Meet the Staff
Brian J. Sneed, Ph.D., L.P. – Director and Staff Psychologist
Education: Ph.D.’from Brigham Young University in Counseling Psychology; M.S. from Brigham Young University in Counseling and School Psychology; B.S. from Brigham Young University in Psychology and Family Science
Experience: Assistant Director/Director of Training, University of Texas at El Paso – Counseling and Psychological Services; Post Doctoral Psychology Fellow, University of Texas at El Paso – Counseling and Psychological Services; Psychology Intern, University of Missouri at Kansas City – Counseling, Health and Testing Center; Practicum Extern, Brigham Young University – Accessibility Center; Practicum Counselor, Brigham Young University – Counseling and Career Center; School Psychology Intern, Provo City School District
Interests: Stress and Anxiety Management; Existential Psychotherapy; Psychological Assessment; Family of Origin Issues; Career Counseling and Assessment; Spirituality Issues and Theistic Approaches in Psychotherapy; Mentoring and Training.
Jeffrey Y. Kuroiwa, Ed.D, L.P.C. – Assistant Director of Clinical Services and Staff Counselor
Education: Ed.D. - The University of Texas at El Paso; M.Ed. in Educational Psychology and Counseling - The University of Texas at El Paso; BA in Psychology - The University of Texas at El Paso
Experience: Clinical Mental Health Counselor - The University of Texas at El Paso, Director and Clinical Counselor - ACCESS Employee Assistance Program, Clinical Mental Health Counselor - At what is currently El Paso Behavioral Health System
Interests: Anxiety/Stress Management, Coping with Depression, Self-esteem, Cultural diversity, Wellness, Developmental stage of life challenges.
Jorge A. Marquez, Ph.D., L.P. – Assistant Director of Training and Staff Psychologist
Education: Ph.D.’from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Clinical/Community Psychology; M.A. from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Psychology; B.S. from University of Texas at El Paso in Psychology
Experience: Training Director of the El Paso Psychology Internship Consortium, University of Texas at El Paso – Counseling and Psychological Services; Post-Doctoral Psychology Fellow, University of Texas at El Paso – Counseling and Psychological Services; Psychology Intern, Wasatch Mental Health in Provo, Utah
Interests: Spanish speaking therapist; Issues impacting first generation college students; Social Justice and Diversity issues; Issues impacting Latinx students and undocumented college students; Issues affecting minority students; the intersectionality of identities; Issues affecting Military Veterans; Self-Harm Reduction and Emotion Regulation; Relationship Difficulties; Psychological Assessment; Mentoring (advisor to NAMI on Campus) and Training
Marieli Pinero Melendez, PhD., L.P. – Assistant Director of Outreach and Staff Psychologist
Education: PhD in Clinical Psychology from Carlos Albizu University- San Juan ; B.A in General Psychology in University of Puerto Rico- Rio Piedras
Experience: Post-Doctoral Psychology Fellow, University of Texas at El Paso – Counseling and Psychological Services; Psychology Intern, University of Texas at El Paso – Counseling and Psychological Services. Has had experience in college counseling, community mental health, residential treatment, clinical research, educational system.
Interests: Spanish speaking therapist, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); anxiety and depression, sexual orientation and gender diversity; diversity issues
Clinical Staff
Crystal Ayala, L.P.C., M.S. - Staff Counselor
Education: M.S. in Mental Health Counseling -The University of Texas at El Paso; B.S. in Psychology- The University of Texas at El Paso
Experience: Inpatient & Outpatient Therapist- El Paso Behavioral Health System; Contract Therapist/Student Intern- Family Service of El Paso; Crisis Specialist-Emergence Health Network.
Interests: Spanish speaking therapist; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Stress & Anxiety Management, Career Counseling, Mindfulness, & Self-Esteem.
