Meet Our Team
The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Valley Cities Team
Dr. Nichole Ayres | DSW, MBA, LICSW
Clinic Director | Military Spouse
Dr. Nichole Ayres is the Clinic Director at The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Valley Cities, located in Lakewood, Washington where she oversees all operations while following evidence-based practice guidelines. As a leader, she is passionate about building teams and organizational culture that fosters inclusivity, wholeheartedness, and innovation in the care provided and the partnerships created in our community. Through her education and experience, Dr. Ayres has had the opportunity to bridge the business and clinical lenses of behavioral health to support highly effective teams. Nichole thrives in opportunities to lead and share her passion and expertise. which she currently does through several volunteer advisory boards and working group efforts. As a clinician, Dr. Ayres has more than ten years of experience, with a special focus on the treatment of trauma/complex trauma, trauma-informed care across healthcare settings, military social work, maternal mental health, and clinical risk management. Additionally, Nichole has a decade of experience developing and providing training across several clinical domains including topics related to suicide prevention, trauma-informed care, understanding the whole-person impact of trauma, and military cultural competency. Dr. Ayres is a master trainer for the Cohen Veterans Network’s Suicide Prevention Foundations Program and is currently licensed as an independent clinical social worker, mental health counselor, and an approved supervisor in Washington. She earned a Doctor of Social Work degree from the University of Tennessee, a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California, and recently completed a Master of Business Administration from Western Governors University. As a military spouse of over 14 years, Nichole is also an active member of the JBLM community supporting military families through the challenges of deployment and redeployment. In her free time, you are likely to find Nichole reading, cheering on the Kraken and Seahawks, coaching youth basketball, and adventuring with her family.
Moises Lozacruz | MSW, LICSW
Associate Director of Clinical Operations Army Veteran | Veteran Spouse
Moises is an Army veteran and an active-duty military spouse; he served for 17 years in the Army Reserves and Active Duty, with 2 combat deployments to Iraq as a Convoy Commander in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006-07 and 2010-11. His wife is currently serving at JBLM, WA. After being medically retired, he went to school to pursue a second career and continue his service to others. Moises earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Development emphasizing in Counseling from the California State University of San Marcos. Later, he graduated from the University of Washington with a Master of Social Work degree. Prior to his role at the Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities, he worked as a Psychology Technician and Clinic Manager at Madigan Army Medical Center, and later as a Clinician and Court Liaison for a community mental health agency, providing Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) inpatient psychiatric treatment. He specialized in providing individual and group therapy and case management for individuals with severe mental health and co-occurring substance use disorders. He also served as the primary expert witness during mental health court proceedings. Moises is a cognitive-behavioral- and trauma-informed therapist that thrives on helping others learn new coping skills to manage their day-to-day stressors and symptoms, and to learn to process their unresolved traumas. His goal is to support those embarking on their mental health journey, guide them towards meaningful change and recovery, improved functioning, and healthy relationships.
Andrew Graves | MSW, LICSW
Associate Director of Business Operations | Army Veteran
Andrew J. Graves is an Army Veteran with two combat tours during Operation Iraqi Freedom as an Engineer. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology as well as a Bachelor of Arts in History from Columbia College in 2014. Andrew then obtained a Masters of Social Work from Arizona State University in 2017. Professionally, Andrew has worked in the mental health and substance abuse fields, with individuals experiencing severe and persistent mental health disorders since 2014. He first worked at Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d’ Alene, ID as a Mental Health Specialist and Case Manager in an adult and youth inpatient psychiatric setting. From there, he went to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center as a Mental Health Counselor on the adult psychiatric unit. Andrew has worked with adolescents and adults with diverse cultural backgrounds and concerns, ranging from schizophrenia to chronic suicidality. Andrew most recently worked at a community mental health outpatient clinic from December 2017 to July 2020 at NorthEast Washington Alliance Counseling Services (NEWACS) in Davenport, WA. While at NEWACS, he provided treatment to adults and children suffering from severe and persistent mental health disorders, ranging from depression and anxiety to personality disorders and severe trauma. Andrew was also a Designated Crisis Responder appointed by the county to perform the duties specified in RCW 71.05 to assess for involuntary treatment for individuals with an immediate likelihood of serious harm due to danger to self, others, or gravely disabled. Andrew continues to seek continuing education as a requirement for licensure in evidenced-based treatment modalities, ethics, and theory.
