Meet the MCAPS Staff

Contact MCAPS

Welcome back Fall Term 2023!

All students at The Claremont Colleges have access to 7 C HEALTH which provides 24/7 medical and mental telehealth care for all students, at no cost! To get started, 7 C HEALTH. Register now and use the service when you need it. Students, please use your campus email.

Crisis support via telephone will also continue to be available to the undergraduate students throughout the summer break, whether on or off campus, 24 hours/day. To access this service, please call us at 909-621-8202, and press “1” to be connected to an on-call therapist. The on-call therapist will also be able to assist you in finding a local referral in your area, if you wish.

Students with SHIP (Aetna) medical insurance can also access tele-medicine appointments, including behavioral health appointments, here:

https://services.claremont.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Aetna-Teledoc.pdf

Phone | (909) 621-8202
Fax | (909) 621-8482

Tranquada Student Services Center – 1st Floor
757 College Way Claremont, CA, 91711

We are open:

Monday – Friday

Hours: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm

If this is a mental health emergency or urgent matter and you would like to speak with the on-call therapist please dial 909-621-8202 and press “1” and you will be connected to the on call therapist.

Meet the MCAPS Staff

Committed to promoting psychological wellness for the undergraduate students served by The Claremont Colleges Services

Gary DeGroot, Ph.D. Director

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 HaasAdministrative Services Manager

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

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 Togo, West Africa.

Carrie Park, Psy.D. Senior Staff Psychologist

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.

Michelle Chan, M.A. LMFTCase Manager

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

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

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. I believe that the mind and body are intimately connected. As a trauma informed yoga therapist (TIYT) I work to educate students how to understand their bodies and their responses from a clinical and somatic perspective. I have had specialty supervision in Understanding Latinx Cultural Dynamics and Behavioral Medicine and am certified in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR).

I am currently the liaison on the Chicano Latinx Student Affairs Office, Eating Disorder Task Force, and Claremont McKenna College.

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 to destigmatize mental health.

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

Miao Li, Ph.DSenior Staff Psychologist

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.

Emily Hauck, Ph.D. Senior Staff Therapist

My goal in therapy is to provide a warm environment where it feels safe to be vulnerable and receive support and validation. We all struggle with things that we are ashamed of or feel overwhelmed by and I use my training in psychodynamic therapy, humanistic therapy, and feminist therapy to help students navigate these moments and leave therapy feeling empowered and less alone. I strive to celebrate my clients’ intersecting identities and ensure that the therapy goals we develop together honor these identities. I enjoy working with a wide range of clinical concerns and my special areas of interest include identity development, anxiety management, grief and loss, LGBTQIA concerns, religious concerns, shame, and body image.

Education: BA from Westmont College in Psychology; MA in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary; MA in Psychology and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Fuller Graduate School of Psychology

Notable Training and Experience: I have worked in the counseling centers of four different universities prior to joining the MCAPS team. I have received certification as a transgender care specialist from the International Transgender Certification Association and I have attended various professional conferences including the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, American Psychoanalytic Association, and meetings of the Los Angeles Psychoanalytic Institute. My dissertation research focused on the psychological impact of the Purity Culture movement in American Evangelical Christianity. I have co-developed workshops on healing religious shame for LGBTQIA college students, self-compassion, and managing grief during emerging adulthood. I have also led therapy groups for grief, anxiety management, and body image.

Emily Metrie Psy.D.Senior Staff Therapist

I come from a person-centered therapy approach and incorporate various other theoretical orientations and interventions to best create a treatment plan that fits each individual that I meet with. I understand that each student is living their own individual and unique life, so I try my best to cultivate a plan for therapy that will meet each student’s needs. Coming from a person-centered approach, I provide empathy, non-judgment, honesty, and transparency with my clients regardless of whatever other interventions are incorporated in our session. My areas of interest include anxiety, learning differences, interpersonal relationships, and academic challenges.
Education: BA in Psychology from Concordia University, Irvine, MA in Clinical Psychology from The American School of Professional Psychology, Orange County, and Psy.D in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
Notable Training and Experience: I have had five years of experience working within the college counseling system and working with diverse student populations. I also have experience in assessment, particularly with ADHD and learning disorders. My dissertation research examined the relationship between mindfulness and emotional intelligence.

Adrienne Hilliard Psy.DSenior Staff Therapist

One of my goals in therapy is ensuring students feel seen and heard as their unique authentic selves. I provide a safe space for clients to explore their current or past experiences and themselves. The journey to healing is not always pretty but it is prolific and profound. I work from a psychodynamic perspective, meaning our past experiences often inform and influence our current presentation. My clinical interests include identity development, relational conflict, grief & loss, and BIPOC experiences. I am currently the liaison for the Office of Black Student Affairs.

