Counseling Team

Interim Director of Counseling and Psychological Services

Dr. Lissa Lim

Dr. Lissa Lim (she/ella), Interim Director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), is a multiethnic bilingual psychologist who specializes in Latinx mental health, sexual trauma, immigrant communities, and first-generation college students. She earned her B.A. and M.A. in Psychology at ��, and her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She has over 15 years of clinical experience working at community mental health, private practice, and several university counseling centers in CA and IL. As a bilingual psychologist, she has experience providing individual and group therapy, assessment, training, and supervision in both English and Spanish. Dr. Lim also has teaching experience and taught psychology courses at the community college and university levels. She also founded the SHCS Health Assistance Fund while in her role as SHCS psychologist and co-founded the Women and Gender Equity Center while an undergraduate at ��.

Her treatment approach is integrative, rooted in Feminist-Multicultural, Interpersonal, and Person-Centered therapy. What this means for clients is that she attends to the ways relationships shape and affect us, attends to experiences of power and oppression, and focuses on empowering clients to heal in ways that are consistent with their sociocultural context. She also emphasizes empathy, compassion, and authentic connection, and uses a Trauma-Informed perspective when working with all clients.

For self-care, Dr. Lim enjoys joyful movement like dancing, yoga, and exercise. She loves to garden and has a bountiful veggie garden. She enjoys cooking and considers herself a foodie. She enjoys reading and is often in the middle of at least three different books at one time. She is a cat lover and fosters cats and kittens from a local shelter. She is also an extrovert and loves spending time with family and friends.

CA Lic. PSY 30077

Counseling Faculty

Dr. John (Jay) Howell

*Currently on Sabbatical during Fall 2025 Semester*: Dr. John “Jay” Howell, (he/him/his) received his Psy.D. and M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University – Seattle and his M.S. in Social Work from University of Texas – Austin. He completed his psychology internship at the University of Washington Counseling Center and has received formalized training in two community mental health clinics, a male adolescent inpatient facility and an alternative high school.

Before joining Cal State San Marcos Student Health and Counseling Services, Dr. Howell worked for seven years at Seattle University’s Counseling and Psychological Services. He is a generalist clinically and has expertise, training and experience in college developmental and mental health concerns. He utilizes an integrative approach for psychotherapy drawing upon psychodynamic, interpersonal, developmental and different cognitive-behavioral therapies.

Areas of special interest include anxiety and depression, mindfulness, men and masculinity, gender and sexual identity, alcohol and substance abuse, couples counseling, multicultural issues, and grief and loss. Dr. Howell provides clinical supervision to Psychology Interns.

CA Lic. PSY 25920

Dr. Juan Alvarez

Dr. Juan Alvarez, (he/him/él) is a bilingual counselor who strives to provide multi-culturally competent student services in English and Spanish. He received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Washington State University, and his B.A. in Cognitive Science at the University of California, Irvine. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Student Health and Counseling Services at California State University San Marcos, and an American Psychological Association accredited psychology internship in Health Service Psychology at the University of Northern Colorado Counseling Center.

Dr. Alvarez is passionate about college mental health and has worked in college mental health centers in Washington, Idaho, Colorado, and California. He is a generalist clinically and has experience working with a variety of presenting concerns typical of the college student population, including anxiety, depression, identity development, relationship issues, transitions, and sexual identity. Areas of special interest include Latinx mental health, working with Student-Athletes, sports psychology, and mindfulness.

Dr. Alvarez has experience providing individual, group, and couples therapy. He utilizes an integrative approach drawing from humanistic psychology, cognitive-behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, and self-compassion. Dr. Alvarez provides clinical supervision to Psychology Interns.

CA Lic. PSY 30185

Certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dr. Ryan Stevenson

Dr. Ryan Stevenson, (he/him/his) received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and his Masters of Social Work from the University of Utah. He completed his psychology internship at the UC – Santa Barbara’s Counseling and Psychological Services and his post-doctoral fellowship at UC – San Diego’s Counseling and Psychological Services. He has experience working in university counseling centers, community mental health, rape crisis centers, and private group practice. Prior to joining ��’s Student Health and Counseling Services he worked at UCSD, the VA in San Diego, and on a clinical trial treating veterans with PTSD. He also taught a course called Strategies for Academic Success for three years in graduate school and he enjoys helping students with these skills in therapy and in campus workshops.