David Jones | LMFT, NCC
Clinical Supervisor | Military Family Member
David currently works as a Clinician at the Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities. His responsibilities include providing therapeutic services to individuals, couples, and families, completing biopsychosocial assessments, engaging in diagnostic formulation, developing, implementing, and reviewing treatment plans for individuals, families, and couples, and tracking clinical outcomes in accordance with clinical algorithms. Previous to his role at the Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities, David worked as a Clinical Supervisor/Clinical Manager for Behavioral Health Resources in Olympia, WA, and as the Clinical Director or Sequel Alliance Family Services in Reno, NV. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at California State University, Sacramento, and received his master’s degree in Counseling and Educational Psychology with an emphasis of Marriage, Family, Child, and Couples Therapy at the University of Nevada, Reno. David comes from a military family with his paternal grandfather a veteran of the Army, father a veteran of the Air Force, and brother an active duty service member of the Air Force. David enjoys time with family, friends and nature, as well as contemplating faith, science, psychology and philosophy. Born and raised mainly near Beale Air Force Base, CA, David currently resides in Lewis County, WA. He is enthused to provide services to those who have served this country and their families, and desires to apply his education, skills, and training in family systems, couples therapy, and specialized training in PTSD in order to support clients in improving their quality of their lives.
Tammy Smith Brown | Office Manager
Tammy joins the Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities as the Office Manager, where she is responsible for billing/insurance verifications, providing administrative support and assisting front desk duties as needed. She has extensive experience in healthcare management. Tammy started her career in Canada, where she was born and raised. After relocating to the U.S., she worked in multiple healthcare specialties, including cardiology, ear nose throat (ENT), general surgery (and related sub-specialties), women’s health, internal medicine, and family medicine (primary care). Her focus has always been to help patients and clients access the best care possible to meet their needs and help them reach their goals. Tammy has close friends who are veterans and service members. “What resonates with me about working at the Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities is being able to support the military community, do everything I can to help them receive the best possible care, and connect them with the best available resources to help them live their best lives,” she said. In her spare time, Tammy enjoys gardening and camping.
Garret Jones | LICSW
Therapist | Army Veteran
As a Clinician at the Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities, Garret provides clinical assessments, creates treatment plans, and provides individual mental health treatment for adults and children, as well as couples. Garret is a U.S. Army Veteran and spouse of a veteran. Prior to his role at the Cohen Clinic, Garret developed his clinical practice in both outpatient mental health and behavioral health hospital settings as a clinical social worker. He focuses on delivering safe and effective evidence-based therapeutic interventions to members of the veteran and military community who are seeking mental health treatment. In his words, “I’ve spent a lot of time sitting in the client chair. I am a military veteran who has benefited from quality mental health care. My hope is to be of the same benefit to others in our community.” In his leisure, Garret enjoys reading and watching movies with his family. He also loves playing sports with his four children, particularly anything with a ball! And he enjoys a little friendly competition with his wife in softball and bowling.
Myriam Mampengu | MSW
Case Manager
An experienced Social Worker of many years, Myriam graduated from Seattle Central College in Seattle, Washington with a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Science. Previously, Myriam worked for the Department of Children, Youth and Families as a Child Protective Services Investigator and for Seattle Goodwill as an Employment Specialist. As a student at Highline College, Myriam was employed by Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission as a Case Manager and earned an Associate of Arts in Human Services. Myriam has the passion to see people excel in life, succeed, and live in the fullness of their life potential. She believes that connecting people with necessary resources available to them will allow and help them to lead a well-balanced and resilient life. Myriam’s main purpose is to connect clients with the resources and referrals they require to meet their individual needs.