Education: B.A. from California State University at Dominguez Hills, M.A. in Clinical Psychology (MFT) from Pepperdine University, M.A. and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Azusa Pacific University

Notable Training & Experience: I am a long-term advocate for diversity and inclusion and have organized trainings on a variety of topics for students. I have worked with severe mental illness in a psychiatric hospital and have several years of experience working at university counseling centers.

Shalom Alaichamy, Psy.DSenior Staff Psychologist

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.

Jessica Demerdjian, Psy.D. Senior Staff Therapist

My approach to individual therapy derives from a holistic framework, encompassing strength, resiliency, and empowerment, in order to bring about personal growth. I emphasize on promoting self-compassion, self-care, and self-acceptance, encouraging students to make adaptive changes towards personal development.
My clinical interests include trauma informed care, LGBTQIA, first-generation challenges, women’s issues, and BIPOC experience.
I am currently a liaison for Harvey Mudd College and the MCAPS group coordinator.
Education: B.A. in Psychology & Social Behavior from University of California, Irvine; M.A & Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Azusa Pacific University.
Notable training & experience: I am fluent in English & Armenian. I have worked closely with first-generation and BIPOC students navigating college life. I am passionate about advocating for LGBTQIA matters, have lead LGBTQ+ support groups, and attended conferences focused specifically on transgender care.

Katrine Enrile, M.D.Board Certified Psychiatrist

Lorrie DelgadoSenior Office Assistant

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.

Stephanie Gutarra Psy.DStaff Therapist

As a first generation, Latinx clinician myself, I am highly motivated to work with adults and couples of diverse, minority backgrounds who are trying to navigate and adjust to the difficulties of daily life while being a student. My clinical interests include the treatment of trauma, mood disorders, identity development, acculturation issues, and intra/interpersonal distress as I provide individual, couples, and group therapy. Within the last six years, I have worked predominantly in diverse community mental health settings with adults and emerging adults struggling with adjustment issues and emotional distress. I approach therapy from multiple theoretical frameworks including psychodynamic, systemic, and humanistic therapy.

Education: B.A. in Psychology and B.A. Chicanx Studies from Cal State Fullerton; M.A. in Clinical Psychology from California School of Profession Psychology (Los Angeles); Psy.D in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Family and Couples from California School of Profession Psychology (Los Angeles)

Notable Training and Experience: I am fluent in English and Spanish and have provided long-term therapy in both languages. I have presented research focused on family systems and research from my dissertation in community systemic approaches when addressing preventative measures for rampage school shootings.

Gabriella Tempestoso, MA, AMFTCrisis Therapist and Care Manager

As one of the crisis therapists at MCAPS, I bring an extensive background in trauma informed crisis care including behavioral intervention and threat assessment within the adolescent and college student population. I have also worked with transitional age youth in the community mental health setting. Previously, I spent 15 years in Student Affairs, supporting, advocating, and working alongside students with learning differences, learning disorders, disabilities, chronic illness, substance use disorders and crisis intervention. I also have extensive experience in working with LGBTQ+, first generation and Latinx students. I have additional expertise in gender studies with a specific focus on gendered violence in conflict areas (the impacts on men/women and non-binary individuals). I am first generation Latina (Cuban-American) and am fluent in English and Spanish.

Education:
BA International Relations, University of La Verne
MA Women and Gender Studies, Claremont Graduate University
MA Counseling Psychology, National University

Notable Training: NaBITA Certified in Threat Management and Behavioral Intervention, Restorative Justice, Case Management in Higher Education, member of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT).

Moises Vargas M.D.Board Certified Psychiatrist

Valerie MartinSenior Office Assistant

I am returning to California after 26 years of Florida beach living. I have worked for TCCS for six years. I enjoy working on such a beautiful campus, working for TCCS is very rewarding.

I have two sons and seven grandchildren. They range in ages from 18 years old to 15 months, with three being grandsons and four being granddaughters; I enjoy spending time with all of them, being a grandparent is one of the best parts of life.

I have a dog named Brandi and we go on trips together. We have driven across country five to six times. She is a great traveling companion, the only thing I tell her is that she needs to talk to me more, it can get lonely on the drive. We have driven through monsoons in Arizona, snow in Texas and tropical storms in Louisiana, Georgia, and Florida. When you drive across country you can see how diverse and beautiful this country is. I have traveled to Spain, Ireland, Mexico, Jamaica, British and American Virgin Islands. Every country is beautiful, and I give thanks to our God who has given us a beautiful home to live on.

Judy Hu, M.DBoard Certified Psychiatrist

Bianca De Anda, Psy. DCrisis Therapist and Care Manager

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