Meet the MCAPS Staff

Gary DeGroot, Ph.D.
Director | Email

I am a licensed clinical psychologist and have been working with college students in a college counseling center setting for the last 25 years. My theoretical orientation is described as integrative, as it uses humanistic, psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral principles and techniques. The type of therapy used with my clients largely depends on my clients’ needs, their personality style, and finding an intervention that will best fit and be the most effective. I place emphasis on helping my clients identify and change less effective patterns in their life by addressing difficult issues developed early on, which tend to continue into their adulthood. In therapy, clients will learn methods/techniques that will enable them to make beneficial life changes leading towards positive growth.
As this is my 22nd year at MCAPS, I have extensive experience working with diverse student populations with a variety of issues. Some of my clinical interests and work have been in the areas of grief and bereavement, depression/anxiety, and biracial concerns. As I continue to work with the college student population, I look forward to helping students work through personal issues and experiences, to grow as individuals and to meet the goals they have set for themselves.

 Education: B.A. from Loyola Marymount University, Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology

Notable Training and Experience: Over the 20+ years I have practiced, I have attended many conferences and training, including national conferences for directors of university counseling centers (Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors and Organization of Counseling Center Directors in Higher Education), and training focused on culture and diversity, law and ethics in psychology and more. I have specialized training in grief and bereavement.

Louise Haas 
Administrative Services Manager | Email

I was born and raised in Oxford, England but have called California my home for almost thirty years. Prior to joining the Claremont Colleges Services I worked in the medical field for over twenty-five years and have had experience in a variety of different roles. I am a proud “mum” to two daughters who are both college students themselves. My time away from work is spent with my family; we love to camp at the beach and explore the outdoors.

Fiona Vajk, Ph.D.
Assistant Director / Training Director | Email

My approach to brief individual therapy is to help individuals draw from their strengths, in order to explore possibilities for change and growth, taking into account each person’s unique life experiences and cultural background. My particular areas of specialty are sexual assault/abuse, multicultural and international issues, identity development, women’s issues, body image concerns, mindfulness/meditation, and relationship issues. I am currently the MCAPS liaison to Pitzer College.  I serve on the Institutional Review Board for Scripps College, and the CCRT Team for the EMPOWER Center.

 Education: B.A. from Princeton University, M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from University of Colorado at Boulder

Notable Training and Experience: I have published several articles and book chapters, and have presented at conferences in subjects including mood disorders, supervision of therapists, hidden disabilities, and international counseling. I have attended the Association of Counseling Center Training Directors Conference for 9 years, the National Multicultural Conference and Summit for 3 years, and the NaBITA Conference and Threat Management Institute for 2 years. I am NaBITA Certified in Campus Threat Management. I am also fluent in French and I served in the Peace Corps in Africa.

Carrie Park, Psy.D. 
Senior Staff Psychologist | Email

I have been a member of the Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services staff since 2008. I am licensed as a psychologist in the state of CA and have trained and worked at a number of college counseling centers. In my counseling center experience, I’ve enjoyed working with students from diverse cultural backgrounds, focusing on the individual’s unique experience while challenging those thoughts and behaviors which may be maladaptive. My theoretical orientation draws largely from humanistic, cognitive-behavioral, and feminist therapy. My areas of special interest include adjustment issues, depression, anxiety, women’s issues, identity development, and GLBTQIA concerns. I am currently the MCAPS liason to Scripps College and serve as the MCAPS outreach coordinator.

Education:  B.S. at the University of Florida; M.S. and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology at Nova Southeastern University

Notable Training and Experience: I have attended the past three editions of the biennial National Multicultural Conference and Summit, attending sessions on subjects such as Integrated Care for Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students within the University Health System, Counseling African American Women Interpersonal Trauma Survivors, Addressing Racial Microaggressions in Therapy, Intersectional Stress and Survival among Queer People of Color, and more. I have also attended conferences focused specifically on serving transgender students and the Association for Women in Psychology.