Olivia Swanson | LICSWA
Intake Coordinator
Olivia has lived in the Greater Seattle Area her entire life. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Medical Anthropology & Global Health from the University of Washington in 2016 (Go Dawgs!) and her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Louisville in 2020. She found her niche in healthcare while working at Seattle Children’s after college as well as at Madigan Army Medical Center as social work intern. Olivia is passionate about helping others grow and learn, cultivating balance, and social justice. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate and is responsible for presenting the clinic’s model of care and coordinating the intake process for potential clients. She also provides psychotherapy to children/adolescents and adults.
Eva Northcutt | AAC
Care Coordinator | Navy Veteran
As Care Coordinator at the Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities, Eva provides initial intake assessments for clients, in order to learn about their therapy needs and to help them find the clinician that will provide them with the best care. She also assists with Case Management, helping clients find resources that might be helpful for them in the community. Eva received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Southern Utah University and is currently studying for her Master of Social Work degree at the University of Kentucky. A U.S. Navy veteran, Eva says, “I love that the Cohen Clinic is an accessible resource for veterans and their families. Too often, we hear stories of veterans waiting months for mental health care. At the Cohen Clinic, they are able to get the help they need much sooner.” Eva was a Corpsman for five years. Her husband also served as a U.S. Navy Corpsman for six years. In her spare time, Eva enjoys gardening, baking and spending time with her family.
Shelby Smykalski | Clinical Fellow
U.S. Army Reserves
Shelby provides psychotherapy to individuals, couples and families. She is also a Behavioral Health Noncommissioned Officer in the U.S. Army Reserves. She spent eight years on active duty providing mental health support and care to service members and their families in garrison and deployed environments. She has wide-ranging experience in assessment, treatment, and acute crisis management in individual and group therapy settings. During her active-duty service, she completed her Bachelor of Social Work from Murray State University. Shortly after, she transitioned into the U.S. Army Reserves to complete her Master of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is married to an active-duty Special Forces Sergeant, and they have one daughter. Shelby enjoys spending her free time with family, reading fiction, engaging in outdoor activities, and volunteering at a Crisis Text Line.
Renee Strode | LMFTA
Therapist
Renee has a diverse amount of experience in working with adults, children, and families in outpatient, crisis, and educational settings. She is a former military spouse with direct experience in the many unique challenges that military families face. Renee has worked most recently in the community mental health setting as an outpatient therapist, providing individual and group psychotherapy. Renee has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of California, Davis, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University, and a Master of Arts in Psychology with a Marriage and Family Emphasis from Brandman University. Renee utilizes an evidence-based and client-centered approach to provide a safe and supportive space where she can collaborate with clients to help them reach their goals. Her counseling philosophy is based on the belief that we possess the power to change. She uses cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and a solution-focused approach to facilitate this change. Her approach often involves the integration of Polyvagal Theory with an understanding that our unique nervous systems have been shaped by past experiences and environments and that we can reshape and regulate our systems toward a more meaningful life experience.
Tess Hendel-Doying | LMFTA
Therapist
Tess joins our Cohen Clinic as a clinician. She is a civilian who has lived base-adjacent most of her life. Her friends were the children of service members, and in this way, she was an outside witness to the joy, resilience, and fears that her friends dealt with each day. Working with veterans and their families is a small way she feels she can support our Armed Forces. Prior to joining the Cohen Clinic, Tess worked in outpatient counseling services in tribal and community mental health settings. She received her Master of Marriage and Family Therapy from Pacific Lutheran University in December of 2019. She said, “The clinic resonates with me in it’s holistic, community-based approach, with an emphasis on compassion and respect. I quickly learned this approach extends both to the community we serve as well as clinicians and other staff.” In her spare time, Tess likes to putter around her garden, build things, and in general be a bit of a homebody. She has lived in various places, coast to coast, and has always found a new food to cook or a new spice to have in her pantry.
Jennifer Brink | LMHCA
Therapist | Military Spouse
Jennifer earned her B.S. in Psychology and M.S. in Psychological Services from East Central University. She has 11 years of experience counseling various individuals experiencing mental health challenges ranging from mild to severe. As a staff clinician at the Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities, she will be providing therapy for adults, children, and families. She said, “The Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities’ mission to improve the quality of life for veterans and families resonates with me. I have been an active-duty military spouse for the past 15 years and understand the challenges that can bring to duty members and their families.” In her spare time, Jennifer likes to travel, write, and create/upcycle art.
