Colleen worked as Division Director of OTTP-LA for four years before expanding to San Francisco. She cleaned out a broom closet at Ida B. Wells High School to create OTTP-SF's first office! Areas of interest include mental health, social justice and trauma-informed care. She holds an MOT from San Jose State University and a BS in Occupational Therapy from University of New Hampshire.
Erika oversees and creates clinical practices, agency protocols, policy and procedures, and quality assurance and improvement. Additionally, she provides clinical supervision to social workers, therapists, and interns. In her free time she enjoys being outdoors, loves the ocean, traveling, music and food! She holds an MSW from San Jose State University and a BA from Sonoma State.
Teresa oversees OT services at OTTP-SF and serves youth in English and Spanish in the East Bay and outpatient mental health. In her free time, she enjoys spending time in nature and traveling. She holds a Masters from Texas Woman's University. She identifies as Latinx. Teresa is bi-lingual in English and Spanish and has moderate to limited proficiency in Japanese.
Janelle is our DCYF Program Manager and serves on the following programs: DCYF Girls' Services, Outpatient Clinic, and Alternative Schools. Fun Facts: she is a San Francisco native, and loves giving back to her community. She loves watching live music, cooking, traveling, practicing yoga, arts and crafts, and living life to the fullest. She holds an MS in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University.
Katie has had the privilege of serving youth at OTTP-SF since 2011 and currently oversees OTTP's services in the East Bay. One of her areas of interest is early childhood mental health. She enjoys spending time at the beach with her family and her dog, Ladybug. She holds an MS from San Jose State and BAs from UC Davis. She is fluent in Spanish.
Christine works on the Employment Program. She is a core member of the JBOT network (Justice-Based Occupational Therapy), co-author of the dynamic assessment of occupational performance skills called the Double OT, and teaches in the OT department at SJSU. In her free time, she loves to rock climb and bake cookies. She holds a BS and MA from University of Southern California. She is fluent in Spanish.
Simmin works with OTTP-SF's Alternative Schools Program, and enjoys thinking outside the box in typically traditional settings. Particular areas of interest include community collaboration, program development, and therapeutic activities based in creative expression. She is a former yoga teacher. She holds an MS from San Jose State University.
Alina co-supervises the Employment Program and she is particularly interested in community reintegration and creative spaces for art, music, food, and poetry. Fun fact about Alina is that she has two cats named Onyx and Opal. She holds a Masters of Occupational Therapy, Samuel Merritt University.
Michelle manages the outpatient programs and works in Wraparound, ERMHS, and outpatient as a care coordinator/psychotherapist. They are interested in areas of transformative justice, systems-involved youth, and issues related to gender identity. They love dancing, and they can make balloon animals! They hold a Masters in Social Work- High Risk Youth Track from the University of Denver.
Raymond serves on the Wraparound program and on the Civic Center team. His interests include real estate, social justice, coffee, and Warriors basketball. In his practice, he strives to build community, connection, and feelings of “home.” He holds an MS from University of St. Augustine, San Marcos. He is fluent in Tagalog.
Rachel has been an occupational therapist for almost twenty years. She has worked with people to help them find employment. She strongly believes anyone who wants to work can and that work can also be a powerful tool towards wellness. She is passionate about the use of evidence-based practices, and she incorporates research-backed modalities into all the work she does. She holds an MS from San Jose State University.
Emily serves on the Wraparound, Outpatient, Family Mosaic, and Connective Services programs. She loves working as an occupational therapist because she not only gets to learn how to do the fascinating things that her clients want and need to do, but also gets to harness this learning to cultivate meaning, connection, and hope. Her favorite occupations involve adventure, art, and tacos. She holds an MS in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University.
Marissa works with the ERMHS, WRAP, and Outpatient programs and serves as a Co-Manager on OTTP’s SOAR team. Fun facts: she loves baking, archery, rainbows and attending local drag shows. Her areas of interest include helping youth gain self-esteem by helping them discover themselves and how they want to show up in the world. She holds a Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology.
Erica serves youth on the outpatient, WRAP, and FMP programs. She's passionate about the intertwining of occupational therapy with social justice/activism work, particularly, working towards collective liberation for all people, abolition work, and creating beloved community. She holds an MS in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University.
Nicole works in alternative schools and serves youth under DCYF. In her free time, she enjoys knitting, crocheting, roller skating, hiking, and exploring new places! She also loves board games and card games. She holds a MS in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University and a BS in Integrative Biology from UC Berkeley.
