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The professional team at the Masonic Center for Youth and Families strives to provide the highest quality of compassionate care to all clients, leading to positive experiences and successful outcomes. We come from leading institutions, active private practices, and renowned research programs. We work as a collaborative team to provide each client with a thoughtful approach to their unique needs. We use a family-focused model of care, which puts the needs of young people and their families first. We offer a supportive, nurturing environment to ensure our clients feel welcome and respected.
Therapist
Location: Covina
Yicel is a bilingual Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 8 years of experience working with and supporting the emotional well-being of children and families. She worked as an In-Home Outreach Counselor providing case management, outreach and supportive services to assist families in meeting their court-ordered mandates. She also has extensive experience in community engagement with the goal of strengthening family bonds and fostering parental resilience. Most recently she provided therapeutic services for school-aged children and their families in community mental health as a school-based clinician. Yicel incorporates a strength-based, family-systems perspective, utilizing a holistic approach and cognitive behavioral concepts. In treatment, Yicel’s warmth and empathy helps her establish a strong therapeutic alliance with clients that allows them to be themselves and overcome their mental health adversities.
Education
M.S.W., Azusa Pacific University
B.A., Sociology and Spanish Literature, University of California Riverside
License
California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Credentials
Pupil Personnel Services Credential, California State University, Long Beach
Professional Affiliations
National Association of Social Workers
Therapist
Location: Union City
Kailie is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with experience supporting children, adolescents, and their families. Prior to joining MCYAF, she worked in community-based and school-based settings. Kailie utilizes an eclectic approach, integrating techniques from various theories and practices including, but not limited to: Expressive Arts Therapy, Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Narrative Therapy. She is committed to working collaboratively with clients and families to achieve therapeutic goals and to support healthy growth and development through integration of each individual’s unique strengths and interests.
Education
M.A., Master of Clinical Psychology with emphasis in Expressive Arts Therapy, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA
B.A., Fine Arts, Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA
License
California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Therapist
Location: Covina
Craig is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience working with children and families impacted by mental health challenges. His areas of expertise include complex trauma, domestic violence, substance abuse, and chronic mental illness. Craig worked at Pacific Clinics for 15 years providing team-based, intensive, individual and family therapy. Prior to that he worked as a Psychiatric Social Worker at Metropolitan State Hospital as part of a multidisciplinary team working to stabilize high risk youth. Utilizing a strengths-based perspective, he develops partnerships with clients to assist them in overcoming the adversities they face. Craig engages his clients in a healing process to instill a sense of hope and initiate positive change in their lives.
Education
M.S.W., University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
B.S.W., Social Work, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA
License
California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Therapist
Location: Union City
Mercy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who over seven years of experience providing mental health services to individuals, couples and families. Mercy is also a Board-Certified Behavioral Analyst with over 10 years of experience working with neurodivergent children and adults struggling with severe and complex behavioral and emotional challenges. She has worked in a variety of different settings including in-home, schools, group homes, homeless shelters, day programs and clinics. Mercy’s work is grounded in Narrative theory which utilizes a collaborative approach to center the client in a respectful non-pathologizing manner. Through the utilization of behavioral approaches coupled with Narrative practices, clients are invited to journey towards self-discovery, acceptance and healing while gaining distance from problem-saturated stories, all within a safe and culturally inclusive environment.
Education
M.A., Master of Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, Pepperdine University, CA
B.S., Psychology, University of California, Irvine, CA
License
California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Board Certification
Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Board Certified Behavioral Analyst
Therapist
Location: Covina
Emanuel is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 10 years of experience working with children, adolescents and their families. Prior to joining MCYAF, he worked in multiple settings to include school-based, intensive community-based, acute inpatient, residential, and diagnostic programs. Emanuel manages depression, anxiety, psychosis, trauma, behavioral concerns, and crisis. In addition to working as a therapist, Emanuel is an artist and enjoys implementing his artistic perspective into his therapy sessions. He uses his artistic lens in combination with Narrative Therapy, Existential Therapy, CBT, and Trauma Focused-CBT concepts to work with clients. He is dedicated to the healing process through the discovery of the client’s story, personal values, motivations, hope, and action.
Education
M.A., Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA
B.A., Studio Art with an emphasis in Drawing and Painting, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA
License
California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Therapist
Location: Union City
Yvette MacDonald MSW, has over 20 years of experience working in community mental serving youth and families dealing with issues of complex trauma, chronic mental illness, intergenerational abuse, substance abuse and community violence. She has extensive experience developing and leading programs for adolescents in both residential and outpatient settings. She approaches all her work with cultural humility and is passionate about serving youth and families from underserved communities. She believes in the resilience of youth and families and their capacity to heal.