Michael Verdonk | LMHCA
Clinician | Army Veteran
At the Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities, Michael provides mental health counseling to individuals, couples and families. Michael is a U.S. Army Veteran, who served for 14 years – 11 years active and three years in the Reserves. Michael served in the Air Defense Artillery, as well as in the Chaplain Corps, including multiple deployments to Iraq. Upon leaving the military in 2016, Michael spent a year working for the Washington Army National Guard Substance Abuse Program, doing case management and substance abuse prevention training. Then, he worked with Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) in 2017 as a Project Odyssey Specialist, leading adventure based mental health workshops for veterans and their families. He also worked for their Talk program, which provides weekly emotional support and goal setting through one-on-one interactions with veterans and their family members. Having been introduced to Cohen Veterans Network (CVN), the Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities parent organization, through his work with WWP, Michael said, “I have been struck by the depth of care CVN shows for our veterans and families.” In his leisure time, Michael loves spending time with his family and friends. He also enjoys nature, working out, reading, traveling, and attending live shows in the Puget Sound region.
Danielle Salazar | Receptionist
Danielle joins the Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities team with experience in data management, billing, and dispatching. She previously helped run a vibrant before- and after-school program. At the Cohen Clinic, you’ll find her coordinating schedules, welcoming new clients, and tackling administrative tasks. Danielle comes from a proud military family: her grandfather was a Marine in Vietnam, her stepdad served in the Air Force for 20 years, her stepsister is making waves in the Navy, and her husband is actively serving in the Army. “What truly excites me about being here is the genuine care and support every team member brings to the table,” she said. “The sense of community and kindness is something special, especially during some of the toughest times for our clients.” In her leisure, Danielle enjoys hiking up trails, snapping photos, painting, swimming, or playing a game of softball. Family time is her favorite, and she cherishes every moment she gets to spend with them.
Christopher Rutzer | LMHC
Therapist | Navy Veteran
Christopher’s role at the Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities is to provide mental health counseling to post 9/11 veterans, service members and their families. He is trained in EMDR, CBT, ACT, and DBT and uses these modalities to help individuals process trauma, challenge negative beliefs, and manage anxiety. He also provides these evidence-based treatments to individuals, so they feel seen and heard, and are supported in making positive changes in their lives. Christopher began as an intern at Behavioral Health Resources in 2018 while enrolled in the master’s program at Saint Martin’s University. After he graduated from the program a few months later in 2019, he was hired as an associate counselor at Behavioral Health Resources where he continued to work for four years while also doing contracting work for Summit Health Management in Gig Harbor. In 2021, he became fully licensed. Christopher was an active-duty Corpsman in the Navy for five years, stationed at the Naval Hospital in Guam and then Camp Lejeune with the 6th Marine Regiment in North Carolina. He said, “I think that our nation’s veterans have done a lot and have made sacrifices to make sure that we are kept safe, so in return, they deserve access to care and support, which is why the Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities resonates with me.” In his spare time, Christopher enjoys reading and watching documentaries at his home on his patio. He also enjoys live Jazz music and hiking.
Rachel Werts | LMFTA
Therapist | Army Veteran & Military Spouse
Rachel is a Clinician at the Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities. Rachel comes from a large military background and does not really have a place that she refers to as “home”, but if she had to pick a place it would be Baltimore, Maryland where her parents settled down after retiring from the Navy. Aside from growing up around the world as a military brat, Rachel is an Army veteran and an active-duty spouse. She served 20 years on active duty filling various leadership roles and completing 2 deployments to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003-2004 and 2006-2007. After retiring from service, she went to school to pursue a second career and give back to the community of military members and their families. Rachel earned a Bachelor of Arts in General Psychology from American Military University and will obtain her Master of Arts in Counseling from Saint Martin’s University in the summer of 2022. The foundation of Rachel’s work as a counselor is built on unconditional positive regard so that she can hold the client’s experience with resilience, compassion, and understanding. As a therapist, she believes in working collaboratively with individuals, couples, and families to explore and build on the strengths and tools that they already have within to inspire hope, promote strength, and foster opportunities for growth.
