Meet the Counseling Staff
About Us
Please note that all of our counselors are trained as "generalists" to work with students on any personal issue. However, we have listed some particular areas of interest and specialized training as well.
Each counselor has recorded a "Meet the Counselors" video introduction. See links in each bio, or full videos at the bottom of the page.
Colleen Arnold, Ph.D, LMFT
Lead Counselor, Clinical Supervisor
Meet the Counselor - Colleen Arnold video or scroll down to view on page.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT 36921
SHCS Staff Member since 2016
Academic Training: San Jose State University, MS in Clinical Psychology, 1992
California School of Professional Psychology, Ph.D in Clinical Psychology, 2002
Areas of Special Interest: Life transitions, spirituality and mental health, depression, anxiety, identity issues, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, mindfulness
Personal or Professional Quote: "There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." - Leonard Cohen
Kathryn Kirkpatrick, LCSW
Counselor Faculty, Clinical Supervisor
Meet the Counselor - Kathryn Kirkpatrick video or scroll down to view on page.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW 60751
Columbia University
SHCS Staff Member since 2018
Academic Training: Columbia University School of Social Work, MSW, 2008
Areas of Special Interest: First Generation Students, Undocumented/"Dreamer" Students, Relationship Issues, Social Justice, Coping with Trauma, Depression, Anxiety, Grief and Loss, and Women's Empowerment.
Languages spoken other than English: Spanish
Personal or Professional Quote: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou
Erin Harrell, Psy.D
Counselor Faculty, Clinical Supervisor
Meet the Counselor - Erin Harrell video or scroll down to view on page.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, PSY #27303
SHCS staff member since 2021
Academic Training: California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, Doctor of Psychology, 2013
University of California San Diego, Human Development and Critical Gender Studies, BA 2003
Areas of Special Interest: LGBTQIA Community, Identity (Especially Gender and Sexuality), Social Justice, Life Transitions, Trauma, Anxiety, Depression, Grief and Loss, Relationships.
Personal/Professional Quote: “Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.” - Brené Brown
Benedicta (Bunny) Ott, LMFT, APCC
Counselor Faculty
Meet the Counselor - Bunny Ott video or scroll down to view on page.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT 116068
Associate Professional Clinical Counselor, APCC 3500
SHCS Staff Member since 2019
Academic Training: Regent College, MA in Theological Studies, 2002
Western Seminary, MA in Marriage and Family Therapy, 2016
Areas of Special Interest: PTSD, Trauma Relief utilizing EMDR, Family Relationships, Spiritual Integration, Anxiety, Depression, Self-esteem/ Identity Development and Stress Management
Personal or Professional Quote: “Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.” - Frederick Buechner
Rosa Mora, Ph.D.
Counselor Faculty, Clinical Supervisor
Meet the Counselor - Rosa Mora video or scroll down to view on page.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, PSY #23233
SHCS staff member since 2021
Academic Training: University of Illinois-Chicago BA in Clinical Psychology, 2000
Illinois Institute of Technology, MS in Rehabilitation Counseling, 2002
California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, Ph.D in Clinical Psychology, 2007
Areas of Special Interest: Crisis Intervention, First Generation Students, Undocumented/"Dreamer" Students, Trauma, Depression, Anxiety, Grief and Loss, Anger Management and Substance Issues.
Languages spoken other than English: Spanish
Personal or Professional Quote: “To make a dream come true, the first requirement is a great capacity to dream. The second; is persistence.” - Cesar Chavez
Sophie De Pillis
Please note that Sophie is on leave until November 2023.
Counselor Faculty, Counselor at Concord
Meet the Counselor - Sophie De Pillis video or scroll down to view on page.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT122245
SHCS Staff Member Since 2021
Academic Training: The Wright Institute, M.A. in Counseling Psychology, 2018
Areas of Special Interest: Trauma, anxiety, depression, relationships, identity development, substance use, body image, stress management
Personal or Professional Quote: “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” - James Baldwin
Julie Kostrey
Counselor Faculty
Meet the Counselor - Julie Kostrey video or scroll down to view on page.