Education
M.S.W., Master of Social Work, California State University, Sacramento
B.A., Latin American Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz
License
Board of Behavioral Sciences, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Therapist
Location: Covina
Maria is a bilingual marriage and family therapist with more than 20 years experience working with distressed children and families. She has provided therapy and supervision in a variety of clinical programs, delivering individual, group, and family therapy, as well as therapeutic behavioral services. Maria is a strong believer in interdisciplinary, team-based therapeutic approaches that draw strength from each specialist to help families heal. She seeks to provide culturally sensitive practices that reduce risk to families experiencing child abuse, neglect, depression, anxiety, and severe mental illness. Maria enjoys helping to enhance parents’ capacity to support children with severe emotional behavioral disturbances. Prior to MCYAF, she supervised a team of therapists and social workers in a community mental health setting, where she helped provide safe, high-quality services that enabled families to achieve their potential.
Education
M.S.., Marriage and Family Therapy, University of La Verne, CA
B.S., Psychology, University of La Verne, CA
License
California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Therapist
Location: Covina
David is an experienced social worker with a diverse background supporting clients of all ages. He has worked with children and adolescents living in level-14 group homes, foster family agencies, public child welfare, field-based community mental health, and crisis intervention. He is dedicated to demonstrating positive role modeling, a positive mental attitude, and maintaining cultural sensitivity to help children and families overcome life challenges. Prior to joining MCYAF, David provided intensive field-based therapeutic services to children with severe mental health challenges and their families at Pacific Clinics. David was trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocess) in 2019, with which he works with all ages reprocessing traumas. David obtained his EMDR certification in 2021 and is currently an EMDR consultant in-training. He also recently became a Calgets provider for the state of California working with problem gamblers.
Education M.S.W., University of Southern California, Los Angeles
B.A., Sociology with a Social Service Track, California State University, San Bernardino
License California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Certification EMDR, 2021
CalGets provider
Therapist
Location: Covina
Candice is a Clinical Social Worker with 10 years of experience working with victims of trauma. Candice strives to exercise a strong foundation of cultural competence by providing bilingual (English and Spanish) crisis support services for children, adults, and elderly clients. Prior to joining MCYAF, Candice worked at CDLF Counseling, providing individual, family, and couples therapy. Additionally, she facilitated support groups, collaborated with agencies; including police departments, school districts, and the Mexican Consulate to strengthen services for the community and increase access and utilization of mental health services for children and their families. Candice utilizes a cognitive behavioral and holistic approach and is passionate about supporting clients through their healing process.
Education M.S.W., Master of Social Work, California State University, Long Beach
B.A., Psychology, California State University, Fullerton
License California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Therapist
Location: Covina
Paola is bilingual therapist (Spanish/English) Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 13 years of experience as a professional social worker. Her service includes the following populations: children and families in foster care, unaccompanied minors, farm workers, pregnant and parenting teens in community-based mental health services, and adults and elderly in hospice. Most recently, Paola has spent the last 8 years working in education in the roles of Case Manager, Assistant Dean, and District Social Worker.
Paola’s
therapeutic approach draws from humanistic therapy and cognitive behavioral
therapy while weaving mindfulness, trauma-informed care, and culturally
sensitive practices. During treatment, she utilizes psychoeducation, somatic
techniques, and person-centered care to support clients connecting to their
identity, mind-body-heart-spirit, and potential.
Paola has a passion for supporting and empowering women throughout life transitions such as, but not limited to, trauma, loss, and perinatal/ postpartum care.
Education M.S.W., Master of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
B.A., Gender, Ethnic, and Multicultural Studies, concentration in Latinx/Chicanx Studies, Minor in Spanish, California Polytechnic University, Pomona
License California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Therapist
Location: Union City
Alex Weinstein LMFT is a psychotherapist who received his Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Touro University and undergraduate degree in Environmental Rhetoric from UC Berkeley. His therapy practice is a blend of psychodynamic, somatic, humanistic, systemic, and existential modalities. In addition to being a therapist, Alex has also been a teacher of mindfulness and movement practices for over a decade. His pedagogical and personal development has led him across the world and back; sitting with masters from diverse lineages such as Authentic Movement, Shipibo, Contact Improvisation, Hatha Yoga, Dzogchen, Zen and Body-Mind Centering. As a facilitator, therapist, and personal seeker; Alex’s curiosity is deeply inspired by his teachers/spiritual friends and thinkers such as Angelika Doniy, Nancy Stark Smith, Nita Little, Daniel Higgs, Gilles Deleuze, Starhawk, Robert Anton Wilson, and Bayo Akomolafe.
Education M.F.T., Marriage and Family Therapy, Touro University, Vallejo
B.A., Environmental Rhetoric, UC Berkeley, Berkeley
License California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Business Manager
Location: Union City
Olivia is passionate about supporting the work of those who help children to become happy, healthy, and successful in life. Her professional experiences have included working with youth in diverse populations, including those with learning, emotional, and physical disabilities and disadvantaged children in Zambia. As MCYAF’s business manager, she ensures the effective functioning of the financial and administrative aspects of MCYAF and provides a welcoming experience to children and their families.
