Meet the experts behind our compassionate mental health initiatives and community wellness programs.
MEET OUR TEAM
Dr. Muriel Casamayor
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Veronica Lopez
My name is Veronica. I am from Guatemala and speak Akateko and Q'anjob'al. I am a mental health therapist. I am passionate about increasing access to mental health services for underserved communities that face systemic barriers to care. As someone with a diverse cultural and linguistic background, I understand the importance of addressing mental health disparities and providing culturally responsive care. My clinical experience includes working with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, and domestic violence. I strive to create a safe, supportive, and empowering therapeutic environment where clients feel seen and heard.
Amada is passionate about helping children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families navigate life's challenges with compassion, resilience, and hope. Originally from Mexico City, she brings a culturally responsive perspective and a deep appreciation for the role that family, culture, and spirituality can play in the healing process. As an Associate Clinical Social Worker with a Master of Social Work from California State University, Long Beach, Amada provides holistic, person-centered, and trauma-informed care tailored to each client's unique experiences and strengths.
Drawing from evidence-based practices, mindfulness, and expressive approaches such as art therapy, Amada creates a warm, collaborative space where clients feel safe to heal, grow, and reconnect with themselves and their relationships. She believes that meaningful healing happens through authentic connection, strengthening family relationships, honoring cultural values and spirituality, and empowering clients to build resilience and lasting change.
Amanda Cipres
Katherine Alvarenga
My name is Katherine Alvarenga. I'm a first-generation Latina who immigrated to the United
States at the age of 13. My lived experiences have shaped my passion for providing
client-centered, trauma-informed care rooted in cultural sensitivity and humility. I earned my
Master of Science in Counseling with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy from
California State University, East Bay. I strive to create a collaborative therapeutic relationship
that honors each client's unique story, strengths, and cultural identity while supporting
meaningful growth and healing. I am also passionate about advocating for underrepresented
communities and helping individuals navigate life's challenges with compassion, resilience, and hope.
Nayeli Gil
My name is Nayeli Gil (she/her/ella). I am a first-generation Xicana born on Kumeyaay land in Tijuana, Mexico, and raised on Ohlone land in Watsonville, California. I earned my Master of Social Work from California State University, Monterey Bay, and am currently an Associate Clinical Social Worker serving undocumented and marginalized communities through a culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and social justice lens. My work focuses on decolonizing mental health, immigration-related and intergenerational trauma, and integrating culturally rooted healing practices that foster resilience, empowerment, and collective healing. Outside of my professional work, I enjoy listening to music, photography, dancing with my Aztec danza community, and spending time with family and friends.
Mariela Rangel Valdez
Hello! My name is Mariela Rangel Valdez. As a first-generation Latina, I understand the importance of creating spaces where clients feel seen, heard, and understood. My lived experiences have influenced the way I approach my therapeutic work and have strengthened my commitment to providing compassionate and culturally responsive care.
I am passionate about working with communities who have experienced marginalization and have faced barriers to accessing culturally informed mental health care. My goal is to empower clients to feel more confident in themselves and their ability to navigate life’s challenges.