Victor earned his Bachelor of Arts in Family and Consumer Sciences from California State University, Northridge. Early in his career, he worked in downtown Los Angeles supporting older adults experiencing homelessness in the Skid Row community, helping clients access permanent housing, transportation, and nutritious meals.
After achieving his initial professional goals, Victor returned to school and completed a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy at Pacific Oaks College. His clinical training included providing psychotherapy to individuals living with HIV/AIDS and working with clients across identities and life experiences, including those exploring issues related to identity, relationships, and self-acceptance.
Victor brings a client-centered, compassionate, and collaborative approach to his work. He strives to create a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore their lived experiences, build insight, and develop the skills needed to restore confidence and improve overall well-being.
Jolene obtained their master’s degree in clinical social work from New York University (NYU) in 2008 and is pursuing a PhD in human sexuality from the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. As a first-generation, non-traditional college graduate, they understand both the challenges of breaking generational cycles and the privilege of continuing to access higher education.
With 19 years of healthcare and leadership experience, Jolene joined APLA Health’s behavioral health team in May 2024. They provide direct therapeutic support to patients using a strengths-based, empathetic, and non-judgmental approach.
Jolene offers therapy to the Los Angeles community, creating a supportive space where patients can explore concerns, address challenges, and work toward their goals.
Shannen earned her Master of Social Work degree from the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at the University of Southern California in 2018. During her graduate training, she provided community-based mental health services to survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking in both Orange and Los Angeles Counties, where she developed a deep appreciation for the strength and resilience people demonstrate during times of crisis.
While pursuing licensure, Shannen served transitional-age youth in Los Angeles as a case manager for an independent housing and education program, emphasizing compassion, patience, and rapport-building. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked as an on-site case manager at a psychiatric hospital, collaborating closely with interdisciplinary medical and psychiatric teams to advocate for patients and support treatment coordination. Shannen became a licensed clinical social worker in 2023.
As a clinician, Shannen practices a trauma-focused and strength-based approach that emphasizes healing intergenerational trauma, fostering self-empowerment, and nurturing the inner child. She incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness, and somatic techniques to support deeper self-understanding and emotional regulation. Shannen believes therapy is a collaborative process grounded in authenticity, compassion, and self-discovery.
Outside of session, Shannen enjoys volunteering at the local aquarium to advocate for Southern Sea Otters; convincing naysayers that Hufflepuffs are “particularly good finders” and drinking copious amounts of iced oolong tea.
Sabrina is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist who earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University and her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Howard University. She has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and adults in both inpatient and community-based settings, including hospitals, schools, and family service agencies.
Sabrina has provided care across clinical environments, from the McAuley Adolescent Psychiatric Unit and Intensive Outpatient Program at Dignity Health to county child and family services programs in Marin and San Francisco. Her background spans trauma-informed crisis intervention, recovery-oriented group therapy, family systems work, and culturally responsive support for individuals navigating life stressors and transitions. She integrates compassion, structure, and collaboration to help clients explore challenges and build resilience.
Manny Zermeño is a Supervisory Marriage and Family Therapist recognized by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. He earned his Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles in 2013 and has been licensed since 2019.
A first-generation Latino and Los Angeles native, Manny has more than a decade of experience providing therapy in community mental health and private practice settings. His clinical work focuses on supporting adults from varied cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds with concerns related to anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, and identity development. He has particular expertise in helping clients navigate internalized stigma, self-acceptance, and the process of openly embracing their identity.
As a supervisor, Manny provides guidance and mentorship to pre-licensed clinicians, fostering professional growth, reflective practice, and culturally responsive care. His therapeutic approach emphasizes trust, collaboration, and emotional safety. He integrates client-centered therapy, mindfulness practices, solution-focused interventions, and cognitive behavioral techniques to promote insight, balance, and resilience.
Kyle is a licensed marriage and family therapist recognized by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. They earned a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, with a focus on affirming care and multi-ethnic theoretical approaches.
Kyle has provided care across a range of clinical and community settings, beginning their work at Star View Adolescent Treatment Center, a level 14 psychiatric hospital for youth, and later serving adults in South Los Angeles at SHIELDS for Families. Kyle joined APLA Health in 2024 and continues to focus on supporting adults experiencing anxiety, depression, mood disorders, relational challenges, and life transitions.