Dr. Stevenson has experience providing individual, group, and couples therapy. He utilizes an integrative approach drawing from interpersonal, mindfulness, feminist-multicultural, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Areas of special interest include PTSD/trauma, working with veterans/service members, anxiety, depression, mindfulness, multicultural issues, men and masculinity, conflicts around religion and spirituality, performance psychology, and substance abuse.

Dr. Stevenson enjoys working with students from diverse backgrounds and providing a safe space for healing and growth. Dr. Stevenson is the coordinator of the MSW Internship Training Program and also provides clinical supervision to the Psychology Interns.

CA Lic. PSY 27441

Dr. Leah Tappero

Dr. Leah Tappero (she/her/hers), Psychology Internship Training Coordinator, has specialized in college mental health for 15+ years. A refugee from Cambodia, she was raised in San Diego County after moving to the U.S. as a child. Dr. Tappero earned both her B.A. and M.A. degrees in Psychology from San Diego State University. She earned her M.S. in Counseling, Family, and Human Services and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of Oregon. Dr. Tappero completed a pre-doctoral internship at CSU Long Beach and a post-doctoral residency at UC San Diego counseling centers. Dr. Tappero is passionate about training and supervision, finding joy in mentoring the next generation of psychologists.

Dr. Tappero utilizes an integrative therapeutic approach, blending interventions from Interpersonal, Emotion-Focused, Cognitive Behavioral, and Client-Centered therapies. Her interests include Asian/Asian American mental health, issues faced by first-generation college students, immigrant and refugee experiences, multicultural concerns, and interpersonal relationship challenges. Dr. Tappero guides clients to explore how relational, social, educational, and cultural factors influence their life experiences. She takes a holistic approach and adapts her therapeutic style and interventions to meet client’s needs while fostering a safe, supportive, and empowering space for personal growth. Dr. Tappero believes that therapy can help clients work towards creating positive changes to heal and live authentically. Her multicultural identities and life experiences contribute to her passion for supporting underrepresented and marginalized communities.

In her free time, Dr. Tappero enjoys spending time with her family, friends and three dogs. She likes reading and listening to audiobooks. She considers herself to be a foodie and likes exploring different restaurants, coffee, and boba shops.

CA Lic. PSY 28653

Dr. Melvin (Mel) Walker, Jr.

Dr. Melvin (Mel) Walker (he, him, his) earned his PhD in Clinical Psychology from Hofstra University (Long Island, NY). He completed his APA-accredited, pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral training at Student Health & Counseling Services, ��. Dr. Mel received his M.A. in Psychological Science from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C and his M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Hofstra University, after transitioning from the military as a commissioned officer. He received formalized training at two university counseling centers and a Veterans Affairs medical center in New York. He has also conducted research and has publications in the areas of suicidality among service members, military leadership, and service members transitioning into civilian life.

Dr. Mel utilizes an integrative approach to psychotherapy, drawing upon cognitive-behavioral, schema, trauma-informed, and interpersonal approaches. He particularly focuses on establishing a strong relationship with the people he works with. His areas of interest include people of color, Veterans, suicide, romantic relationship challenges, sexual & complex trauma, and men’s issues. In his free time, Dr. Mel enjoys many forms of exercise, taking Spanish and Portuguese classes, traveling, going to the movies, food, watching his favorite sports teams, and spending time with his family and friends.

CA Lic. PSY 36355

Dr. Jazmine Brown

Dr. Jazmine Brown (she/her/hers) earned her B.A. in Psychology at Azusa Pacific University, as well as her M.A. and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology, San Diego. She completed post-doctoral training at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, an American Psychological Association-accredited internship where she provided mental health services to incarcerated individuals. Dr. Brown has also previously worked in community mental health, both in inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment facilities.

Dr. Brown has experience providing group and individual therapy. She utilizes an integrative approach, drawing from a Feminist-Multicultural lens and employing Cognitive-Behavioral therapy, Narrative therapy, Client-Centered therapy, and other third-wave skills. She tailors her therapeutic methods to meet the specific needs and goals of each individual while creating a safe and nonjudgmental environment for exploring thoughts, emotions, and experiences.