Vilma Fuentes, Psy.D.
Senior Staff Psychologist | Email

My approach to brief individual therapy is eclectic, even though I draw largely on Humanistic and Cognitive Behavioral approaches. I support my clients through their journey of personal growth by helping them identify and nurture their inner strengths while learning to modify and change unproductive thought patterns. I provide an accepting environment where my clients feel safe to explore their concerns and increase their sense of self-mastery through the development of self-accountability. My areas of interest include multicultural counseling, anxiety, depression, spirituality, family of origin issues, and women’s issues.

 Education: B.A. from CSU San Bernardino, M.S. in Counseling from CSU Fullerton, M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Alliant International University, and Psy.D. from Alliant International University

Notable Training and Experience: I am bilingual in Spanish and English. I have experience in forensic psychology. I have also presented training seminars for post-doctoral therapists on topics such as working with Chicano/Latino students and working with non-traditional aged students.

Michelle Chan, M.A. LMFT
Case Manager | Email

I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist. I have worked for various nonprofit organizations and schools, servicing students and clients of all ages and backgrounds. At Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services, my goal is to empower students by providing them with knowledge and information, so that they can better understand their needs and seek the right kind of support for them. I hope to be able to help students succeed and achieve their personal and academic goals.

 Education: B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles, M.A. from Alliant International University.

Notable Training and Experience: I am trained in Seeking Safety and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I am also a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and Asian Professional Exchange.

Grant Goodman, Ph.D.
ADHD/LD Psychologist| Email

As the ADHD/LD therapist at MCAPS I offer support and consultation to students dealing with learning differences. I provide screenings for ADHD and learning disorders and advocate for students as they work to succeed academically. I also assist students with receiving academic coaching and academic, cognitive, and neuropsychological testing. I approach therapy from a time limited dynamic psychotherapy model and I also employ techniques from interpersonal therapy as well as acceptance and commitment therapy. I strive to create a safe space in therapy for students to understand themselves more deeply and understand how their early life experiences impacted their current way of interacting with the world. I work collaboratively with individuals on fostering growth and helping them to thrive in their roles as students. My areas of interest include anxiety disorders, multicultural issues, academic difficulties, group therapy, interpersonal growth, and identity formation.

 Education: B.A. from Cedarville University, M.A. in Psychology and Ph.D. in Clinicial Psychology from Fuller Graduate School of Psychology

Notable Training and Experience: I have presented research focused on attention, memory and learning at conferences, including the National Academy of Neuropsychology Conference. I also have provided working memory training to children in a private practice setting.              

Dana Reyes, Psy.D.
Senior Staff Psychologist |E-mail

My approach to therapy is strengths based, drawing from Interpersonal Process Therapy, Humanistic Therapy, and Family Systems.  I work collaboratively with students to increase self-awareness of themselves and their relational patterns taking into consideration cultural, social, and systemic factors. My goal is to help students feel empowered and emotionally safe to explore challenging experiences. Although I consider myself a generalist, my clinical interests include working with students of color, survivors of sexual trauma, and working with relationship issues. An emerging area of specialty is working with students with disordered eating patterns and/or body image concerns.

I am currently the liaison on the Chicano Latinx Student Affairs Office and Claremont McKenna College.

Education (college, grad schools, degrees): B.A. at California State University, San Bernardino, M.A. and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology emphasis on Family Systems at Azusa Pacific University

Notable Training and Experience: I value diversity and social justice. I have experience working with many marginalized groups and students with multiple identities. I have done clinical work internationally in Kenya, Africa exploring mental health and working to destigmatize mental health. I have also worked with several student organizations on college campuses that promote diversity and inclusion. Lastly, I have had specialty supervision in Understanding Latinx Cultural Dynamics and Behavioral Medicine.

Miao Li, Ph.D
Senior Staff Psychologist |E-mail

My approach for therapy integrates interpersonal process therapy, feminist therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy, all within a multicultural framework. I also use a strength-based approach to understand how the interactions between environmental factors and the intersection of identities contribute uniquely to each individual’s presenting issues. I can work with a wide range of clinical concerns as a generalist include but not limit to: relationship concerns, adjustment issues, interpersonal difficulties, depression, anxiety, multicultural/diversity issues, acculturation, career counseling, grief/bereavement, trauma, and identity development (e.g. gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, spirituality, etc).  My area of specialty is serving the Asian Pacific American and international student community on campus.

