KAdua Internship and Associate Program

KAdua Internship Program

[KAdua description here]

KAdua Associate Program

FMHI-SF Clinical Programming Team

Alexis A. David

Director of Clinical Programming & Mental Health Internships

Judith Lucia
​ I. Albano

FMHI-SF Clinical Supervisor

Erin Mausisa Bolick

Group Clinical Supervisor,
​SFUSD Partner

Geraldine Punzalan

Individual Clinical Supervisor, SFUSD Partner

FMHI-SF Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) Associates

Rachel Lastimosa

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, Expressive Arts Therapist

Raju Desai

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

FMHI-SF School-Based Interns

​Kendrick Hester

MSW 1
Hoover Middle School

Nikki Landayan

MSW 1
Lowell High School

Sabrina Belara

MSW 1
​Downtown High School

Jessica Ponce

MFTT 2
Visitacion Middle School,
Mission High School
(All My Usos/SCDC Intern)

SFUSD SIT Specialized Filipinx Internship

Frederick Barga Fajardo

MSW 1
Visitacion Valley Middle School

Jessy Zapanta

MFTT 1
James Denman Middle School/LGBTQ+ Support Services Specialized Internship

Lauren Lopez

MSW 1
Visitacion Valley Middle School

Marcelle Jalate Valdez

MSW 1
James Denman Middle School, Longfellow Elementary School (Spring 2025)

Sam Marco

MFTT 1
Washington High School

FMHI-SF Clinical Supervising Team

Languages Spoken: English, Basic Filipino
Affiliations: Kababayan SFUSD; Amado Khaya Initiative

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

Director of Clinical Programming & Mental Health Internships
[email protected]

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.
Languages Spoken: English, Tagalog (Understands Fluently)

Judith Lucia I. Albano (she/her)

FMHI-SF Clinical Supervisor
[email protected]​

​Judith Lucia I. Albano, LMFT is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Clinical Supervisor with over 13 years of experience supporting individuals navigating their mental health wellness. 

As a Filipina therapist and the child of immigrant parents, Judith brings an understanding of the cultural dynamics that can shape how mental health is experienced, talked about, and supported. She is especially attuned to the impact of family relationships and the ways parent–child dynamics and intergenerational patterns can continue to show up over time.

In her role as a clinical supervisor, Judith values creating a space where clinicians feel supported in their growth and able to reflect more deeply on their work. She approaches supervision with curiosity and collaboration, and supports clinicians in building confidence, developing their clinical voice, and deepening their understanding of the therapeutic process.

Judith currently maintains a private practice in San Francisco and San Mateo and is certified in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Brainspotting​
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
Affiliations: San Francisco Unified School District; Kababayan

Erin Mausisa Bolick, ASW (she/her)

Group Clinical Supervisor, SFUSD Partner
[email protected]

Erin is mixed with Filipina and white. Her mom was born in Manila, Philippines and her father is from New Jersey. Erin’s mother immigrated to San Francisco with her older sister when she was six years old, being separated from her mother for several years.

Erin grew up with the Filipina side of her family in their family’s house in Haight Ashbury. ​Starting at the age of twelve Erin suffered the loss of three young tragic deaths in her family in a span of four years, including one suicide. Being raised in a Filipino Catholic family and trying to heal from the impacts of young death, and specifically suicide, brought Erin years of pain. It was the process grieving and healing from the loss by suicide, along with her work with children and their famlies that led her to move into the mental health profession.
​
After eleven years as a classroom teacher in both elementary and high school, Erin began her journey towards becoming a therapist when she made a transition into Restorative Practice, working with the Social Worker in the School Wellness Center. Erin found the need to be part of leading and creating healthy and restorative school communities, which became a passion of hers. Her professional and personal experience influenced her decision to return to grad school to complete her Masters in School Social Work. Erin is starting her nineteenth year in San Francisco Unified School District. This is her third year as a School Social Worker. 

I was raised around a lot of religion and spiritual influences. My father is a Buddhist and my Lola, a devout Catholic. My Lola was a widow, single mother, and immigrant before she turned forty. She also lost three children of her own. Death was a big part of her young life. Like my Lola, death was and is a big part of my life. Growing up I lived in my Lola’s home, where she kept many altars all over her house. Stories of the dead, and keeping them alive were part of my childhood. I have incorporated these practices into my mental health work.

I found Aztec dance when my Lola died in 1998, and I have taken that on as my spirituality and “church.” In addition to my dance prayer I  found my own healing through different somatic modalities; therapy, yoga, copal, altars, story telling, and working with youth and families. I believe that there are many non-traditional modalities of therapy that can be incorporated with talk therapy. Connecting with our ancestors, and building on our strengths and personal experiences through these modalities can be one way to start healing and creating a stronger sense of self.
Languages Spoken: English
Affiliations: San Francisco Unified School District

Geraldine Punzalan, ASW

Individual Clinical Supervisor, SFUSD Partner
[email protected]

Born and raised in the Avenues aka the Sunset District until I was 12, I went to Ulloa ES and AP Giannini MS before moving to Daly City and continued at Ben Franklin MS and went to Westmoor HS. I am a 2nd generation child of immigrant parents from Batangas, PI and the youngest of 3 siblings. I will always be an SF Giants fan, I love pretty much anything ube. I am a proud Pinay School Social Worker, and this is my 10th year working in SFUSD. I am also navigating life as a wife and mom of two small but fierce pinay warriors growing up in these wild times!

