Melissa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked in health and human services for twenty-five years. She attended Boise State University, earning her degrees in Criminal Justice and Social Work. After receiving her degree in Criminal Justice, she became a Detention Diversion Coordinator, and later a Juvenile Probation Officer, where she served youth who were involved in the juvenile justice system. Upon receiving her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work, she began her career in the mental health field, working with children, adolescents, adults and families diagnosed with severe emotional disturbances and mental illnesses.She later became the owner and director of an outpatient, mental health treatment facility that provided community-based, therapeutic, and psychiatric treatment for individuals and families.

As an International Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor, she was also the Clinical Director of treatment services for Drug Court, treating individuals with substance use disorder.

After a decade of proprietorship, she relocated to Las Vegas, where she became the Clinical Director of an inpatient psychiatric hospital. She has extensive inpatient and outpatient experience as a clinician, and specializes in the treatment of trauma and self-injurious behaviors in adolescents. Currently, she is the Clinical Director at Healthy Minds, where she oversees programming and treatment services for children and adolescents in foster care, along with individuals and families in need of mental health care. She is approved as a Clinical Supervisor for the Nevada Board of Examiners for Social Workers and is an adjunct professor at the University Of Nevada School Of Medicine.

Read Melissa’s interview on our blog.

Rebecca is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor Intern in the state of Nevada. She received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Developmental Psychology from Illinois State University and a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Rebecca is published in The American Journal of Family Therapy and the Feminist Journal of Family Therapy, with articles addressing counseling clients who are unemployed and therapeutic interventions. Rebecca has experience working with individuals, couples, and families, including those in the foster care and prison systems. Her primary areas of clinical focus are life cycle transitions, anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, couple and family conflict, parenting, behavioral modification, grief/loss, and anger management.

Vincent Delucia is a licensed clinical social worker who has worked in the field of mental health for over
10 years. He graduated with his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work from UNLV. Vincent was a HRSA grant recipient at UNLV and received specialized training and education in the treatment of trauma, and more specifically, trauma in child and adolescent populations.

Vincent has experience in a variety of settings, including inpatient psychiatric facilities, outpatient mental health agencies, crisis stabilization units, and substance use treatment facilities. His treatment is guided primarily by cognitive behavioral approaches, but Vincent’s treatment can also heavily favor depth psychological approaches as well. Vincent specializes in the treatment of trauma in children and adolescents, as well as the comorbid disorders which often occur with trauma, including depression, anxiety, irritability, and emotional dysregulation. Vincent has a secondary emphasis on treating neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD.

Personal notes: In his spare time, Vincent enjoys being with his family, playing guitar, reading, drinking coffee, and eating pizza.

Kristian earned a Bachelor of Social Administration/Social Work from Temple University (Philadelphia, PA), and a MSW from San Jose State University. She has a social work certification in California as an Associate Clinical Social Worker, and a LCSW from UNLV.

Prior to her current position, Kristian worked in psychiatric hospitals for about six years, including at Newport Bay Hospital (an inpatient psychiatric hospital) as a Clinical Social Worker. Kristian also has experience working with at-risk youth; transitional/situational, episodic, and chronic homeless adults; developmentally disabled adults; and older adults in need of healthcare services at home or in a healthcare facility.

Why did Kristian choose her profession? In her own words, “I always had an interest in social welfare and helping others help themselves. I was either going to get a degree in nursing or social welfare… After interviewing persons in the nursing field and doing my own research on nursing programs, I decided social work was the field where I could make the greatest impact.”

Personal notes: Outside of work, Kristian loves gardening and watching TV series with her husband. She has awarded her husband the title of ‘world’s best dessert maker’ and enjoys being the official taste tester for his culinary creations. They have three children (Mya, Luke, and Lydia) and love spending quality time together playing board games, video games, arts and crafts, or playing at local parks.

Kristian adored an Italian Mastiff (Cane Corse) who she lost, and hopes to buy another one in the near future. She’s not much for reading books, but loves to read psychology/sociology-based literature (for fun!). Kristian considers The Sandlot to be the best movie of all time. Her favorite place? Anywhere there’s a clean beach, clear water, and tropical weather. What makes Kristian laugh or smile? Seeing other people happy, laughing, and smiling.

Kenosha’s objective is to further her education in the fields of clinical psychology and criminal justice. She earned her master’s degree from the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at UNLV, and is pursuing a dual intern license in Alcohol & Drug Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Therapy. Her degree specializes in Mental Health Counseling with adults and children, with a focus on addiction. Kenosha wants to utilize her skills and training to become well-versed in assisting this demographic while attaining the experience and education necessary to become fully licensed.