Education: B.A. from Waseda University, Tokyo; M.A. in Mental Health Counseling from Boston College; Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from University of Kentucky.

Notable Training and Experience: I am fluent in English, Mandarin Chinese and Japanese. I have been trained and have conducted therapy in Mandarin Chinese. I lived in multiple countries throughout my life and has always fascinated with the impact of cultural context on one’s identity. I am committed to promote social justice on campus through outreach and advocacy activities. I have had experience working with college students in multiple university campuses, adults with severe and persistent mental illness, women struggling with substance abuse issues, and sexual assault survivors and their families. I also have received training in Feminist-Informed Trauma Treatment and Emotion Focused Couple’s Therapy.

Lisette Sanchez, Ph.D. 
Staff Therapist | E-mail

 I am honored to be part of the staff at Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services. My theoretical framework is drawn from cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused and narrative therapy.  I approach working with students from a collaborative, multicultural, social justice and strength-based lens. I enjoy working with a variety of concerns and my areas of special interest include Latinx mental health, social anxiety, academic issues, college adjustment, group therapy and working with students of color, first generation college students and international students. I am currently the MCAPS liaison to Harvey Mudd College and serve as the MCAPS groups coordinator.I look forward to working with you! Sí se puede!

Education: B.A. from University of California, San Diego; M.A. and M.Ed. in Psychological Counseling from Teachers College at Columbia University; M.S and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Oregon.

Notable Training and Experience: I am bilingual in Spanish and English. I have conducted therapy in Spanish and have provided Bystander Intervention training in Spanish. I have also attended various multicultural and diversity training including serving AB 540 and undocumented students, and LGBTQ+ students.

Patty Gonzalez, M.A. LMFT

Senior Staff Therapist| E-mail

I live and work with an awareness of cultural, systemic and social oppression that many of us experience throughout our lives.  In my work I seek to hold an intersectional approach that honors how race, culture, gender, class, ability, spirituality and power affects the lived experience of a person.

My therapeutic approach comes from the liberation health/psychology model.  What is at the center of this model is an intersectional trauma-informed sense of cultural humility, in which each of us is an expert in our own experience and our liberation is possible through our own exploration of wellbeing.

I am committed to building therapeutic relationships that are supportive and affirming for queer and trans folx. I specialize in working with people of color and first generation college students.  I work with individuals, couples, and groups.

I believe in a collaborative relationship with my clients, joining you to explore your way of being in the world on a deeper level, helping you explore and create the healing you want, and supporting you find your way.

Education: B.A. from University of California Irvine with a major in Chicanx Latinx Studies; M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy with a Specialization in Latinx mental health from Pacific Oaks College, Pasadena.

Notable Training and Experience: I have worked in a variety of settings with many different populations including in. I have experience and training in working with all ages (children, adolescents, young adults, adults, and older adults), individuals, families, couples, people from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, and those who are part of the LGBTQIA2S+ community.  I have provided trainings and teach graduate and undergraduate classes regrading immigration trauma, working with gender exploration, historical trauma, family and interpersonal violence  and many other topics related to identity.

Jessica Demerdjian, Psy.D

Post-Doctoral Therapist |E-mail

My approach to individual therapy derives from a holistic framework that incorporates psychodynamic and interpersonal therapy. I work collaboratively with clients to promote empowerment, self-awareness and self-compassion.

Education: B.A from University of California, Irvine in Psychology and Social Behavior, M.A. and Psy.D. from Azusa Pacific University in Clinical & Family Psychology.

Notable Training and Experience:

I have a variety of experiences working with diverse student populations presenting with a wide variety of clinical concerns and presentations.  Specifically, I have worked closely with students who have experienced sexual abuse/assault and physical violence.  I am committed to creating an accepting and safe environment in order to encourage exploration and growth despite adversities.  I have personal interests in meditation, mindfulness, and spirituality.