FMHI-SF Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) Associates​

Languages Spoken: English, minimal Ilokano and Tagalog
Affiliations: AGASAN

Rachel Lastimosa (she/they/siya)

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, Expressive Arts Therapist
[email protected]

Rachel is a second generation Pinay with Ilokano, Kalinga and Ifugao roots. With a concentration in Expressive Arts Therapy, she utilizes different creative modalities to support therapeutic processes. Rachel's approach is person centered, trauma informed, multicultural and collaborative. They integrate cultural humility in their practice and create a therapeutic space that is based on consent, where you are the expert in your life. They use polyvagal and somatic techniques for an embodied connection to thoughts and feelings, specializing in Narrative Therapy.
Languages Spoken: English, Tagalog, Spanish
Affiliations: CAMFT

Raju Desai (he/they/siya)

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
[email protected]

Raju (he/they/siya) is a second-generation Indipino American with ancestral ties to Cavite and Batangas. He is an educator and emerging therapist committed to healing justice and cultural liberation. For over a decade, his work has centered on co-creating spaces with BIPOC, immigrant, foster, and LGBTQ+ youth to reclaim voice, belonging, and possibility in the face of systemic inequities.

Born and raised in the Excelsior District of San Francisco, Raju’s lived experiences with family migration, community displacement, and educational inequities inform his commitment to walking alongside others as they navigate trauma, identity, and life transitions.
​
He got his Master’s in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling from San Francisco State University, and seeks to bridge scholarship, practice, and community healing—guided by kapwa, relationality, and collective liberation. Outside of therapy, he finds joy in cultural rituals, dance, music, storytelling, and spending time with family, community, and the natural world.

His therapeutic approach is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and liberation-centered—honoring how colonization, systemic oppression, intergenerational trauma, and migration histories shape our stories and sense of self. Drawing from Narrative Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Liberation Psychology, he supports clients in re-authoring their lives through storytelling, ancestral connection, and practices of collective care. He integrates research on educational equity, identity development, and community resilience into his lens, offering space where grief, joy, survival, and transformation can coexist.
​
What it’s like to work with me: In our sessions, my goal is to create a space where you feel grounded, affirmed, and free to bring your whole self. I don’t see therapy as me “fixing” you—I see it as us walking together through the layers of your story. I’ll bring warmth, humor, and deep listening, along with a willingness to sit with pain, complexity, and uncertainty. I’ll also invite us to notice the strengths, cultural wisdoms, and community practices that can support your healing. Many clients describe my style as collaborative, compassionate, and non-judgmental. Whether you’re working through trauma, identity questions, life transitions, or simply looking for a place to rest and be seen, I’ll hold space for all parts of you to arrive.

FMHI-SF School-Based Interns

Languages Spoken: English
Affiliations: Hoover Middle School, San Francisco Unified School District

Kendrick Hester (he/him)

Master of Social Work 1, Hoover Middle School
[email protected]

Kendrick Hester (He/Him): is originally from San Diego, CA. He has spent the past seven years in the Bay Area, working in the mental health field, where he has had the privilege of supporting individuals, children, and families in under-resourced communities. He comes from a diverse background and is mixed with Black, White, and Japanese. His passion lies in creating access to care and opportunities for those who often face barriers, as he has witnessed firsthand the transformative impact that resources and support can have on people’s lives. He is deeply committed to this work and to advancing knowledge and skills through the MSW program. He believes that learning is a lifelong journey, and he is eager to continue developing as a professional so he can better address the socio-emotional needs of the communities he serves. 

Kendrick is in the first year of his Masters in Social Work program and is excited to be interning at Hoover Middle School with the San Fransisco School District. He has a sports background as he played football in college and also enjoys playing basketball. During his free time he enjoys listening to music, playing video games, and spending time with family/friends. ​
Languages Spoken: English

Nikki Landayan

Master of Social Work 1, Lowell High School
[email protected]

Nikki Landayan is a graduate student of San Francisco State University pursuing her Master's of Social Work. She has her Bachelor's and Associate's in Psychology, has been doing field work with various age groups for six years, and wants to continue connecting with her community through the people and its many resources.

