Born and raised in Southern California, Veronica graduated from Long Beach State in 2000 with a BA in Liberal Studies and an emphasis in Health, Physical Education and Life Management. She immediately started her career as a Teacher in a local Private School. Working with adolescents quickly became her passion and motivated her to pursue a career that would allow her to care for children and their families on a more personal level. After beginning her graduate studies, Veronica transitioned from Teacher to School Counselor in a Junior High setting and graduated in 2006 with a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology. Veronica then landed a position in a clinical setting where she could earn her hours toward licensure. Working in an intensive outpatient setting in LA County, helped Veronica develop the skills necessary to treat families with intense trauma, and a multitude of environmental stressors such as poor living conditions and limited access to basic needs. Working her way up to Lead Clinician, Veronica also began mentoring other Mental Health Professionals.
After earning her license as a Marriage and Family Therapist in 2014, Veronica started her career in Private Practice working only one day a week, while also starting a new position as the Program Coordinator for a local agency who serves the Mental Health needs of all of Orange County. Veronica coordinated mental health treatment for 4-21 year old clients, while also taking on a small caseload herself. She supervised Bachelor level Mental Health Professionals and Marriage and Family Therapist Interns and did extensive community outreach in schools on Mental Health Awareness.
Veronica added to her family in 2017, and with the addition of her first child she decided to only work Private Practice. Currently, Veronica is utilizing her background in both Education and Psychology, to continue providing therapy to adolescents, adults and families. Her personal experience of being a parent for the first time, is also beneficial to assisting individuals who are trying to adjust to the work/life balance, or who are struggling raising their children in today’s society.
Associations
CAMFT- California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
OCCAMFT- Orange County Association of Marriage and Family Therapist