Meet the Counseling Staff

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

Please note that Kathryn is on leave until Fall 2023.

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, Masters of Social Work, 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

Adrian Eraslan, LMFT, APCC

Counselor Faculty

Meet the Counselor - Adrian Eraslan video or scroll down to view on page.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT123936

Associate Professional Clinical Counselor, APCC2458

SHCS Staff Member Since 2021

Academic Training: John F. Kennedy University, M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Specialization in Expressive Arts Therapy, 2015

Areas of Special Interest: Anxiety, Depression, Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, Perfectionism and Self-Criticism, Codependency, Coping Skills and Self-care, Expressive Arts, Positive Body Relationship

Personal or Professional Quote: "If I'm shining, everybody gonna shine." -Lizzo

Sophie De Pillis

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

Chanda Watson, MSW

Dahlia Case, AMFT

Associate 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 scoll down to view on page.

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, AMFT #96795

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, Trauma (PTSD and Generational Trauma), Depression, Anxiety, Suicidal Ideation, Negative/Positive Self-Talk, Rejection/Abandonment, Couples and other Relationship Dynamics, Communication, Forgiveness, Parenting, Issues Pertaining to the Black Experience, Healthy Boundaries

Personal or Professional Quote: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela

Michele Adkins, AMFT

Associate Counselor

Meet the Counselor - Michele Adkins video or scroll down to view on page.

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, AMFT #115769

SHCS Staff Member since 2021

Academic Training: Santa Clara University, MA in Counseling Psychology, emphasis in Corrections, 2019.  California State University, San Bernardino, BA in Criminal Justice, 2006.

Areas of Special Interest:  Foster Youth/Former Foster Youth, Reentry/Probation, PTSD, Trauma, Trauma Informed Systems, Self-Care, Skill Development, Stress Management, Self-Esteem/Self-Concept, Mindfulness.

Personal or Professional Quote: "I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

Laura Rea, AMFT

Associate Counselor
Meet the Counselor - Laura Rea video or scoll down to view on page.

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, AMFT #123489

SHCS Staff Member since 2021

Academic Training: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, MS in Psychology, 2020.  California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, BS in Psychology, 2018.

Areas of Special Interest: Mindfulness, Relationships, Self-Esteem, Identity Development, Crisis Intervention, Stress Management, Anxiety and Depression

Personal or Professional Quote: "The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination." - Carl Rogers

Andy Gonzalez, AMFT

Associate Counselor

Meet the Counselor - Andy Gonzalez video or scoll 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

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