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FMHI-SF
Staff

Jennifer
​Navarro-Marroquin

Wellness Director

Alexis A. David

Director of Clinical Programming & Mental Health Internships

Verma Soria Zapanta

Director of Wellness Education & Youth Programs

Harvey Lozada

Buong Loob Program-Youth and Transitional Age Youth  (TAY) Specialist

Rosario S. Macahilas

Program Assistant

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Clinical Supervisors

Erin Mausisa Bolick, LCSW

KAdua Internship Program -Group Clinical Supervisor
​SFUSD Partner

Judith Lucia
I. Albano, LMFT

​KAdua Associateship Program - Clinical Supervisor

Geraldine Punzalan, ASW

KAdua Internship Program - Individual Clinical Supervisor SFUSD Partner

Rani Marcos, LMFT

KAdua Internship Program - Clinical Supervisor

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Associates

Jessica Ponce

KAdua Associateship Program - ADUA Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

Rachel Lastimosa

KAdua Associateship Program - ADUA Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

Raju Desai

KAdua Associateship Program - ADUA Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

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Interns

Aura Sule

KAdua Internship Program

Jasmine Congress

KAdua Internship Program

Karen Mukai

KAdua Internship Program

Noelle Trinidad Taylor

KAdua Internship Program

Rain Santos

Intern

Riss Myung

KAdua Internship Program

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FMHI-SF Staff

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

Alexis A. David (she/her)

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

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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.
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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, Basic Tagalog
Affiliations: ​Mental Health First Aid-National Council for Mental Wellbeing; Pin@y Educational Partnerships; San Francisco State University

Verma Soria Zapanta, M.Ed (she/her)

Director of Wellness Education and Youth Programs [email protected]

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Verma Soria Zapanta is an educator, wellness practitioner, and mental health education consultant based in Yelamu, the ancestral homelands of the Ramaytush Ohlone people. A proud Friscokid with roots from the Visayan islands of the Philippines, she is grateful to serve the communities that raised her. Her background in ethnic studies, youth leadership, community mental health, and Philippine folk medicine continues to inform her role as the Director of Wellness Education and Youth Programs at the Filipino Mental Health Initiative–SF.  Verma is an instructor in various Mental Health First Aid courses, curates FMHI-SF's annual Filipinx Healer Workshop Series in honor of Filipino American History Month, and is the co-founder of Buong Loob, a mental health education internship, serving Filipina/o/x American identified youth in the Bay Area . Verma is currently pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership at San Francisco State University to explore Buong Loob's community responsive framework to supporting Filipinx youth belonging, connection, and wellness.

Languages Spoken: English, Tagalog
Affiliations: San Francisco County Office of Education-San Francisco Unified School District; Kababayan SFUSD; Co-founder of Buong Loob Internship Programs

Harvey Lozada,
​MSW, PPSC, ACLSW (he/him)

Youth and TAY (Transitional Age Youth) Specialist
​[email protected]

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Harvey Lozada is a fourth-generation FRISCOPINO.  He is an educator, community worker, healer, filmmaker, photographer, and visual storyteller. Harvey is the son of Filipino immigrants from the islands of Luzon and Mindanao and traces his familial roots in Yelamu, occupied Ramaytush Ohlone territory (San Francisco, CA) as far back as the 1920s. He is a humble culture bearer and descendent of traditional medicine keepers such as albularyos and manghihilots from the so-called, Philippines. Harvey’s healing journey began with community activism and engaging young people in the juvenile justice system. For over 18 years, he has dedicated his life to disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline through youth leadership development and culturally responsive counseling services for children and families throughout San Francisco. Harvey currently serves as a Transition Specialist at the San Francisco County Office of Education and Woodside Learning Center in San Francisco Unified School District and co-developed FMHI-SF's Filipinx youth mental health education program, Buong Loob: Filipinx Student Wellness Internship. 

Languages Spoken: English
Affiliations: Pin@y Educational Partnerships, San Francisco State University - College of Ethnic Studies

Rosario S. Macahilas (she/siya)

Program Assistant
[email protected]

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Rosario Santos Macahilas (she/siya) is a second generation Pinay born and raised on Ramaytush Ohlone Land (San Francisco/Daly City, CA) with roots in the Philippine provinces of Pangasinan and Aklan. She serves as the Program Assistant for the Filipino Mental Health Initiative of San Francisco and the Organizational Coordinator for Pin@y Educational Partnerships. She received her bachelors degree in Ethnic Studies and a minor in Psychology from Saint Mary’s College of California. 