What drove Kenosha to pursue this career path? In her words: “I wanted to understand addiction and mental health. I grew up seeing how drugs and untreated mental health diagnoses crippled a community, and I want to be a catalyst for change.”

Personal notes: Outside of work, Kenosha likes to play with her two dogs (Pekingeses named Chunk and Chew-Chi), hang out with her boyfriend, and do makeup. Her favorite book? The Skin I’m In. She’s hesitant to name a single favorite movie because she’s got a lot of favorites, but The Avengers will do if forced to choose. Friends, family, and dogs make her laugh and smile, especially when they’re all in the same room together.

Adrian earned his bachelor’s degree in Child Development with a minor in Psychology from California State University at Chico. He then earned his Masters in Social Work at UNLV. He has worked with children in DFS and Foster care, cancer survivors, and chronically ill clients of all ages. He has also worked with clients with diagnoses ranging from depression and PTSD to personality disorders, with a focus on client needs and environmental factors. Adrian also has experience working with active duty military who are being medically retired due to combat-related mental health struggles. Adrian is passionate about helping people understand how emotions affect the brain.

Personal notes: Beyond work, Adrian enjoys cycling, watching movies, and baking and cooking (which explains why his favorite book of all time is Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential). His favorite movie is Swingers and if he could be anywhere in the world, it would be at a good beach. Want to make Adrian laugh or smile? Tell him your best (or worst?) bad joke.

Victoria started her journey to become a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) counselor back in 2001. Fast forward with numerous changes and the varying requirements between New York, California, and finally Nevada, and Victoria realized: “I needed to up the education ante, so I went back to university to obtain first my BS in Sociology (Arizona State) and then my M.S. in Professional Counseling (Grand Canyon University). I completed my M.S. in 2020 and here I am, a proud CPC Intern and a full CADC.” 

What drives Victoria’s professional passion? In her words: “I have always loved being a helper and after many years in broadcasting, I decided to move forward in my education to become a therapist. I have a heart for the addict who suffers and for the plight of those with mental disorders, due to the stigma and misunderstanding of both disorders.”

Personal notes: Outside of work, Victoria loves reading, cooking, nature, crafts, dining out with friends, going to plays and movies, and relaxing at home. She has a calico cat named Princess Prissy Pants (she credits her granddaughter with the naming). She also loves birds and dogs, and plans on getting both in the future (a cockatiel bird; dog breed tbd). Favorite place? Island beaches or the mountains. What makes Victoria laugh or smile? Her grandkids, friends, and son.

Pharin is a Las Vegas native who graduated from Clark High School. He started his career with the Clark County school system, working with children for the past 22 years in various roles, including as an Inclusionist, Site Supervisor, Unit Director, and a Sport Specialist. What made Pharin fall in love with the mental health field? “Helping the community in Las Vegas — especially the children. After working with my own child who had special needs and a mental health disorder, I felt the need to do my part for the community at large.”

Personal notes: Pharin loves basketball at Tarkanian. “I live and breathe basketball,” he says. He also likes to collect books/read, martial arts, comic books, and art (creating or going to galleries).

Pharin has two dogs and one bearded dragon. A few of his favorite things: The Five Rings (book), Shogun Assassin (movie), and Tokyo, Japan (place). Things that make Pharin laugh or smile include “good food, funny jokes, and just being happy.”

Adryana earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from The University of Tampa (UT) in 2020. While attending UT, she was a Lead Resident Assistant in charge of managing a floor of about 80 residents, responding to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, stress, and homesickness. Afterwards, in 2023, Adryana earned her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from UNLV. She enjoys working with children and adolescents, and most of her clinical experiences have involved working with these populations. Adryana’s professional background involves being a Registered Behavior Technician for three years where she provided one-on-one Applied Behavioral Analysis services with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, as well as working as a Summer Aide for the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Nevada.

What made Adryana fall in love with her profession and/or start off on this career path? In her words: “As a Latina, I have witnessed the effects that mental health stigmas have had within my own family and within other minority populations. While working as a Resident Assistant during my undergrad, I realized the impact mental health issues had on the wellbeing of my residents. These experiences have shaped my views on mental health and have empowered me to want to pursue this career in order to reduce mental health barriers and to bring more awareness to mental health.”

Personal notes: Outside of work, Adryana enjoys listening to podcasts, hiking, spending time with her family and friends, trying new restaurants and coffee shops, and sleeping.

Favorite book? Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself, by Joe Dispenza. Her favorite movie is Sound of Freedom. Favorite place? The beach or Disneyland. What makes Adryana laugh of smile? The beach, Disneyland, and her family and friends.