Dr. Brown employs these approaches to help individuals overcome obstacles, manage stress, and develop efficient coping skills. Her special interests include African American/Black student mental health, current and former student athletes, race-related stress, depression, current and former foster youth, and life transitions. Other areas of interest include anxiety, trauma, substance use, relationship issues, and faith and spirituality.

In her free time, Dr. Brown enjoys reading, swimming, attending concerts, spending time with family, and trying new coffee shops. She also loves to snuggle with her two French Bulldogs, Duke and Dexter

Supervised by Marcy Ryan, LMFT #53126

Marcy Ryan, LMFT

Marcy Ryan, LMFT (she/her/hers) has provided therapeutic counseling to individuals, couples, and families for over 20 years. She has worked collaboratively within a broad array of community care systems including county mental health, residential treatment, hospice, schools, and in private practice. As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist her humanistic approach specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy to help clients cope with strong emotions and manage high-risk behaviors.

Other interests include the treatment of anxiety, ADHD, grief/loss, attachment, trauma, family and relationship struggles. She holds a B.A. in Human Development from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a M.S. in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Santa Barbara. Prior to moving home to San Diego, she worked for Casa Pacifica, Centers for Children and Families, becoming Clinical Supervisor for their Therapeutic Behavioral Services program serving Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.

Marcy is dedicated to inclusive practices supporting students while fostering a sense of safety and belonging. She enjoys connecting with students from all different backgrounds and providing treatment that highlights her client’s individual strengths. Marcy is passionate about student social emotional health and wellness.

CA Lic. LMFT 53126

Cassandra Alfaro, AMFT

Cassandra Alfaro, M.A. (she/her/hers), AMFT. Cassandra earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Azusa Pacific University. She approaches therapy with the understanding that life can be challenging, but even difficult experiences can be the starting point for growth and transformation. She helps clients face struggles, build resilience, and create lives that align with their values and goals, providing a safe and supportive space for young adults and college students to move from feeling stuck to living with greater connection and purpose.

Cassandra’s therapeutic approach integrates attachment theory, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and narrative approaches. She has experience supporting clients through trauma recovery, substance use, emotional regulation, and life transitions. She often incorporates exploration of personal meaning, values, and sources of inner strength as part of the healing process, tailoring therapy to each person’s unique experiences, needs, and cultural background.

Outside of her clinical work, Cassandra enjoys spending time outdoors—hiking, camping, and exploring new places—and values fun and play as essential tools for joy and wellbeing.

Supervised by Marcy Ryan, LMFT #53126

Psychology Interns

Tiffany Conejo

Tiffany Conejo, M.A. (she/her) is a psychology intern. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Cal State Dominguez Hills and then went on to earn her M.A. in Clinical Psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology (CSSP) in Los Angeles, CA. Tiffany is currently a 5^th year Ph.D student pursuing her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at CSSP. Her clinical experiences include providing mental health services such as individual therapy, group therapy, case management, and psychological testing in inpatient hospital settings, private practice, and college counseling centers. She is passionate about working with marginalized students and helping them promote a healthy balance between their education and life. Tiffany has research and clinical interests centered on culturally responsive care for the Latinx community, with a particular focus on first-generation college students and Latinx youth.

In working with students, Tiffany’s treatment approach is rooted from a person-centered framework, with a growing emphasis on an integrative approach. She emphasizes working collaboratively with her clients and creating a nonjudgmental space to promote empowerment, growth, and healing. Additionally, she incorporates psychodynamic-informed elements, trauma-informed care, and multicultural psychology. Tiffany approaches her clients with cultural humility and seeks to understand how intersecting identities impact their emotional experiences, relationships, and mental health. She values adapting interventions that honor her client’s lived experiences and identities. In her free time, Tiffany enjoys listening to podcasts, reading , watching TV, and spending time with her loved ones.

Supervised by Dr. Ryan Stevenson, PSY 27441

Lillian Mecum, M.A.