Kimberly serves youth in the Employment Program and Hilltop Girls Services. Her areas of interest in occupational therapy are mental health and helping youth discover their strengths through exploring career paths. In her free time, she enjoys taking her puppy to dog parks and trying new foods. She holds an MS in Occupational Therapy from California State University Dominguez Hills. She is fluent in Spanish.
Caitlin primarily serves youth through the alternative schools and clinic partners programs and is passionate about supporting young people to discover their unique strengths and develop skills in their areas of interest. In free time, she enjoys exercising and being outdoors. She holds an MOT from University of British Columbia and Bachelors degree from University of Southern California.
Rachel serves youth on the ERMHS and outpatient programs at OTTP-SF. In her free time she loves to travel, take walks with her dog, cook, and read. She holds an MA from the University of San Francisco.
Meta works in the SOAR and ERMHS programs, and has been a social worker for 18 years supporting children and families in a variety of roles. Meta loves to travel, cook, nerding out at museums, and working in her (mostly) native plant garden. She holds a BA in Women's Studies from Allegheny College, and an MSW and MPA from Columbia University. She is proficient in Spanish.
Jacqueline works in the Wraparound, Family Mosaic Project, outpatient, and Buena Vista Horace Mann programs. One of her long term goals as an occupational therapist is to make equine assisted therapies equally accessible/affordable as more traditional therapies. She holds MS in Occupational Therapy from Dominican University of California. Jacqueline is fluent in Spanish.
Rita works on the Early Childhood Mental Health, OUSD, and SVDH programs at OTTP-SF. She is an East Coast transplant and a life-long vegetarian. She holds a BSOT, from Thomas Jefferson University, and an MEd. from Eastern University. She is conversational in Hindi.
Edwin has been a part of the OTTP-SF team for 13 years. He is responsible for handling the agency's data analysis and reporting. Edwin spent most of his earlier career years in Retail Management. He holds an MBA in Finance from San Francisco State University and has credentials in business data analysis and retail management. He is bi-lingual in English and Cantonese.
Shar serves youth in the EPIC and FMP programs. She's passionate about the importance of sleep and rest. In her free time she loves reading, sleeping, watching movies/TV, and hiking. She holds an MS in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University.
Natalie joined OTTP-SF in 2003 and is currently practicing OT at Alternative School sites CARE Buchanan and Civic Center Secondary. She identifies as a cisgender, queer, nondisabled, white woman as well as a Spanish language learner. Recently, she learned to do a headstand and is working towards a handstand! She holds an MS from San Jose State and a BFA from Hofstra University.
Natalie works closely with the Development team to seek out donations, maintain in-kind data base & donor relations, help run successful fundraisers, and help grow OTTP-SF’s presence with neighbors, businesses, & in-kind donors in the city. She’s a native San Franciscan, who spent some time living in Toronto, Canada, and now lives in Moraga, raising her 3 girls with her husband! She holds a BS in Psychology from San Diego State University.
Carey serves youth on the Employment Team. Her areas of interest include the Lifestyle Redesign Intervention and health promotion in general. In her free time she enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling, hiking, biking, camping, and swimming. She holds an MS in occupational therapy from San Jose State University.
Tracy works closely with the Development Team to plan and execute agency fundraisers and facilitate mutually beneficial community partnerships. She lived in San Francisco for seven years before settling in the East Bay with her husband and daughters. She loves the nonprofit world and really wants to learn how to play the ukulele. She holds a BS from Illinois State University.
Adrienne serves youth in consultation of pharmaceutical interventions for mental health concerns. As a San Francisco native she is honored to work with SF’s youth and their families, promoting mental wellness. In her free time she enjoys hiking, reading, and photography. She holds a Masters in Nursing from UCSF. She is conversational in Italian.
Briana works on the WRAP and ERMHS programs at OTTP-SF. Their interests include art, rock climbing, cats/animals, and video games. They hold an MA in Counseling Psychology from John F Kennedy University.
Stephanie works on the Shoestrings/CCEIS, FMP, and outpatient mental health programs. She is passionate about providing a safe space for youth to explore their strengths through occupation. Fun fact: she has a motorcycle named Luna and loves tea/soups, journal writing, music, and tiny home videos. She holds an MS in Occupational Therapy from SJSU. She is conversational in Tagalog.
