Position: Mental Health Counselor

What led you to your current position? I have been working with children and families for as long as I can remember. It all started with my previous working experience as a respite care provider in Santa Clara County. I have always enjoyed working with children and making a positive impact in their lives as little as the impact may be. As I gained further experience in this field of work, I wanted to do something more. That is when I found Seneca and I immediately knew this was for me.

What inspires you to do this work? There are many things that inspire me to continue this work. However, one of the important things that appeal the most to me is the progress our clients make and the wonderful relationships that we form with not only our client but their families as well. There is nothing more meaningful than making a difference in our community.  

What is a recent highlight you’ve experienced in the work or an important lesson you’ve learned in this role? I've definitely learned the meaning of personal growth. Through my experience thus far, with Seneca I have found what's important to me both personally and professionally. I've just finished my bachelor's degree and will be starting my masters in Marriage and Family Therapy this upcoming fall.  

Share your life motto or something unique about yourself. Something that I always remind myself of is that it is important to make sure that we take care of ourselves before we care for others. 

Position: school-based therapist 

What led you to your current position? I have always had the innate drive to help others and support with building confidence.

What inspires you to do this work? My inspiration comes from helping teens advocate and find their voices appropriately. I like to Build a positive therapeutic relationship which helps facilitate clients motivation with awareness and self expression. 

What is a recent highlight you’ve experienced in the work or an important lesson you’ve learned in this role? A highlight in this role is working with the families. A lot of the work is unifying when guardians are wiling to participate in the sessions or services as well. 

Share your life motto or something unique about yourself. “It’s never too late”

Position: Student Support Assistant

What led you to your current position? As a recent graduate who has spent much of my college years working with kids and youth, I knew I wanted to continue supporting and guiding young people through their developmental journeys. This position offers the perfect opportunity to help students recognize their potential and bring out the best in themselves.

What inspires you to do this work? The perseverance, strength, and growth my students show every day, despite their challenges, inspire me. Their resilience is a constant reminder of how rewarding this work truly is, and it keeps me motivated to be a positive influence in their lives.

What is a recent highlight you’ve experienced in this role or an important lesson you've learned? Every day brings new challenges, victories, and opportunities for growth. I’m fortunate to witness my students' evolution, especially in their ability to reflect on their feelings and understand why they feel a certain way. Most importantly, seeing my students embrace self-awareness has encouraged me to prioritize my own self-care. This role has taught me that while the work can be demanding, I need to show up for myself just as much as I show up for my students. By taking it day by day and moving with intention, I’ve learned the value of balance in work.
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Share your life motto or something unique about yourself. Focus on progress and growth rather than perfection. The results might not always be linear, but by acknowledging and celebrating the small victories along the way, I can see the bigger picture.

Position: Student Support Assistant

What led you to your current position? I want kids to grow up feeling safe and capable and realized that the best way for me to do that is to work with unconditional education in a formal school setting.

What inspires you to do this work? The kids are constantly inspiring me with how funny and creative and curious they are. I look forward to seeing that each day and watching them develop those qualities over the long term.

What is a recent highlight you’ve experienced in the work or an important lesson you’ve learned in this role? Seeing my student become increasingly comfortable asking to play with other students, when he used to get sad about not being included in recess.
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Share your life motto or something unique about yourself. I used to work in a cave.

Position: I have the very unique opportunity to be working as the Integration community therapist also known as the newcomer therapist in the UE Berkeley. 

What led you to your current position? I’ve had the opportunity to support newcomers in fostering a sense of belonging, creating inclusivity, and uniting them to the communities around them. 

What inspires you to do this work? The resiliency and hard work my students bring into all aspects of their lives. Their perseverance makes my job meaningful and rewarding every single day.

What is a recent highlight you’ve experienced in the work or an important lesson you’ve learned in this role? Viewing the joy my students have being able to attend their first haunted house, going to the museum, seeing a UC Berkeley basketball game, or the simple the opportunity to cook pancakes is a reminder of the simplicity of life we sometimes take for granted. Witnessing the progress and success of our families as they navigate new systems and integrate into society has been deeply rewarding.
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Share your life motto or something unique about yourself. My life motto is helping others if you would like to be helped. I strive to support my clients and families in the best ways possible with compassion, empathy, and kindness. ​

Position: Program Supervisor

What led you to your current position? My journey to becoming a Program Supervisor came as I was figuring out what I wanted to do next, both professionally and academically. While I was thinking about going back to school, I knew I wanted to grow as a leader and be a more well-rounded individual. This position offered the perfect opportunity to gain experience, support students, mentor others, and prepare me for future roles.