Kyle brings a culturally responsive and trauma-informed approach to therapy. Their work is collaborative and grounded in authenticity, helping clients better understand themselves, improve communication, and strengthen relationships.
Outside of their clinical work, Kyle enjoys creative expression and live performance as forms of artistry and empowerment. Their background in theater and athletics informs a deep appreciation for authenticity, collaboration, and resilience—values they bring into their therapeutic relationships. Kyle is passionate about fostering connection and helping clients feel seen, understood, and empowered to grow in ways that align with their true selves.
Chris is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist with a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, where he focused on client-centered approaches to care. He began his psychotherapy training at the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, earning a Certificate in Narrative Focused Trauma Care (Levels I and II) from the Allender Center.
Chris completed his clinical training at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, where he gained extensive experience providing mental health care. His work focuses on supporting adults navigating identity development, religious or spiritual trauma, and challenges related to self-esteem, addiction and recovery, family conflict, and relationship patterns. He also works with individuals seeking to integrate spirituality and personal meaning into therapy, fostering a deeper sense of self-acceptance and belonging.
Chris’s areas of clinical focus include identity development, internalized stigma, religious and spiritual trauma, self-esteem and self-acceptance, life transitions, men’s issues, anxiety, depression, substance use and sobriety, family conflict, and relationship challenges. He also has experience working with adult children of alcoholics and those impacted by family addiction, incorporating inner-child work and mindfulness to support growth and healing.
His therapeutic approach is holistic, humanistic, and client-centered, drawing from mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, strengths-based and positive psychology, and integrative mind-body awareness practices. Chris believes that therapy offers a collaborative space for self-discovery and transformation, helping clients find clarity, connection, and balance in their lives.
In addition to his clinical work, Chris is the author of a parenting guide that received the 2024 American Psychological Association Distinguished Book Award.
Theo is an associate clinical social worker registered with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. He earned a Master of Social Work degree from Simmons University in 2022. Drawing from his own life experience, Theo is dedicated to providing compassionate, respectful, and culturally attuned care that affirms each person’s lived experience.
His background in overdose prevention work and in providing education on sexuality and health informs his belief in creating a welcoming, non-judgmental environment where clients can safely explore sensitive or complex topics. Theo approaches therapy through a systemic lens, recognizing how community, culture, and social factors shape individual wellbeing. He values collaboration and authenticity, helping clients build insight, resilience, and self-confidence.
Amarylis is a licensed clinical social worker who was born and raised in California, with family roots in Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Argentina. She is also hard of hearing and believes that recognizing unique identities and lived experiences is an essential part of the therapeutic process. Amarylis earned her Master of Social Welfare with a focus on gerontology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and her Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare with a focus on death and dying from the University of California, Berkeley.
Amarylis has developed her clinical expertise across community settings, including providing crisis intervention at a rape treatment center, facilitating consent and sexual-assault prevention education for middle school students, supporting individuals transitioning from homelessness to stable housing, and offering counseling for those navigating aging, grief, and end-of-life concerns. She approaches therapy as a collaborative, non-pathologizing space where clients are invited to bring curiosity, honesty, and compassion to their healing journey.
Her therapeutic perspective is community-oriented, strengths-based, and trauma-informed, integrating evidence-based techniques with mindfulness and compassion. Amarylis is committed to being a lifelong learner and encourages feedback and collaboration throughout the therapeutic process.
Emily is a licensed clinical social worker with more than four years of experience providing mental health services. She earned her Master of Social Work degree from Arizona State University in 2022 and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Finlandia University in 2020.
Emily’s clinical practice focuses on supporting adults experiencing anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. She works with clients from a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences, and provides compassionate, culturally responsive care that respects each person’s unique identity. As an Asian American clinician, Emily is attentive to the cultural and identity-specific factors that influence mental health and wellness.
Her therapeutic approach emphasizes the connection between mind and body, promoting self-regulation, resilience, and emotional growth. Emily prioritizes ethical care, client safety, and clear communication to ensure effective, collaborative, and client-centered treatment.