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, LPCC #10854
SHCS Staff Member Since 2023
Academic Training: Adler School of Professional Psychology, MA Counseling Psychology, 2013
Saybrook University, Ph.D, Existential and Humanistic Psychology, 2021
Areas of Special Interest: Creativity, faith and spirituality, international students, first generation students, life crises
Languages spoken other than English: Russian
Personal or Professional Quote: "What anxiety means is it's as though the world is knocking at your door, and you need to create, you need to make something, you need to do something. I think anxiety, for people who have found their own heart and their own souls, for them it is a stimulus towards creativity, toward courage. It's what makes us human beings." - Rollo May
"You will burn and you will burn out; you will be healed and come back again." - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Dahlia Case, LMFT
Counselor in SEAS - please note that Dahlia works specifically with students from the Student Equity and Success programs.
Meet the Counselor - Dahlia Case video or scroll down to view on page.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT #140026
SHCS Staff Member since 2022
Academic Training: Georgetown University, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and English, 2010
The Wright Institute, Masters in Counseling Psychology, 2016
Areas of Special Interest: Faith/Spirituality, Self-esteem/Identity Development, Depression, Anxiety, Communication, Relationships
Personal or Professional Quote: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela
Andy Gonzalez, AMFT
Associate Counselor
Meet the Counselor - Andy Gonzalez video or scroll down to view on page.
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, AMFT #134229
SHCS staff member since 2022
Academic Training: Santa Clara University, MA in Counseling Psychology (LGBTQ+ emphasis), 2022
Ithaca College, BAs in Psychology & Theatre Studies, 2016
Areas of Special Interest: Life stress and transitions, personal growth, increasing self-awareness, emotional regulation, relationship issues, authenticity/identity development, spirituality, grief & loss, depression, anxiety, shame, sex/intimacy, LGBTQ+ community
Languages spoken other than English: Spanish
Personal or Professional Quote: “Nothing ever happened in the past that can prevent you from being present now; and if the past cannot prevent you from being present now, what power does it have?” – Eckhart Tolle
Tori Parsons, ACSW
Associate Counselor
Meet the Counselor - Tori Parsons video or scroll down to view on page.
Associate Clinical Social Worker, ACSW #100352
SHCS staff member since 2023
Academic Training: Cal State East Bay - Masters of Social Work, 2019
Areas of Special Interest: Neurodiversity Affirming Care, Embodied Somatic Abolitionism, Cultivating space for more imagination, joy, and authenticity.
Personal or Professional Quote: “Ease is your birthright.” - Tricia Hersey
Songs that help me Ground: https://music.apple.com/us/
Fun Fact: I love to collect hot sauces.
Dejaun Gray, AMFT
Associate Counselor
Meet the Counselor - Dejaun Gray video or scroll down to view on page.
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, AMFT #141227
SHCS Staff Member since 2023
Academic Training: San Francisco State University, MS in Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy, emphasis in Clinical Mental Health, 2023
California State University, East Bay, BA in Psychology, 2019
Areas of Special Interest: First-generation college students, life transitions, identity development, anxiety, depression, and developmental trauma.
Personal or Professional Quotes: “Actions create consequences which produces new worlds, and they’re all different” - Ruben Blades
“Taking care of you is not selfish or egocentric but essential to finding your own success. Finding balance begins with allowing yourself the opportunity to build a foundation of how you want others to see you.” - Brian Bovino
Rukiya "Ru" Reed, ACSW
Shauna Hong, LCSW
Director of Counseling Services
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCS24276
San Jose State University
SHCS Staff Member since 2009
Academic Training: San José State University, MSW, 2003
Areas of Special Interest: First Generation College Students, Identity Development (Ethnic, Sexual, Gender, Spiritual), Relationships, Couples, Social Justice
Languages spoken other than English: Spanish
Personal or Professional Quote: “The soul speaks its truth only under quiet, inviting, and trustworthy conditions. The soul is like a wild animal – tough, resilient, savvy, self-sufficient, and yet exceedingly shy.”
- Parker Palmer