Nick works on the School-Based team with Outpatient, Wraparound, and ERMHS clients. In his free time he enjoys playing chess and canoeing. He holds a BA in Psychology from Middlebury College ad an MA in Counseling Psychology at the Wright Institute.
Sarah works at Independence high school and on the Employment Program. She loves getting to work with youth as they explore their career and life paths during this important transitional life stage. In her free time she likes to travel and go to events in the city. She holds an OTD from the University of Southern California and has worked at OTTP-SF and OTTP-LA.
Hiromi works on the Outpatient, ERMHS, and WRAP programs as a psychotherapist. In her free time, she enjoys playing taiko. She also likes to paint and doodle to music. She holds MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with Specialization in Music Therapy from Lesley University and a BA in Musicology with minor in Neuroscience from UCLA. She is fluent in Japanese.
Andrianna works on the Outpatient, Wrap, and ERMHS programs as a psychotherapist. A fun fact about her is that she enjoys writing spoken word pieces and presenting them at poetry slams. Andrianna’s areas of interest are art, dance, theatre, and improv. She loves long walks in nature and enjoys the company of her loved ones. She holds an MSW with a concentration in Children and Families from Walden University.
Jo serves youth through DCYF Career Awareness and Outpatient programs. She loves working with youth as they explore their identities -- areas of interest include sexuality and ethnic identity. In her free time, she enjoys visiting the beach and finding new pizza places to try! She holds an MS in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University and a BA in Asian American Studies from UCLA.
Ada works on the Outpatient and FMP Teams. As an OT, she is interested in creating a safe space for youth and providing opportunities to build self-efficacy through engaging in meaningful activities. In her free time, Ada enjoys thrifting, drawing, and watching TV. She holds an MS in Occupational Therapy from California State University Dominguez Hills. She is conversational in Vietnamese.
Giovanna works on the WRAP team, the Employment team, the Hilltop team, the Longfellow team and BVHM team supporting youth in building life and social emotional skills. She is also the lead at the Mission Education Center working with K-2nd grade students on social skills. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her dog. She holds an OTD from Samuel Merritt University. She is fluent in Spanish and conversational in ASL.
Nikki works in the Alternative Schools program, and in the Counseling Enriched Classroom at Independence High School. When she is not working at OTTP-SF, she spends most of her time behind her pottery wheel creating functional ceramics. Her life motto is "safety never takes a holiday!" She holds an MOT from Dominican University of California.
Colleen works on the Shoestrings Program and is the OTTP representative at the JJPA. Some of her areas of interest in occupational therapy are sensory integration and mental health. She loves reading, hiking, and traveling. If her nose isn't in a book, she's probably out and about! She holds an MS from San Jose State University.
Allie serves youth on the FMP, Outpatient, ERMHS OT Bridge Pilot and Edgewood programs. Fun fact: she was a semi-finalist in Season 13 of America's Got Talent with Angel City Chorale. Her areas of interest include integrating the use of therapeutic music with the OT framework to best meet the needs of her clients. She holds an MS in Occupational Therapy from CSU Dominguez Hills and a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from Chapman University. She is conversational in French.
Claire serves youth in the employment, alternative schools, and outpatient programs, as well as in the Buena Vista Horace Mann Kindergarten program. In her free time she likes to try out new soup recipes and walk her dog. She holds an MS OT from San Jose State University. Claire is working toward fluency in Spanish.
Gina works with the Employment and Outpatient Mental Health programs. In her free time, she enjoys doing yoga, trying new food, and exploring the parks of San Francisco with her dog. She holds a Doctorate of Occupational Therapy and Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from University of Illinois at Chicago.
Lily serves as the lead OT at Civic Center and Youth Chance, two high schools in our Alternative Schools Program. She also serves youth through the Wraparound and FMP programs, and is a coordinator on the OT Intern Program. She has a background in inclusive early childhood education and a strong interest in group intervention. In her free time she loves binge watching reality TV and taking her dog to the beach! She holds an MS in OT from San Jose State and a BA in Human Development from Sonoma State.
Margaret works on the SOAR and ERMHS programs at OTTP-SF. Prior to joining OTTP-SF, Margaret interned at SDYS and worked as an associate therapist at SVFT. In her free time, she loves to cycle, play tennis, and hike. She holds a BBA from the College of William and Mary, an MBA from Seoul National University, and an MA in Psychology from UMASS Global.