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Clinical Supervisors

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Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
Affiliations: San Francisco Unified School District; Kababayan

Erin Mausisa Bolick, ASW (she/her)

Group Clinical Supervisor, SFUSD Partner
[email protected]

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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.
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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

KAdua Internship Program - Individual Clinical Supervisor
​SFUSD Partner
[email protected]

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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!

Languages Spoken: English, Tagalog (Understands Fluently)

Judith Lucia I. Albano (she/her)

KAdua Clinical Supervisor
 [email protected]​

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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, Filipino

Rani Marcos (they/siya)

KAdua Clinical Supervisor
​[email protected]

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Rani (they/them) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California.

My approach is trauma-informed, spiritually grounded, sex-positive, and rooted in cultural humility—recognizing how systemic oppression, intergenerational trauma, and cultural identity shape our lived experiences. Whether working with individuals, families, groups, or larger systems, I strive to create an affirming, decolonizing, and healing-centered space where all parts of the self are welcome. My work celebrates pleasure, intimacy, and belonging as integral aspects of healing.

Born and raised in the Philippines, I honor my maternal lineages in Bicol and Pampanga, paternal lineages in Cagayan Valley and Ilokos, as well as my queer lineages that reimagine relationships and activate our inherent capacity for play and wholeness. Whether in the Philippines or in the United States when I immigrated as a teenager, I grew up in a family and communities well acquainted with systemic violence, family separation, and multi-generational traumas. These lived experiences with mental illness, sexual abuse, substance use, and interpersonal discord within my community shaped my commitment to resilience, collective care, and the transformation of people impacted by neglect, poverty, and trauma.

I earned a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Drama Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Much of my clinical training came from serving as a Filipino-speaking therapist and substance abuse counselor in the heart of San Francisco.

I enjoy learning about brain science, creative arts and movement-based rituals, equity in public education as well as dedicating time with friends and family.

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Associates

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Languages Spoken: English

Jessica Ponce (she/her)

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
[email protected]

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I specialize in working with adolescents, young adults, adults, couples, and families navigating anxiety, identity development, relationship challenges, life transitions, and the complexities of balancing culture, family expectations, and personal growth. As a first-generation Filipino and Vietnamese American Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, I am passionate about creating an affirming and culturally responsive space for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (AANHPI), and other historically underserved communities.

My approach to therapy is warm, collaborative, and trauma-informed, grounded in the belief that every client’s story is shaped by their relationships, culture, and lived experiences. Before becoming a therapist, I spent several years in nonprofit leadership and community mental health, developing culturally grounded wellness programs, advocating for equitable access to mental health resources, and supporting diverse communities throughout San Francisco. These experiences continue to guide my commitment to providing compassionate care that honors each client’s unique journey.

As a former National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I student-athlete, I understand the pressures of balancing performance, academics, personal expectations, and well-being. This experience informs my work with athletes, high achievers, and individuals navigating burnout, perfectionism, identity exploration, and major life transitions. Whether you are working through stress, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, family dynamics, trauma, or seeking a deeper understanding of yourself, I aim to provide a space where you feel seen, supported, and empowered.

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

Rachel Lastimosa (she/they/siya)

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

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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]

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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.
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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.
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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.

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Interns

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Languages Spoken: English, Tagalog
Affiliations: University of San Francisco

Aura Sule (she/her)

[email protected]

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I came to the U.S. as a first-generation immigrant when I was 15. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Education from SF State. I began my teaching career in 2000 and have held different roles since then. As an educator, working with students and their families has always been fulfilling for me, but I’ve always felt a strong connection to the mental health field. Now that I’m in a position to pursue this passion, I’m back at school, at the University of San Francisco, as a graduate student in Counseling Psychology.

I’m eager to leverage my background as an Educator, and now, as a Clinical Counselor, combining my skills and experience to stay involved in the school system and also in clinical settings like community mental health clinics and hospitals.

Education is a significant part of who I am, but I’ve always seen myself as a “student of life.” Learning isn’t confined to the classroom; our experiences mold our identities, values, and perspectives. These experiences are vital for personal growth, and maintaining good mental health is essential, as it empowers us to navigate life’s challenges with resilience, strength, and wisdom.

Languages Spoken: English
Affiliations: University of San Francisco, San Francisco Unified School District

Jasmine Congress (she/her)

[email protected]

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As a current graduate student in Marriage and Family Therapy, I aspire to provide culturally competent and authentic care to individuals and families that fosters self-efficacy and awareness, emotional resilience, and improved coping skills.

I am extremely passionate about mental health awareness and strive to be an advocate for the underserved and unspoken populations.