Jazmin Gonzalez-Harder, Ph.D. – Staff Psychologist & Group Coordinator (she/her/hers)
Education: Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology (New Mexico State University); M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (The University of Texas at El Paso); B.A. in Psychology (Baylor University)
Clinical Experience: Pre-doctoral Intern at The University of Texas at El Paso Counseling and Psychological Services; Previous practicum trainee at (1) NMSU Training and Research Clinic; (2) UTEP Counseling and Psychological Services; (3) Ben Archer Health Centers; (4) Zia Recovery Center
Clinical Interests: anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorders, psychodynamic therapy, attachment, group therapy, interpersonal process in therapy, multicultural orientation, cultural humility, acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness, psychotherapy process and outcome
Cecilia M. Holguin, M.S.W., L.C.S.W. – Community Liaison and Staff Social Worker
Education: M.S. in Social Work from University of Texas at Austin; B.S in Psychology from University of Texas at El Paso
Experience: Community Liaison, The University of Texas at El Paso - Counseling and Psychological Service; Social Work Practicum Supervisor, University of Texas at El Paso - Counseling and Psychological Services; Clinical Therapist, NCED Psychiatric Hospital (currently known as El Paso Behavioral Health System)- El Paso, TX; Migrant Social Worker, Region 19 –El Paso, TX; Clinical Therapist, El Paso Psychiatric Center- El Paso, TX
Interests: Mindfulness; Career Counseling; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Spirituality Issues; Relationship Issues; Loss, Stress Management; Supervision
David Jones, Ph.D., L.P. – Staff Psychologist
Education: Ph.D. from Western Michigan University in Counseling Psychology; M.Ed. from Grand Valley State University in College Student Affairs and Leadership; B.S. Central Michigan University in Psychology with a minor in Spanish.
Experience: Staff Psychologist, University of Texas at El Paso – Counseling and Psychological Services; Post-Doctoral Psychology Fellow, University of Texas at El Paso – Counseling and Psychological Services; Coordinator for Sexual Assault Prevention and Education, Western Michigan University; Assistant Director of the Alcohol Education Research and Training (ALERT) Labs, Grand Valley State University
Interests: Social justice and diversity; The psychological impact of racism, sexism and discrimination; Working with at-risk and/or formerly incarcerated individuals; Men's issues in therapy; Veterans; Spirituality and Indigenous/Traditional healing techniques; Survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence; Substance use and addiction; Coping with ADHD and other learning disabilities; Anxiety; The psychology of happiness; Working transgender students and those who identify as part of the LGBTQAI community.
Celia Medrano-Ortiz, M.A., - Clinical Case Manager
Education: M.A. from University of Texas at El Paso in Clinical Psychology; B.A. University of Texas at El Paso
Experience: Clinical Case Manager, University of Texas at El Paso; Practicum, Counseling and Psychological Services, University of Texas at El Paso; Psychology Undergraduate Advisor, University of Texas at El Paso
Interests: Anxiety Management; Existential Psychotherapy; Art Therapy; Mindfulness
Rogelio Montellano, L.P.C. - Staff Counselor
Education: M.S. in Mental Health Counseling - The University of Texas at El Paso; B.A. in Psychology - The University of Texas at El Paso
Experience: Contract Therapist/Student Intern - Family Service of El Paso; Crisis Specialist - Child Crisis Center
Interests: Spanish speaking therapist; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Stress & Anxiety Management, Coping with Depression, Cultural Diversity, Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness, & Self-Esteem.
Postdoctoral Fellows
Sergio Loya
Education: As a first-generation Mexican-American immigrant, A bicultural perspective from living on the border between the United States and Mexico influenced my career in clinical psychology. As a child, my family moved to El Paso, Texas, seeking a better life and providing my brother and me with a better education. Our family's social mobility allowed me to pursue personal goals and higher education, including being the first in my family to receive a college degree from an American university. I earned my bachelor's degree in psychology from New Mexico State University. I became determined to become a mental health clinician after college while working with an intellectually disabled population in Denver, Colorado. I decided to move to El Paso and work as a case manager with a population experiencing severe mental illness.
Experience: Working with underserved individuals at a rural mental health clinic, my awareness of the social problems that play a role in the individual's mental health. As a proud parent of two beautiful girls, I resolve to provide quality clinical care for at-risk youth and families. Their struggle brings to mind the parents' role in the child's development. The parents' personal and interpersonal problems can affect their ability to parent, and how limited resources require strategies that promote their strengths, resiliency, and self-efficacy. Enrolling and completing a master's program changed my viewpoint of what is possible in life. I became a licensed therapist and have had the privilege and opportunity to provide high-quality, evidence-based treatment while developing competency as a clinician.
Interests: I decided to enter a clinical psychology doctoral program to become a leader in the community that can help increase awareness of issues affecting the community and reduce mental health stigma. I wanted a socially impactful career as a clinician working in an underserved rural community with ethnic minorities with a culturally diverse background. I have also given presentations to the community in English and Spanish to inform the community of available resources and increase social cohesion. Personal experiences have inspired a commitment to a helping profession and training to further competency development. I aim to continue providing quality care for my patients in the coming years.
Interns
Alexandria Lee
Education: Doctor of Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) Candidate at Alliant International University, San Francisco Bay (AIU, San Francisco Bay); Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from AIU, San Francisco Bay; Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a double minor in Social/Ethnic Relations and Spanish from the University of California, Davis.
