Adua: Filipinx Mental Health Therapist Network

Filipinx Mental Health Therapist Network

What is ADUA?

ADUA means the number “two” in the Kapampangan language. Dua also means the number two in Ilocano. Two symbolizes the power of two people coming together to talkstory, listen, affirm, inspire, support as people walk their path towards healing and wellness. The significance of two is that we can choose to not face our life experiences and/or challenges alone.

Through ADUA we work together with our amazing community partners and collaborators of the ADUA: Filipinx Mental Health Therapist Network (listed below). Because of them, we are able to have our Filipinx Mental Health Counseling Scholarship Program that offers Filipinx identified adults 18+ living in the San Francisco Bay Area access to FREE mental health and wellness services.

ADUA Program Coordinator and Consultant

Alexis A. David; LCSW, PPS
(she/her/siya)

[email protected]

Title: FMHI-SF Director of Clinical Programming
Languages Spoken: English, Basic Filipino
Affiliations: Kababayan SFUSD; Amado Khaya Initiative

Alexis A. David (she/her/siya) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) working as a Clinical Supervisor in San Francisco Unified School District. She has a private practice in clinical supervision and consultation supporting BIPOC clinicians. She is a daughter of immigrants from Tarlac and Batangas, Philippines.

Alexis was born and raised in Yelamu, Ramaytush Ohlone Territory. She is a mother to three brilliant beings. She is an alumni of San Francisco State University for both her Masters in Social Work (MSW) and undergraduate studies in Asian American Studies and Criminal Justice. She has worked in various capacities in Education through school social work; crisis and mental health consultation; teaching Ethnic Studies and Filipinx/a/o Studies; working with youth and families in foster care and youth impacted in the juvenile justice system; youth substance abuse treatment and prevention; youth development and community organizing.

Alexis is one of the founding members of the Filipino Mental Health Initiative-San Francisco (FMHI-SF) launched in 2012 and leading therapeutic programming to the community in the SF Bay area. In 2023, Alexis joined the Amado Khaya Initiative Advisory Board to support the legacy of community organizing and activism from the late Amado Khaya Canham Rodriguez. Alexis believes that promoting mental and community wellness in the Filipinx community creates access points to collective healing and lays pathways of compassion for ourselves and one another.