Shalom Alaichamy, Psy.D
Post-Doctoral Therapist |E-mail

My goal as a counselor is to provide a warm and compassionate space where students feel accepted, supported and empowered. I want to listen to students’ needs, help them explore how they relate to themselves and others, and facilitate changes to help them achieve their goals. I draw on different theoretical orientations, primarily interpersonal process therapy, emotion-focused therapy, and feminist therapy, to process painful experiences in their relational and social context. My areas of clinical interest include depression, relationship conflict, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, LGBTQ concerns, and multicultural issues.

Education: BA from Biola University, MA in Linguistics from University of Texas in Arlington, MA and PsyD in Clinical Psychology from Azusa Pacifica University

Notable Training and Experience: During my internship year I received specialized training and supervision in supporting survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault. I co-led a support group for LGBTQ students throughout the year, during which I gained a deeper understanding of their experiences. Before becoming a counselor, I lived in international settings for several years, working to empower minority language groups, direct teams, and provide emotional support for colleagues.

Nicole Enrique, Psy.D
Post-Doctoral Therapist |E-mail

I approach brief therapy with the goal of getting the most out of every session. This typically hinges upon a collaborative relationship with students wherein they gain new understandings and experiences of themselves and others. I draw from Time Limited Dynamic Therapy and Systems Theory in order to interact with the whole person, with attention paid to strengths, culture, and intersections of identity. I have special interests in identity formation, intergenerational conflict, women’s issues, and working with students of color. Emerging areas of interest for me include: trauma and secondary trauma responses, the brain-body relationship, mindfulness/meditation, and chronic pain.

Education: B.A. from University of California, Los Angeles; M.A. and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology with emphasis in Family Systems at Azusa Pacific University.

Notable Training and Experience: I have experience working within various complex systems including public schools, hospitals, and federally qualified health centers. This includes a global psychology placement in Nairobi, Kenya and clerkship within the division of Hematology/Oncology at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. My dissertation research examined factors of substance use treatment among youth.                             

 Beth Perlman, Ph.D.
Crisis Therapist/Care Manager | E-mail

My style of therapy is empowerment-focused and collaborative, taking into consideration the unique individual, social, and cultural experiences of each student. Ultimately, my goal is to provide an open and accepting environment where students can explore painful or challenging internal experiences.  I incorporate a variety of therapy approaches into my work including interpersonal process therapy, feminist perspectives, emotion-focused therapy, and mindfulness. While I consider myself a generalist, I have professional interests in grief/loss, self-compassion, cultural identities and intersectionality, relationship stress, immigration concerns, as well as in working with graduate students, international students, and survivors of sexual trauma. 

Education: BA from Cornell College, MA in Community Counseling from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Georgia

Notable Training and Experience: I recently completed my pre-doctoral internship at the University of Washington Counseling Center where I received additional training’s in disordered eating and emotion-focused couple’s counseling. I have written papers and presented at conferences on topics such as women’s issues, infusing diverse perspectives in undergraduate counseling courses, as well as supporting the academic and career development of undocumented students. I have also attended a range of training and conferences focused on diversity, professional development, and social justice.

Katrine Enrile, M.D.
Board Certified Psychiatrist | Email

Moises Vargas, M.D.
Board Certified Psychiatrist | 

Judy Hu,  M.D.
Board Certified Psychiatrist | 

Lorrie Delgado
Secretary Receptionist | Email

Lorrie, the familiar face and voice of Monsour Counseling Services, was born and raised in southern California. She is now in her 20th year at the Claremont Colleges. Previously, Lorrie worked in a Pediatric Neurologist’s office for five years and states she “learned many things.” This proud mother of two sons, and four grandchildren is happily married. She enjoys interacting with people, working in her yard gardening and love sports.

Valerie Martin
Office Assistant | Email

I am returning to California after 25 years of Florida beach living.  I have two sons, four grandchildren and a Golden Retriever named “Brandi”. I am working on getting certified as a “Microsoft Office Specialist”. I am very happy to be working at TCCS; it is a rewarding position.