Heidi Seaborn | MA, LMFTA
Clinician | Military Family Member
At the Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities, Heidi works with couples, children, families, and individuals. She uses a holistic, integrative approach to counseling, grounded in Adlerian therapy, a goal-oriented, experiential, and positive psychodynamic therapy. Building on this Adlerian foundation, she utilizes evidence-based practices such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). For couples and families, she utilizes Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) which focuses on reorganizing negative interactional patterns, building a secure bond, and sense of connectedness between partners and family members.
Heidi’s previous clinical experience includes working in private practice with couples, families, individual adults, teens, and children. It also includes providing school-based therapy services for children under SAMHSA’s Trauma Informed Schools Grant in the Campbell County School system. Under the grant, she worked in conjunction with the University of Cincinnati’s Stress Center serving children who had experienced significant traumas and their families.
“I love the team here at the Cohen Clinic and their holistic approach to care!” she said. “The team, from the front desk all the way up to leadership, is passionate about providing high quality, evidence-based care and they work diligently to reduce barriers for clients to receive this care. The team here at the Cohen Clinic is truly special!”
Heidi is a military family member. Her father is a Navy Veteran, and her stepfather, brother and brother-in-law are all Army Veterans. Her nephew is currently serving among the Navy’s Special Warfare Combatant Crewmen.
In her spare time, Heidi is out in nature, roller skating, writing, reading, and spending time with her family, especially playing card games or backgammon over a cup of coffee. She also enjoys watching Major League Soccer and Premier League Soccer.
Anita Lang | Care Coordinator
As Care Coordinator, Anita provides initial intake assessments and assists with Case Management services, helping clients find resources in the community. Anita earned a bachelor’s degree in healthcare leadership at the University of Washington Tacoma and is a candidate for a master’s degree in healthcare administration (2024) at Western Governor’s University. Prior to coming to the Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities, Anita worked as a Peer Advisor for the Veteran and Military Resource Center at the University of Washington Tacoma and was part of the VA work-study program, processing VA Education benefits. She also worked at Madigan as a Research Assistant and was a Program Coordinator, Administrative Assistant to the Dean and Programs at the University of Washington Tacoma. Anita is a U.S. Army Veteran who served for 10 years and was deployed to Afghanistan twice. Her Military Occupational Specialty was a Human Intelligence Collector. When asked about what resonates with her most about the Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities, she said, “With my passion in providing access and quality of care to service members and veterans, what I love most about the Cohen Clinic is our ability to provide high quality mental health services to post-9/11 veterans, their families and to active duty service members in an effective and timely manner.” In her leisure, Anita enjoys hiking around Mt. Rainier. She also likes to cook and dabble in food photography, snuggling with her pup and reading. And she loves getting together with friends and chatting over a good cup of coffee.
Perry Ryan | Receptionist
Army Veteran
As receptionist at the Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities, Perry enjoys greeting clients and helping them with their appointments. A U.S. Army veteran with experience in signals intelligence, Perry has several years of experience in customer service, including maintaining schedules for clients and providing documentation for clients and clinicians, serving as a liaison between both parties. “I greatly appreciate the opportunity to continue to work with the military community to help provide care for our active duty servicemembers, veterans and their families that they greatly deserve. I appreciate the level of care that our Cohen Clinic provides, and the kind and selfless way that care is given,” he said. When he is not working, Perry is active with his local church and enjoys spending time with his wife, family, and friends, usually by playing various games together, sharing good food, and exploring the area. He also loves watching movies!
Deanna Sanders | LMFT
Therapist
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Deanna provides short-term evidence-based outpatient mental health therapy to individuals, couples, families, children and/or groups. She has more than 18 years of social service experience working in the capacities of Domestic Violence Perpetrator Counselor, Parenting Educator serving high risk populations, Social Service Specialist 3 working in child protective services, adult protective services, aging, and long-term care. After receiving her LMFT license, she worked as a mental health counselor providing assessments and individual counseling. More recently, she worked with youth and families as a mental health Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe) clinician and clinical supervisor. She has a focus of interest in grief and loss/bereavement counseling. Deanna is a military family member. Her father is retired U.S. Army after 27 years of service, her mother is retired U.S. Army after 4 years of service, and her brother is retired U.S. Air Force after 8 years of service. She said, “What resonates with me about the Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities is the specialized focus on post-9/11 veterans. The deployment time is one of the aspects that make this group of veterans unique. I feel honored to have had so many brave individuals fight that long and hard for our county. It is my honor to give back and serve this population.” Deanna enjoys reading, baking, taking walks and traveling in her leisure.
