In the Fall 2019 we launched our Intern Program. It was a grant funded pilot program. We recruited post-graduate Marriage, Family Therapist (MFT) Associates through the California Association of Marriage, Family Therapist (CAMFT) intern fair at their annual conference. We had a number of candidates apply and we selected post-graduate MFT Associate Interns.
I designed with the support of our Director of Student Support and Dean of Counseling our newly hired, full-time counselor’s position/job description to focus on three main components: Outreach, Triage and Intern Supervision. The coordination of which, I was charged with.
From the onset, we sought out candidates that had a strong interest in School Based Mental Health. We were looking to recruit individuals who not only had a desire to work in higher education but who had a desire to learn the unique clinical skills of working in a School Based Mental Health setting. School Based Mental health encompasses the following six elements: Direct Counseling Services, Crisis Intervention, Faculty & Staff Consultations, Mental Health & Substance Abuse Assessments, Community Referrals/Resources and Outreach/In-Reach Efforts utilizing a trauma informed lens.
Our aim was to recruit and train the next generation of specialized School Based Mental Health providers, to provide a feeder into our Faculty Adjunct Counselor Positions for continuity of care, to diversify our clinician staff and to become a well-respected and highly sought after internship site for aspiring mental health clinicians.
Since 2019 we have recruited and trained the following exceptional interns:
Danielle Brandys, is now a Licensed Marriage, Family Therapist in private practice. She received her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University and was supervised by Perry Chen, LCSW, Liz Llamas, MFT and Yesenia Villa, MFT, LPCC, ATR for two years where she completed her hours for licensure.
Hope Ledding, is a Registered, Associate Marriage, Family Therapist. She is now working at Cal State Northridge Psychological Services. She received her Master of Arts from The Wright Institute and was supervised by Perry Chen, LCSW, Liz Llamas, MFT and Yesenia Villa, MFT, LPCC, ATR for two years where she received specialized training in school-based mental health which helped to solidify her passion to work in this unique niche of our field.
In the Fall of 2021 we determined to collaborate with local graduate programs to become an approved practicum site for graduate level trainees. Thereby, expanding our reach and impact within the mental health community. We created formal agreements with Santa Clara University and St. Mary’s College to become approved practicum sites. It was through this collaboration that we recruited Kelsey Dodson and Bryan Martinez from St. Mary’s College.
Kelsey Dodson is a Registered Associate Marriage, Family Therapist/Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor. She applied to our program as a graduate student from St. Mary’s College of California where she graduated with a Master’s degree in counseling psychology with a specialization in Marriage & Family Therapy, Professional Clinical Counseling, and Higher Education & Student Affairs. She was recruited and has been supervised by Liz Llamas, MFT for two years. After graduating with her Master’s Degree she was hired on as a Part-time Faculty Adjunct Counselor in the Fall of 2022.
Bryan Martinez is a Registered Associate Marriage, Family Therapist/Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor. He applied to our program as a graduate student from St. Mary’s College of California where he graduated with a Master’s degree in counseling psychology with a dual specialization in Marriage & Family Therapy, Professional Clinical Counseling, and Higher Education & Student Affairs. He was recruited and has been supervised by Liz Llamas, MFT for two years. After graduating with his Master’s Degree he was hired on as a Part-time Faculty Adjunct Counselor in the Fall of 2022 and worked as the designated counselor for the Middle College Program. Bryan is bilingual and bicultural.
Tessa Kwan is a Licensed Marriage, Family Therapist. She received her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University and was supervised by Liz Llamas, MFT for approximately one year. She was hired on as an Associate MFT intern in the Spring 2021 and was later hired on as a Part-time Faculty Adjunct Counselor in the Fall of 2021 and worked as the designated counselor for the International Student’s Program. Tessa is trilingual and bicultural.
Golda graduated from the University of Southern California with a Master of Social Work with an emphasis in Adult Mental Health and joined Skyline’s Health and Wellness department. Golda is a Registered, Associate Social Worker and is supervised by Liz Llamas, MFT. She was hired on as a Part-time Faculty Adjunct Counselor in Fall 2021 and worked as the designated counselor for the Women’s Mentorship and Leadership Academy (WMLA).
Jenna Hornbuckle is a Marriage Family Therapist Intern Registration Applicant.
She recently graduated from St. Mary’s College of California with a Master’s degree in Counseling with a specialization in marriage, family therapy. She has worked in education, both in the US and abroad, since 2012. She joined our team in the Fall 2022 after hearing about the program from fellow students. She is supervised by Elizabeth Llamas, MFT.
This year we have expanded our program to include a new site agreement with San Jose State University to become an approved site for their Professional Clinical Counselor graduate program. We will be welcoming one new graduate student for the 2023-2024 school year.
Our interns have discovered a passion for School Based Mental Health clinical practice and are an integral part of our program. They participate in all facets of our program and through supervision and mentorship we guide them to find an area within our program that they are most passionate about. We are proud to have ushered in seven clinicians into the mental health field, added four new part-time faculty adjunct positions to Skyline College’s Health & Wellness Department and three new collaborations with local graduate programs. This occurred while the mental health field is experiencing an unprecedented time of provider shortages and increased need within the community.