Lillian Mecum, M.A. (she/her) is a psychology intern with Taiwanese and Mexican heritage. She earned her B.A. in Human Biology at Stanford University and is currently a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at the California School of Professional Psychology in San Diego. Lillian has experience working in community mental health clinics, outpatient programs, and inpatient psychiatric hospitals. Her doctoral research has focused on transgender youth and intergenerational trauma among women. Some of her areas of special interest include Asian/Asian American and Latinx mental health, relationship issues, family dynamics, and identity development.

Lillian strives to provide client-centered and trauma-informed care, drawing primarily from Psychodynamic, Cognitive-Behavioral, and Multicultural theories of practice. She emphasizes compassion, authenticity, and safety to empower her clients to heal and grow, both in their relationships with themselves and with others.

In her free time, Lillian enjoys playing pickleball, bodyboarding, cross-stitching, and playing board games with friends. She has an insatiable sweet tooth and has some sort of dessert every day if she can (usually ice cream or boba). To decompress, there’s nothing she loves more than curling up on the couch under a big pile of blankets with her cat and a warm cup of tea.

Supervised by Dr. Leah Tappero, PSY 28653

Jessica Pazirandeh, M.A.

Jessica Pazirandeh, M.A. (she/her/hers) is a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Psy.D. program at the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) at Alliant International University, Los Angeles. She earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from CSPP and holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychological & Brain Sciences with a minor in Applied Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she graduated with high honors. Jessica has experience working in university college counseling centers and community mental health clinics, supporting diverse student and community populations.

Jessica takes an integrative and individualized approach to therapy, drawing from cognitive behavioral (CBT), dialectical behavior (DBT), acceptance and commitment (ACT), psychodynamic, humanistic, trauma-informed, and multicultural frameworks. She is passionate about creating a safe and inviting space where students feel empowered to explore their identities, heal, and grow. She has experience providing both short-term and long-term therapy to individuals presenting with a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, self-esteem, family and relationship challenges, identity development, and gender exploration. Jessica also has experience working with students with ADHD and autism and values integrating the mind-body-spirit connection into her work. Her clinical interests also include working with the LGBTQIA+ community, students navigating substance use concerns, eating-related challenges, disability and chronic health conditions, and spiritual or religious exploration. She is passionate about serving immigrant, refugee, and international student populations, drawing on her own lived experience as the daughter of immigrant and refugee parents. Jessica is committed to providing affirming care rooted in cultural humility, social justice, and reflective practice. She believes therapy is most effective when it honors the unique lived experiences of each client and adapts to meet their evolving needs.

For self-care, Jessica enjoys painting, going to the beach, taking long walks, dog sitting, hiking, watching her favorite TV shows, and spending time with friends and family.

Supervised by Dr. Juan Alvarez, PSY 30185

Corinn Wells, B.A.

Corinn Wells, B.A. (she/her/hers), is a doctoral psychology intern completing her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) at Alliant International University, San Diego. She studied at San Diego State University and University of Hawai’i at Manoa, earning her B.A. in Psychology. She then began her graduate studies at the Hawai’i School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University before transferring to CSPP at Alliant. She gained experience working with diverse communities in private and group practices, community mental health, and rehabilitation residential programs.

Corinn practices integrative therapy, grounded in the principles of humanism, especially person-centered therapy. She integrates foundations and interventions of emotion-focused, CBT/Third Wave, mindfulness and spiritual-based therapies. As a queer biracial woman of color (Puerto Rican and Caucasian), she is very passionate about multicultural psychology, aiming to consistently practice cultural humility, curiosity, and openness. She provides trauma-informed, empowering, and affirming therapy to all identities, including cultural, sexual, gender, and relationally expansive/diverse, such as people of color, LGBTQIA+, nonmonogamous and polyamorous communities. She enjoys supporting clients through a wide range of life experiences, including managing relational concerns, life transitions, trauma, stress, depression, low self-esteem, anxiety, substance use, chronic issues, and grief and loss. Her goal is to collaborate with clients to foster presence, self-awareness, and hope- helping clients navigate the relational, cultural, political, educational, occupational, and economic factors that influence daily life.

As part of her self-care routine, Corinn loves soaking up the sun at the beach or in nature, singing, dancing, watching TV/movies, new experiences, traveling, and being around animals (especially her puppy)!