What inspires you to do this work? I love being able to support students during such an important time in their lives. Knowing I can help guide them and have a positive impact on their growth is rewarding. I also thrive on the challenges this work presents. Each day is a chance to grow, problem-solve, and learn. Beyond the work itself, I’m grateful for the people I meet along the way who support me and encourage me to keep pushing forward. This journey has also allowed me to become a role model for younger family members, which keeps me going when things get tough. It’s both humbling and motivating to know that my actions can influence those around me.

What is a recent highlight you’ve experienced in the work or an important lesson you’ve learned in this role? One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in this role is the importance of self-care. I know everyone says it, but taking the time to check in with yourself and prioritize your own wellness is needed. Whether that means seeking support, taking a day off, or making space to spend time with your loved ones, it's so important to recharge. The work we do is demanding, and it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle; but if we don’t take care of ourselves, it becomes much harder to show up for others. I’ve learned that taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of others.
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Share your life motto or something unique about yourself: Sometimes, it’s the people no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can imagine. Believe in yourself and live a life that you can be proud of.

Position: Clinical Counseling Associate

What led you to your current position? My supervisors and the classroom clinicians I've worked with have been awesome mentors and have encouraged me to become a CCA. After gaining some experience in the CCA role, I am now pursuing a Masters in Social Work. 

What inspires you to do this work? My personal and family healing journey first brought me to this work. Now, I am constantly inspired by our clients and their perseverance through their own healing journeys. Our youth are so resilient, open to learning new skills and ideas, and have an innate sense of justice that is always inspiring to me.

What is a recent highlight you’ve experienced in the work or an important lesson you’ve learned in this role? As a lifelong caretaker, I've often found myself rushing to solve everyone's problems. In this work, I've learned the importance of providing space and empowering others to create their own solutions in their own way and timeline. 
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Share your life motto or something unique about yourself. I love roller skating and was a founding member of the first junior roller derby league.

Position: UE Coach
What led you to your current position? I transitioned to my role as UE Coach after teaching in schools that implemented the Unconditional Education (UE) model. Witnessing the profound impact of this approach on students and families inspired me to leverage my teaching experience to support school staff in achieving meaningful outcomes.
What inspires you to do this work? I am driven by a commitment to community engagement and prioritizing the humanity of individuals navigating the challenges of public education in Title 1 schools.
What is a recent highlight you’ve experienced in the work or an important lesson you’ve learned in this role? A key lesson I’ve learned in this role is the value of listening to understand different perspectives. I’ve come to recognize that the stories told by data can ignite transformative change.
Share your life motto or something unique about yourself. "We are all little seeds just trying to grow."

​Position: Clinical Supervisor

What led you to your current position? While I was a clinician, I did not see a lot of folks in clinical leadership positions that looked like me and I wanted to be a part of changing that perception. That combined with my previous program leadership team encouraging me to develop in that direction led me to pursue this role with our amazing UE West Bay team.

What inspires you to do this work? Supporting therapists in bringing their true authentic selves into this work while also watching them grow professionally. All the while providing clients and families with the care that they need. 

What is a recent highlight you’ve experienced in the work or an important lesson you’ve learned in this role? A recent highlight has been watching another one of our clinicians obtain licensure. (Shout out to Shaina!) There is nothing like getting to celebrate our clinicians when they reach a goal that it took them years to work towards.

Share your life motto: My life's motto is "protect your peace at all costs". 
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Something unique: I am not a big fan of the spotlight. Agreeing to do this highlight is so far out of my comfort zone, it would take a parachute for me to find it again. When I was younger, the best woman I know (my grandma) told me "Your best growing happens when you're uncomfortable, so you better get used to it".

​Position: UE Coach

What led you to your current position? I have been with Seneca for a number of years, first as a Student Support Assistant, then as a Special Education Teacher.  I loved creating a community with my students and wanted to bring those skills to an entire school community!  

What inspires you to do this work?  I love seeing kids smile and have fun at school.  Actions we may think are trivial can make a huge impact on a student's relationship with learning, so creating spaces that feel warm and inviting is deeply satisfying.  I also love to work with teachers and admin as they sharpen their skills. 

What is a recent highlight you’ve experienced in the work or an important lesson you’ve learned in this role?  I have learned to slow down when trying to put systems in place.  Often the best systems work when there is input from many stakeholders and this takes time!  

Share your life motto or something unique about yourself:  My dad always told us to work hard and play hard.  As an adult, I see this as a reminder to find balance between your obligations and the things that bring you joy.