Experience: Pre-doctoral intern at University of Texas, El Paso Counseling and Psychological Services (UTEP CAPS); Previous practicum experience at De Anza College Mental Health and Wellness Center (MHWC) working with community college students from the South Bay Area, StarVista-Insights providing mandated and voluntary substance use treatment to underserved families and adolescents on probation for possession of substances and behavioral management, and the California Peer-Run Warmline.
Interests: My clinical career goals center around providing accessible mental health treatment to underserved, marginalized communities. My other clinical interests include community and minority mental health, mindfulness, interpersonal relationship difficulties, harm reduction/substance use treatment, family systems orientation, narrative therapy, immigration and first- and second-generation stress, identity development, cognitive-behavioral approaches, and emotion regulation.
Loreen Magarino, M.S.
Education: Doctoral Candidate in Clinical Psychology at Florida International University; M.S. in Clinical Psychology from Florida International University; B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Anthropology from the University of Florida.
Experience: Mental Health Consultation with Youth-Serving Professionals; Culturally Adapted Evidence-Based Therapies; Parent-Child Interaction Therapy; Caregiver Support and Group Therapy; ADHD Evaluator; School-Based Mental Health and Behavioral Intervention and Consultation; Evidence-Based Practice for externalizing challenges, as well as anxiety, depression, and phobias; Crisis Counselor.
Interests: Spanish-speaking therapist; Social justice and multiculturalism; anxiety/stress management; Issues impacting minority, socioeconomically vulnerable, undocumented, and first generation college students; self-esteem challenges; emergent life events and transitions in emergent adulthood; self-harm reduction and emotion regulation; relationship difficulties; healing from trauma.
Christy Merrill
Education:
Experience:
Interests:
Practicum Trainees
Sergio Gonzalez, B.S. (he/him/his)
Education: Mental Health Counseling Masters Candidate at The University of Texas at El Paso; B.S. in Psychology at The University of Texas at El Paso
Experience: Practicum Student at Counseling and Psychological Services, The University of Texas at El Paso; Graduate Research Assistant for the Department of Counseling, Special Education, and Educational Psychology; Hands-on experience in inpatient hospital settings.
Interests: Spanish-speaking counselor; Issues impacting Latinx Students; Experiences of Border-commuter Students, Stress and Anxiety Management; Depression, Existential Anxiety; Self-Esteem; Group Therapy; Art Therapy; Crisis Intervention. “By sharing your thoughts and feelings, we’ll make sense of your experiences, uncover patterns in your emotions and relationships, and understand how they shape your life. My goal is to help you gain insight, find clarity, and navigate the journey toward lasting well-being.”
Genevieve M. Jessen, B.S. (she/her/hers)
Education: Clinical Psychology Masters Candidate at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP); B.S. in Psychology from UTEP, A.A. in Multidisciplinary Arts from El Paso Community College (EPCC).
Experience: Practicum trainee at the Counseling and Psychological Services, El Paso, TX; Graduate Research Assistant at the Latino Alcohol and Health Disparities Research and Training Center, El Paso, TX.
Interests: Relationship and Family Issues; Depression; Anxiety; Maladaptive Coping; Motivational Interviewing; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Naomi Posada
Education:Mental Health Counseling Practicum Student at the University of Texas at El Paso; B.A. in Psychology from the University of Texas at El Paso.
Experience: Conducting individual counseling at the University of Texas at El Paso under CAPS. Working with Student Athletes at the University of Texas at El Paso.</em
Interests: Anxiety Management; Person-centered counseling; Art therapy; Mindfulness; Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy; Women’s Centered Therapy; Sports Psychology and Motivation.
Kevin Sandoval
Education: M.A. student in Clinical Psychology from University of Texas at El Paso; B.A. in Psychology from University of Texas at El Paso.
Experience: Master's intern at the University of Texas at El Paso Counseling and Psychological Services
Interests: Anxiety management, motivational-interviewing, client-centered therapy, substance use addiction treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, culturally tailored interventions, and depression management, etc.
Julianna Windell, B.A.
Education:B.A. in Social Work from Brigham Young University- Idaho. Currently studying for a M.S. in Social Work from the University of Texas at El Paso.
Experience: Social Services Director at Carriage Cove Short stay Rehabilitation and Practicum student at the University of Texas at El Paso- Counseling and Psychological Services.</em
Interests: Spirituality issues, grief, stress management, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing.
Support Staff
Vanessa Zamora, MBA - Administrative Manager – Counseling and Psychological Services
Sylvia Serrano, Administrative Associate - Counseling and Psychological Services
Trina DeMaria, Administrative Associate - Counseling and Psychological Services