Chrystal is currently a student majoring in Psychology with a goal to be a Mental Health Child Therapist. She has worked in mental health for several years, with all ages, and a wide variety of diagnoses.

What set Chrystal on her career path? She says: “When I worked in an emergency room, I had an opportunity to work in a Psychiatric Hold. I felt completely comfortable working with individuals who suffered from many different mental illnesses and this made me decide to switch my major from Nursing to Psychology. From there I decided to leave and work at a mental health facility where I thrived and had the opportunity to work with children, specifically adolescents, and found my niche. Mental Health is my true calling and I am very excited to see what the future holds once I finish my degree.”

Personal notes: When not working, Chrystal enjoys spending time with her kids, cooking, baking, and reading. She has one dog, Nala, who is a German Shepard/Japanese Akita mix.

A few of Chrystal’s favorite things? Book: When Rabbit Howls by Truddi Chase. Movie: Shutter Island. Place: Italy (but she’s never been!). What makes Chrystal laugh or smile? “My kids and helping others.” 

Daniela went to school at UNLV for both her bachelors and masters degree. Her bachelors degree is in psychology and her Masters degree is in marriage and family therapy. Marriage and family therapy programs focus on viewing problems as a systemic issue. Daniela started working with the SUD population while doing her practicum internship at another court-mandated program. She felt fulfilled with the work and decided to continue in the same field.

What got her started in this career? “I have always liked helping others with their problems. When I learned about mental health therapy I knew that was my dream job.”

Personal notes: Outside of work Daniela loves to hike and spend time with her dog. Her favorite book is The Body Keeps the Score and her favorite place in the world is Ireland. What makes her laugh or smile? Babies.

Ida has 25 years of experience in the healthcare field. In 2016, she became interested in the mental health side of healthcare. She then became a Credentialed Victim Advocate in 2021 with a focus on Trauma Informed Care.

Ida says, “I have fallen in love with this career path because of my passion, purpose and dedication to making a difference in children and families’ lives.”

Personal notes: Outside of work, Ida loves to swim, read, travel, create art, and dance! Pets: Not at the moment due a recent loss. “I had my Snoopy girl for 17 years. She was a Yorkie.” 

Ida’s favorite book is The Bible. Favorite movie: When A Man Loves A Woman. Favorite place: the beach. What makes Ida laugh or smile? Happy people and good vibes!

Mary has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She attended University of Phoenix in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mary loves working with all clients by doing individual therapy, couples, families or groups.

How did Mary choose her career path? “I love helping people and before becoming a therapist I was working in the hospital as a Certified Nurse assistant. I loved helping people to heal and get better. As I became older, I changed my profession to something that would be less demanding on my physical well-being.”

Personal notes: Mary loves dancing, walking, swimming, and spending time with her family. She also loves to read, take vacations, and chill with her two dogs (and play ball with them). Mary has two dogs — they’re both female dachshunds.

Favorite book? Change your thoughts, Change your life. Movie? Titanic. Mary’s favorite place in the world: Hawaii. What makes her laugh or smile? “My family and my two dogs.”

Zach graduated from Casper College, a two-year program in Wyoming with an Associate degree in Biology in 2013 before transferring to the University of Wyoming. He took a long break from school to work before continuing, eventually graduating with an undergraduate degree in Psychology in 2021. Zach moved to Las Vegas to continue his studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, graduating from their graduate program with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2023. He started his internship immediately after.

How did Zach get started on this career path? “I applied for a job as a direct care staff at an adolescent residential facility about 10 years ago, with zero prior experience. I loved the daily interactions and eventual payoff of seeing the kiddos overcome so much adversity. I haven’t left the mental health field since.”

Personal notes: Outside of work, Zach enjoys hiking, archery, golf, video games, and building IKEA furniture. He has a dog named Daisy and a cat named Pookie.

Favorites? Book: The Great Gatsby. Movie: Any Spider-Man movie. Place: Vedauwoo, Wyoming. What makes Zach laugh or smile? Spending time with friends and family.

Elyssa completed her undergraduate degree, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and graduate degree, Master of Science in Clinical Psychology, at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). Most of her experience includes working for non-profit, community mental health agencies, assisting clients aged 7 to 75 with mental health and substance use problems that impact their functioning. Elyssa has provided treatment in various formats, including individual, couples, and groups, and was co-lead of the court mandated Serious Offender Program (SOP) at her previous employer.

Personal notes: Elyssa is a foodie, so she loves trying new restaurants and cooking/baking, especially if it’s a new or challenging recipe. She also loves going to concerts/shows, traveling, and has recently gotten into hiking (“or more realistically- casual walks on trails,” as she describes it).