Languages Spoken: English, Japanese
Affiliations: University of San Francisco, San Francisco Unified School District

Karen Mukai (she/her)

[email protected]

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Karen Mukai (she/her) is a Marriage and Family Therapy Trainee (MFTT), currently completing her Masters degree in counseling psychology at the University of San Francisco (USF). She graduated with a bachelors in psychology at USF.

Karen was born in Tokyo, Japan to parents from Kamakura and Iida. Moving to Manila, Philippines at three years old and growing up there until University. Attending International School Manila for elementary, middle, and high school. She was fortunate enough to grow up in a diverse and multicultural environment where she was surrounded by people of many different backgrounds. Shaping her appreciation and respect for different cultures, perspectives, and continues to influence the way she connects and learns from others.

Karen values creating a welcoming, encouraging, and inclusive environment where every child feels comfortable expressing themselves and developing their identity and confidence. She is especially grateful for the opportunity to complete my traineeship within a Filipinx community organization, where she can contribute to, learn, and give back to the community that has cared and nurtured her into the person she is today.

Languages Spoken: English, Basic Tagalog
Affiliations: California Institute of Integral Studies

Noelle Trinidad Taylor (she/her/siya)

[email protected]

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Noelle Trinidad Taylor (She/Her/Siya) is currently pursuing a graduate degree in clinical psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in the Department of Community Mental Health (CMH). Through her years of experience in the workforce, she's witnessed the intersection of community, social justice, and mental health. Her ambition is to become a licensed marriage and family therapist and a licensed professional clinical counselor, a career dedicated to fostering well-being in individuals and families. Originally from the Philippines, she moved to the United States at age eight and has proudly called the Bay Area home for over 25 years. The friendships she formed here have become her chosen family, enriching her life in countless ways.

San Francisco has provided her with immense opportunities, and she is passionate about giving back to this vibrant city. She believes in the power of compassion and support, and she strives to help others feel empowered, comfortable, and cared for. She's thrilled to begin her journey as a trainee at the Filipino Mental Health Initiative, where she will engage with the community and contribute to meaningful change. Together with FMHI-SF and the community, she can create a nurturing environment that uplifts everyone.

Languages Spoken: English, Filipino
Affiliations: University of San Francisco

Rain Santos (she/her)

​[email protected]

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My name is Rainielle Santos but I go by Rain. I am a student at the University of San Francisco in the 4+1 Public Health program where I am pursuing my bachelor's and master's degrees with a concentration in Community and Public Health Practice. I grew up in Bulacan, Philippines, before moving to the United States in 2013. Staying connected to my Filipino culture and community has remained an important part of who I am.

At USF and throughout San Francisco, I've had the opportunity to work closely with Filipino communities as a Filipino language tutor at USF, through Kasamahan, and with the Filipino Community Center. I was drawn to FMHI because it brings together many things I value most which is public health, community health, and cultual connection. I hope to give back to the community while simultaneously using public health to support and advocate for our communities.

Languages Spoken: English
Affiliations: San Francisco State University

Riss Myung (she/her)

[email protected]

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My name is Riss Myung (she/her) and I'm a Chinese-Indonesian and Korean 2nd generation eldest daughter of immigrants. With my background in Public Health, Social Work, and Traditional Chinese Medicine, I desire to build a world where health prevention, holistic care, and our ancestral medicine is accessible and celebrated. I have come to understand that the harms and intergenerational traumas my family and communities experienced lies at the intersection of systemic violence and colonization. I bring this systemic perspective to my work while also honoring our ancestral wisdom and love.

My professional background includes consulting with nonprofits to develop their onboarding and organizational processes that is multi-media and youth-centered; facilitating and managing programs for youth at-risk of commercial sexual exploitation; providing case management, crisis interventions, and accompaniments for survivors of sexual violence; and developing and leading trainings on nutrition, sexual health, and body positivity.
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As a Certified Mind-Body Coach with different trauma-informed training in somatic work, I value connecting with our bodies to connect with our ancestors (especially as a way to feel our emotions that our ancestors may not have had the chance to express due to survival). Another form of embodiment I value is expressive arts: whether performing playback theater, overcoming perfectionism through improv, dancing to any live music, or writing my newsletter, I thoroughly love practices that center my joy and creativity.

In my downtime, I love tea ceremonies, taking long, slow walks, reading romance novels, and finding ways to bring alive my inner child. I currently reside in San Francisco, California. I am honored to find a home to deepen in my heart-work and ancestral assignment with FMHI-SF. I am grateful to walk alongside you.