouns he, him, his
- Title
- Associate Director for Training
- Psychologist
- Division Student Affairs and Success
- Department
- Counseling & Psychological Services
- Student Health Center
- Phone 831-459-2628
- Office Location
- Cowell Student Health Center, Room 2442
- Mail Stop CAPS
Summary of Expertise
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.
Biography, Education and Training
Richard 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.