Jordan loves playing guitar and bass with friends and enjoy comics and anime. He also enjoys spending time with his cat Avocado. He is currently a graduate student for the Marriage and Family Therapy program at the University of San Francisco. He holds a BA in Psychology from California State University Chico. He is fluent in Spanish.
Hannah works in the outpatient program, Family Mosaic Project, Wraparound services, Independence High School, & leads Friendship Group at Buena Vista Horace Mann Elementary. She enjoys spending time outside, riding her bike, open water swimming, and spending time with friends & family. She holds a MOT from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and a BS in Family Studies & Human Development from the University of Arizona.
When Lex is not supporting administrative duties, they are either enjoying music or dedicating time to provide resources for and by the queer community using an online platform to highlight queer folx who serve their community! They are taking classes at SF City, pursuing a degree in Women's and Gender Studies. They are fluent in Vietnamese.
Shasta serves children and youth in the SOAR Program. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring local natural reserves and trying to master new arts, crafts, and video games. They are currently publishing research on what video gamers find meaningful about virtual worlds. They hold an MSOT from Dominican University of California and an Interdisciplinary BS in Kinesiology, Pre-OT concentration from Sonoma State University.
Jessica works on the Wraparound, Outpatient, and Employment Programs. In her free time, she enjoys going on hikes with her Husky Charlie, exploring different cities around the world, and going to art museums. She holds a BA in Psychology and a BA in Spanish from UC Davis and is currently in the Marriage and Family Therapy Masters Program at University of San Francisco. She is fluent in Spanish.
Nicholas provides administrative support for the SOAR program. In his free time he helps playtest board games and has a character named after him and his name in the credits. He loves to play video games, board games, Dungeons and Dragons, watch anime, hike, travel, draw, and cook. He holds a BFA from San Jose State University.
Kyra is interested in using her knowledge and skills in graphic design, writing, and social media to bring awareness to the amazing work that OTTP-SF does. In her free time, she enjoys watching and reviewing movies, thrifting, and listening to podcasts! She holds a BA in Advertising from University of Oregon.
Jamie works on the Shoestrings Program. He enjoys building relationships, getting silly, and fostering creative expression with clients. During his free time he likes to make pottery, ride long distances on his bicycle, and play Dungeons and Dragons. He holds an MS from San Jose State University.
Allie works on the Outpatient, FMP, and groups for school contracts programs at OTTP-SF. In her free time she enjoys rock climbing, hiking, playing ice hockey, spending time with family and friends, and eating sushi. She holds an MS in Occupational Therapy from Cleveland State University.
Catherine works on the Family Mosaic Project and Wraparound programs. Fun facts: Many moons ago she could make 10 free-throw shots in a row and she learned to ride a bike as an adult. Her areas of interests include holistic health, gardening, mindfulness, cultivating gratitude, self-care practices, and writing haikus! She holds an MS in Occupational Therapy from SJSU and a BA inInternational Development Studies from UC Berkeley. She is fluent in Spanish.
Helen serves youth at alternative high schools in the East Bay. She has worked in a variety of mental health settings as an occupational therapist, and is interested in areas of harm reduction, community health, and joy. She enjoys playing in an orchestra, tennis, and baking. She holds a BA in Psychology from UC Berkeley and a MScOT from University of Alberta. She speaks Cantonese.
Ligia has been a part of the OTTP-SF team for 8 years. She works closely with the Division Director and the Fiscal Department to oversee the agency's budget process. In her free time, she loves to travel and cook. She holds an MBA in Finance from Claremont Graduate School and a BS in Economics from UC Riverside. She is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.
Ricardo works on the Shoestrings Program. A fun fact about him is he has been playing trumpet for 18 years. His interests include: movies, music, animals, anime, cooking, board games, and walks with his dog. He holds a Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from Samuel Merritt University and a B.S. in Cognitive Science with a specialization in Human Cognition from UCSD. He is fluent in Spanish.
Ester works on the SOAR, ERMHS, and out patient programs at OTTP-SF. In her free time she enjoys reading, creating art, and going out into nature and exploring. She holds an MA from the University of San Francisco. She is fluent in Russian.
Debra assists with billing and administrative services. She is a San Francisco native. In her free time she likes cooking new plant based recipes, watching nutrition/environmental documentaries, reading, journaling and taking long walks around the city and in nature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from San Francisco State University and a Nutrition Assistant Certificate from City College.