She enjoys riding her motorcycle and playing video games in her free time. To Nikki, finding the perfect balance between helping a client and helping oneself is the most important aspect of social work. She hopes to use her experience and knowledge to work in community clinics, hospitals, or the California prison system.
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
Affiliations: Downtown High School, San Francisco Unified School District

Sabrina Belara

Master of Social Work I, Downtown High School
[email protected]

Sabrina Belara is a first-generation, mixed Pinay whose parents immigrated to San Francisco from Cebu, Philippines and Zaragoza, Spain. Growing up in a Filipino household, yet also being raised in a multilingual, multicultural family, she understands the complexities and nuances of navigating a mixed-race identity. This lived experience fuels her commitment to creating and holding space for folx of mixed Filipinx descent, particularly in conversations around identity, belonging, mental health, and food as medicine.
​
She is a first-year Master of Social Work student at San Francisco State University. With a decade of experience as a high school teacher, she currently serves as a Resource Teacher at Downtown High School, a project-based continuation school in the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). Her work is shaped by her dual role as an educator and social work student, grounded in a culturally responsive, holistic approach to supporting youth in their pursuit of individual and collective self-determination.
Languages Spoken: English
Affiliations: All My Usos

Jessica Ponce (she/her)

Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee 2, Visitacion Middle School, Mission High School (All My Usos/Samoan Community Development Center Intern)
[email protected]

Hello families! My name is Jessica Ponce, and I’m a Marriage and Family therapist trainee here to support students and families in nurturing emotional well-being, identity, and connection. As a Filipino-Vietnamese American clinician, I deeply value the role of family, culture, and community in healing. My goal is to create a welcoming space where individuals feels seen, supported, and empowered to grow—both personally and culturally.

SFUSD SIT Specialized Filipinx Internship

Languages Spoken: English
Affiliations: SFUSD, UC Berkeley MSW Program​

Frederick Barga Fajardo (he/him/his)

Master of Social Work 1, Visitacion Vallley Middle School
[email protected]

Frederick (he/him/his) is the son of Filipino immigrants and was born and raised in San Jose, California. He is currently a first-year Master of Social Welfare student at UC Berkeley and is an intern with FMHI and SFUSD as a school-based mental health intern. He has worked with youth and families in San Francisco for the last three years. Frederick is passionate about serving the Fil-Am community and communities of color in the Bay Area, and he hopes to continue to work with these communities long term.

On his free time, Frederick plays video games and practices martial arts, particularly Muay Thai and Arnis. Frederick is also an alumni of Kasamahan, a Fil-Am student organization at the University of San Francisco. There, he connected with other Filipinx/a/o students, performed for their Barrio Fiesta and Philippine Cultural Night, and served as an executive board member for three years. ​
Languages Spoken: 
Affiliations: 

Jessy Zapanta

Marriage and Family Therapist Trainnee 1, James Denman Middle School /LGBTQ+ Support Services Specialized Internship

Bio in progress
Languages Spoken: English
Affiliations: SFUSD

Lauren Lopez (she/her)

Master of Social Work 1, Visitacion Vallley Middle School
[email protected]

Hi there! My name is Lauren, I am currently in my 1st year of a Master’s program at San Francisco State University and interning at Visitacion Valley Elementary School. I'm a first generation Latina from southern California but have strong ties to the Bay Area and spent a lot of time here growing up! I received my B.A. in Psychology at UC Berkeley, and have spent the last 6+ years working various roles in case management, counseling, and victim advocacy. I enjoy music, making ceramics and spending time outdoors.
Languages Spoken: English, Conversational Tagalog
Affiliations: SFUSD, Asian American Recovery Services​

Marcelle Jalate Valdez (she/her/siya)

Master of Social Work 1, James Denman Middle School, Longfellow Elementary School (Spring 2025)
[email protected]

Marcelle Jalate Valdez (she/her/siya) is a proud first-generation Filipina-American who was raised in the SF Bay Area. In April 2020, she received her Bachelor's degree in Ethnic Studies and Psychology from the University of Redlands, with the final capstone titled “Decolonizing the Filipino Mind.” She has a professional background in clinical medical office work, substance use prevention, and community mental health and education. She has worked for Asian American Recovery Services for four years and is now the main Project Coordinator for SISTER to SISTER San Mateo County. Marcelle is currently persuing her Master of Social Work from San Francisco State University.​
Languages Spoken: English
Affiliations: SFUSD, SFSU, Progress Foundation

Sam Marco (she/her)

Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee 1, Washington High School
[email protected]

Samantha “Sam” Marco (she/her) is a Filipino graduate counseling trainee at SF State and an intern with SFUSD’s Student Intervention Team. Guided by cultural humility and community care, Sam is committed to increasing access to mental health support for Filipino and other marginalized youth. Her clinical areas of interest include trauma, ADHD, family dynamics, and supporting young people navigating academic stress and identity development.

Sam is passionate about creating spaces where students and families feel seen, respected, and understood. Outside of her clinical work, Sam enjoys experimenting with new recipes, playing video games, and spending time with loved ones.
FILIPINO MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE-SAN FRANCISCO
"Together, we can end the stigma of mental health."
Bayanihan Community Center
1010 Mission Street, Suite B; San Francisco, CA 94103
[email protected]