Meet the Team
CAPS Director
Dr. April Clay
Dr. Clay is the Director of Counseling and Psychological Services at Cal State LA. Prior to her arrival, April founded a successful counseling corporation and mental health non-profit organization. For over 10 years, she led a team of mental health professionals who provided counseling and consulting services to schools, corporations, individuals and families. Under her leadership, the corporation provided mental health therapy and social-emotional support to over 1,500 children and adults each year.
Dr. Clay possesses a License in Marriage and Family Therapy, a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling and a Doctorate in Education. Dr. Clay has extensive executive leadership experience and has also trained professionals on numerous topics including restorative justice, cultural competence, anti-racism and unconscious bias. She also serves as an executive coach for the 2021 Racial Equity Fellowship Program. She has delivered keynotes, served on discussion panels, and presented at esteemed research conferences. At the collegiate level, April has led the school counseling program for a private university and has taught pre-service therapists and school counselors for over 12 years.
Her years of experience are topped with her commitment to service. You can find April volunteering in the community as the chair of San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health Cultural Competency Advisory Committee. She is a 27+ year member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated where she leads in a regional position and volunteers with several community organizations including being a life member of two historical civil rights organizations: the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the National Association of Negro Women (NCNW). April is an established presenter and author and continues to contribute to academic literature on student experience in K-16 education, microaggressions and Critical Race Theory since her first writings in 2010.
Counselors
Yadira Anguiano
Psy.D., Licensed Psychologist
Yadira Anguiano is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who completed her graduate education at the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University. She is also an undergraduate alumna of Cal State LA. Her professional interests include emotional and developmental growth, anxiety and mood concerns, trauma, relationship concerns, neuropsychology, multicultural and social justice issues.
Pronouns: she/her/ella
Rosalba Arvizu
MSW, Licensed Psychologist
Education: Master of Social Work, Hunter College, New York, BA Psychology and Sociology, Minor in Women's Studies and LGBT Studies, University of California, Riverside
Professional Interests:Clinical interests include complex trauma, anxiety/stress management, depression, cross-cultural concerns, social justice, LGBTQIA, women’s issues, victim/survivors of domestic violence, relationships, self-empowerment, wellness and communication. Integrative approach informed by several theories including family systems, attachment, cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic and conflict.
Daniel Benitez
MSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Daniel received his Master of Social Work from California State University, San Bernardino with an emphasis in Child Welfare and LGBTQIA+ Foster Youth. He has experience working with current and former foster youth, 241.1 Dual Status Minors, CSEC, TAY, and LGBTQIA+ in county, community-based, outpatient and school-based settings. His professional interests include: Anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders; complex trauma; relationship concerns; cross-cultural concerns; LGBTQIA+; women’s issues; social justice; first-generation college students; communication and mindfulness; wellness and stress management; self-empowerment and self-compassion. His conceptualization and integrative approach includes: family systems, attachment, trauma-informed, cognitive-behavioral, client-centered, solutions-focused, task-centered, and psychodynamic.
Karina Frausto
MSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Karina Frausto is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who received her Master of Social Work degree from California State University, San Bernardino with an emphasis on child welfare. She has experience working in community-based, outpatient, medical, and school-based mental health settings. Her professional interests include complex trauma, anxiety, stress management, depression, mood disorders, first-generation college students, interpersonal and familial relationships, women’s issues, attachment, empowerment, emotional and personal growth/development. Her conceptualization and integrative approach include psychodynamic, trauma-informed care, cognitive-behavioral, motivational interviewing, strength-based, and family systems.
Pronouns: she/her/ella.
Kenji M. Jones-Lane (she/her/hers)
Psy.D., Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Kenji received her Psy.D. in Marital and Family Therapy from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP) in Los Angeles, CA; Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from CSUDH.
Professional Affiliations: California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) and American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).
Clinical Area of Interest: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, underserved and underrepresented populations including, but not limited to: mental health populations of the Black, African Diaspora, people of color (POC), first-generation students, transfer students, LGBTQIA2+ community, grief and loss, survivors of sexual assault, trauma-informed care, mood disorders, anxiety, depression, interpersonal and familial relationships, identity development, women related difficulties, and life transitions.
Elizabeth Mendez
Elizabeth Mendez specializes in LGBTIA2S+/queer, undocumented and first-generation students, communities of color and parenting populations. As well as, students seeking self-empowerment and personal growth, identity development and navigating life transitions. Specializing in culturally rooted and affirming practices, Elizabeth utilizes an intersectional and decolonizing lens through an integrative approach of traditional therapeutic modalities (CBT, Psychodynamic, EMDR, DBT) and holistic/ancestral healing modalities in counseling.
Her cross-campus collaborations include working relationship with the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center and provided consultation on student issues/needs and supported students referred students for counseling. Elizabeth recently supported and collaborated with other counselors in an event titled “Dealing with Grief.”
Dylan Moore
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Education: Master of Social Work with a concentration on mental health and military families, University Southern California; Bachelor of Arts in Sociology: Social Welfare and Social Justice from California State University, Northridge.
My experience includes working in a DTLA Trauma Center (Emergency Department), assisting veterans, Air Force and Space Force military members and their families, and owning a part-time private practice. I enjoy working with people collaboratively to address a variety of issues related to stress, depression, anxiety or trauma. I utilize skills from treatment modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. In my personal time, I enjoy exploring the outdoors and keeping up with the latest technology.
Jeniffer Reyes
MSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Education: Master of Social Work, University of Southern California, Pupil Personnel Services Credential, University of Southern California
Professional Affiliations: National Association of Social Workers
Professional Interests: Multicultural and social justice issues, empowerment and resilience among people of color, experiences of first generation college students, relationship concerns, treatment of mood disorders, mind-body connection, mindfulness, attachment issues, trauma.
Jean Wang
MSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Education: Master of Social Welfare, UCLA
Professional Affiliations/Certifications: National Association of Social Workers
Professional Interests: Crisis Intervention, Trauma Resiliency, Grief and Loss, Multicultural Mental Health, Women’s Issues, Anxiety and Mood Disorders, Psychotic Disorders, Substance Addiction, Identity Development
Psychiatrist
Joseph Ortego, MD
CAPS Support Team
Wendy Gee
Administrative Support Assistant
Since 2011 I have had the pleasure of working at Station #4 and helping our students with CAPS, optometry, and dentistry. In my work, I enjoy problem-solving and meeting new people.
Mia Gonzales
Medical Assistant
I have been working in the healthcare field for 13 years as a Medical Assistant because I enjoy interacting with people. From my job experience, I have developed a great interest in the medical profession, so my future goal is to become a nurse.
Amanda Bravo
Referral Specialist
I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Health Education in 2015 from Cal State University Long Beach. I have previous experience working with military families in South Korea and residents in Los Angeles County providing linkage to resources and case management services. I started at Cal State LA in 2019 and I remain excited to assist students in accessing community resources to better support them in reaching their educational goals.