Molly supports youth and children in the SOAR and ERMHS programs at OTTP-SF. In her free time, Molly enjoys spending time at the beach, baking, and exploring nature with her dog. She holds a Masters of Social Work from Simmons University and B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Expressive Arts Therapy from Lesley University.
Helen works on the Wraparound, ERMHS, School-based, and Family Mosaic Project Programs, as well as the Family Based Treatment Partnership with UCSF's Adolescent Eating Disorder Program. Fun fact: she loves to rock climb and salsa dance. Her areas of interest include working with families from marginalized populations. She holds an MSW from Smith College School for Social Work. She is fluent in Cantonese.
Caresse works on the SOAR and FMP programs at OTTP-SF. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, playing tennis, and painting. She holds an MS in Occupational Therapy from California State University, Dominguez Hills and a BA in Psychology from UCLA. She is fluent in Cantonese.
Bryant is the founder of Webflow, and a supporter of SF non-profits. After growing up in a tough family, he's committed to bringing happiness and opportunities to Bay Area youth. In his free time you can find him mountain biking in Marin or golfing with his friends.
Susan has 30+ years experience as an OT and 13 years as a Feldenkrais practitioner. She is currently retired and most recently worked in long term care, specializing in HIV care, where she developed programming for individuals with cognitive differences. Her Feldenkrais training inspired her to develop a treatment program for inpatients and outpatients with chronic pain. Prior to Susan’s OT career, she taught dance/movement for 10 years in the SF public schools.
Jess is a San Francisco native who received her OTD at Samuel Merritt University. Jess is an OTTP staff alum who created the drop-in program for youth and alumni to build community. She is an advocate for mental health, social justice, and racial equity. Currently, Jess works in the acute care setting bringing her psychosocial expertise to the oncology, Covid-19, and trauma units. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, and baking.
Maurice received his First Communion at St. Boniface Church. He graduated from St. Mary's College with a BA in History and was drafted by the Golden State Warriors. He retired after 7 years as Principal and Assistant Principal at Civic Center Court and County School. He is a mindfulness coach at Mindful Schools and is director of high school youth activities and Confirmation preparation at St. Columba Church. He is married with 2 children and 3 grandchildren.
Sheela is a San Francisco native and occupational therapist specializing in wellness and mental health. She has worked for top Bay Area hospitals, San Jose State University as a clinical educator, and is currently running a wellness-based virtual practice. She is committed to removing the barriers to care that keep people from accessing health and wellness services.
Rebecca has twenty years of experience providing counseling and mental health services to youth. She received her Masters in Social Work from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. and worked in child welfare in the District of Columbia for four years before moving to California in 2001. Rebecca was previously the Clinical Head of Service for OTTP from 2006 to 2009. She has many passions; she is an avid sailor, reader, and road biker.
Merany is a 2nd Grade Teacher at a public school in Oakland. Before pursuing a career in education, Merany had a career in consulting, event planning, and design. She is passionate about creating experiences and relationships that allow young people to thrive and is thrilled to work with OTTP.
Helen is a bay area native, occupational therapist, and an advocate for youth and mental health services. Her clinical expertise includes working in the area of oncology program development and oncology rehabilitation. Her clinical background also includes having served multiple fieldwork experiences in mental health spanning from acute inpatient psychiatric care, outpatient pediatric mental health services, as well as having completed fieldwork abroad in Ghana.
Karina graduated from Dominican University of CA and began her OT career at OTTP-SF as a case manager. During her years at OTTP, she has worn many hats and has been central to coordinating our internship program. She has been working at Mills-Peninsula Medical Center, Pediatric Department for 15+ years. In addition to OT, her passion lies in volunteering, dance, choreography, and travel. Karina is bilingual in Russian/English and is learning Spanish and ASL.
Chi-Kwan is a Professor of the MOT and OTD Program at Samuel Merritt University. She received a Joint Doctoral degree in Special Education from UC Berkeley and SFSU, a Master’s Degree in Health Care Management from CSU LA, and a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy from UT Medical Branch. She has worked with OTTP since 2000, serving in various capacities, including clinical consultations and conducting research studies in collaboration with staff.
Sam is Finance Director at Exact Sciences (NASDAQ:EXAS), a leading molecular diagnostics company. Prior to joining Exact, he worked at a marketing technology startup as VP of Finance. Sam is a California Licensed CPA and holds an MBA degree from Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley. Sam is passionate about serving his community, and has been a supporter of OTTP-SF since 2008.
.jpg)
.png)
.jpg)