Education
M.A., Education and Counseling, San Jose State University
B.A., Sociology and Organizational Studies, University of California, Davis
B.A., Communication, University of California, Davis
Clinic Manager
Location: Covina
Brenda is the first point of contact for MCYAF, providing a warm and compassionate welcome to clients and families. She is experienced in working with diverse clientele; her previous experience includes teaching and tutoring English as a second language; providing case management for CalWORKS families in Santa Barbara County; and numerous administrative and public relations roles. Prior to MCYAF, Brenda worked in community mental health in Los Angeles County, providing administrative support to children’s programs.
Education
B.A., Latin American and Iberian Studies, Minor in Spanish, University of California, Santa Barbara
Intake Coordinator
Location: Covina
As the Access Coordinator of MCYAF Covina , Jennifer is committed in making our families’ experience at our center a positive one. Her past work experience includes providing behavioral support to autistic and cognitive-disabled children at a non-profit organization, Easter Seals. Prior to MCYAF, she worked as a Full Service Partnership (FSP) Mental Health Worker in Los Angeles County, working with children and adults. Her personal and work experiences have given her a deep appreciation for families in need and taught her the importance of compassion.
Education
B.A., Sociology, University of California, Riverside
Executive Director
Location: Union City
Kimberly is a licensed marriage and family therapist with more than 20 years of experience treating children, youth, and their families. She specializes in pediatric anxiety, depression, and family therapy, and has 18 years’ experience developing clinical and graduate training programs. Kimberly has extensive experience acquiring and managing public and private funding. As a nonprofit executive, she has raised more than 20 million dollars in support of therapeutic programs for children, youth, and their families. She is passionately dedicated to creating services that help parents raise happy, healthy, and productive youth and believes that by supporting and healing families, communities are able to become stronger and thrive.
Education
M.S., Counseling Psychology, California State University, Hayward
B.A., Psychology and Sociology, Cabrini College, Pennsylvania
License
California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Marriage and Family Therapist
Professional Affiliations
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
Director of Operations
Location: Covina
Stephanie received her Master’s in Nonprofit Administration from the University of San Francisco and comes to MCYAF with years of experience in administrating community-based mental health organizations. She brings expertise in putting systems in place to give clients and their families the best possible experience at both sites. Her passion for the community started at a very young age, beginning with volunteer work for international organizations and leading to a career in nonprofit management.
Education
MA, Nonprofit Administration, University of San Francisco
BA Political Science, UCLA
Senior Director
Location: Covina
Lisa is a licensed clinical social worker with over 30 years of experience providing direct practice and program management in nonprofit organizations serving children, adolescents, and families. She has been a director with MCYAF since 2016, when she was hired to help launch and oversee the Covina MCYAF clinic. Her professional calling is to help distressed children and families lead lives of dignity and improved health. Lisa’s specialties include family preservation, maternal and child health, and children’s intensive community services to emotionally and behaviorally disturbed children. At Pacific Clinics, where she served 11 years as program director, she delivered innovative leadership supporting the provision of effective, evidence-based treatment for families impacted by trauma. Her experience includes serving as an instructor and leadership consultant at Pacific Clinics Training Institute and has served five years on the National Alliance on Mental Illness Board of Directors.
Education
M.S.W., Social Work, University of Washington, Washington
B.A., Social Work, Bethel University, Minnesota
License
California Board of Behavioral Sciences
Professional Affiliations
National Association of Social Workers
Programs Manager
Location: Union City
Jodi received her Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Palo Alto University in 2016 and has worked in the mental health field for over ten years. Her work history includes working as a Program Manager to support individuals living with severe and persistent mental illness; hospice and bereavement grief support; transitional service coordinator for older adults, and as an elementary school counselor. Prior to joining the team at MCYAF, Jodi worked as a social worker for Masonic Assistance, where she worked collaboratively to serve Masons and their families throughout California.
Jodi combines her passion to be of service to others in order to offer extensive experience supporting growth programs, social services and non-profits.
Education
Master’s in Counseling Psychology – Palo Alto University
President and CEO, Masonic Homes of California
Location: Union City
Terry is an accomplished leader steeped in building high-trust relationships, innovative services, and growth at mission-driven human service organizations like ours. Since 2012 she has been the chief operating officer at Episcopal Communities and Services in Southern California, where she oversaw three CCRCs, one assisted living community and one affordable housing community, serving roughly 700 residents. There she developed three master plans, including the launch of a new 206-unit facility, delivered consistent financial performance, and drove excellent resident satisfaction and engagement in all life plan communities, among other accomplishments.
Prior to 2012, Terry led operations at Shea Family Care and the Cloisters of La Jolla Skilled Nursing Facility. As a part of a home and community-based services organization, Terry built significant and effective network of services for underserved populations.
Education
MSW, Social Work, San Diego State University
BA, Psychology, University of California, San Diego
BA, Real Estate Studies, Ashford University
Union City: 34400 Mission Blvd, Union City CA 94587 | (877) 488-6293 • Covina: 1650 E. Old Badillo St. #B3, Covina, CA 91724 | (626) 251-2300
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