Gardenia Roman-Duran
MSW, LICSW | Therapist
Gardenia attended The University of Oklahoma and graduated in 2019 with a Master of Social Work degree. She began her clinical experience in first episode psychosis treatment in 2019 with young adults, followed by a growing interest in family education, and individual therapy. Gardenia provides therapy services at the Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities and uses her experience in CBT modalities to support her clients. Gardenia is fluent in Spanish and open to supporting clients in therapy that share the background of English as a second language. Gardenia believes the Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities holds strong values that resonate with the social work values of autonomy and respect for clients; values that are important to her. Gardenia is a civilian and has family and friends that have served in various branches of the military. Aside from professional aspects, Gardenia enjoys Marvel films, hiking, art, adventurous eating, and spending time with her family.
Cheryl Scales | Receptionist
Veteran Spouse
Cheryl grew up in Tacoma and attended Lincoln High School. Shortly after graduating, she married her high school sweetheart who then joined The US Coast Guard. They were stationed at Neah Bay where they lived for 9 months, and then transferred to Long Beach, CA. After 3 years, they ended up back in Seattle where she remained for the next 20 years. She recently moved back to the Tacoma area, to be near family. Cheryl has worked at the front desk in the medical environment for many years and enjoys helping people with the medical process, making them feel welcomed and valued from their first step in the door. She feels very passionate about serving our veterans and providing them with the services they need after protecting our country. Cheryl’s main goal is to provide the best service to our clients.
Kori (Korrenn) Breemes
AAC | Clinical Scholar
As a Clinical Scholar at the Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities, Kori is an intern counselor. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the Columbia College in 2021. During her foundation internship at University of Oklahoma, she interned with Green River College in the Transformational Wellness Center, providing Case Management and Resource connection to the students and the families of students attending Green River College. Kori is scheduled to graduate with her Master of Social Work in May 2025.
“I have always had a passion for the military community,” Kori said. “I have lived experience as an Army spouse of more than 12 years and I feel that I have an understanding of military life stress as a spouse, as well as the nuances that come with being a parent and managing school/work/life stress balance within the military community. The Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities works hard to serve the military community in more ways than just mental health and that draws me in!”
In her spare time, Kori likes reading. And on the nice days in Washington, she likes to go on adventures with her three children and husband, including Renaissance fairs or walks with her 3 Great Danes through the gorgeous scenery the state has to offer.
Mariza Mendiola-Porter | MSW, Clinical Fellow
Army Veteran | Military Spouse
Mariza is an Army Veteran that served eight years within the Washington Army National Guard as an Allied Trade Specialist. Mariza participated in various state activations to directly support Washington state residents during Covid-19 and seasonal wildfires. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Brandman University in 2022 and obtained a master’s in social work from Grand Canyon University in 2024.
Prior to her role at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Valley Cities, Mariza was an Outreach Coordinator and Case Manager at the Child Crisis Center of El Paso for children and adolescents, while working directly with parents or guardians providing psychoeducation on developmental stages, while promoting positive relationships amongst military Families. In addition, Mariza was a clinical scholar (intern) at the Cohen Clinic providing individual psychotherapy from 2023-2024. Now as a clinical fellow at the Cohen Clinic, Mariza provides individual and family psychotherapy to children, adolescents and adults to include school-based therapy services utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as the primary modality.
“I believe in the power of resilience and connection. Together, we are not just healing wounds; we are building a community of support where service members, veterans, and their families can flourish,” she said. Additionally, Mariza has much lived experience as a member of multiple marginalized communities, she is comfortable discussing and affirming identities, and the role of culture within mental health.
Mariza enjoys reading, watching anime, and spending time with her friends and family.