Honoring Mental Health Awareness Month with Reflections from Our Brain Health Team
At Daly City Partnership (DCP), we believe mental health is a core part of community wellness. This Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re celebrating the compassionate work of our Brain Health team—a group of Associate Therapists and graduate-level interns committed to providing free, accessible counseling and emotional support for youth, adults, and seniors.
Through one-on-one counseling, school-based support, and therapy groups at community centers and senior facilities, our Brain Health team brings care and connection to those who may otherwise face barriers to services. The program also plays a critical role in shaping the next generation of therapists—offering deep, hands-on clinical experience within a supportive, values-driven environment.
Meet Tina: Empowering Growth, One Session at a Time
Tina, a returning intern who is now an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist (AMFT) and Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC), joined DCP to work with a wide range of client populations and found exactly what she hoped for—and more. “I was drawn to the opportunity to work with a wide range of client populations,” Tina shared.
Tina has participated in parenting support groups, mindfulness and expressive arts groups, and provided both virtual and in-person counseling, including school-based services. She highlighted the dual growth of both therapist and client in the therapeutic process.
“The most rewarding part has been witnessing the growth and change in my clients—and even in myself.”
A recent experience volunteering at the food bank also expanded her appreciation for DCP’s broader mission:
“I was surprised to see how large of an operation it is! It took a lot of people and organization to make it happen.”
She encourages future interns to apply:
“There’s no better place to learn and grow as a counselor, and to receive supervision from our clinical supervisor, Vicki!”
“What inspired me to return is the warm and supportive community DCP and OSH offer. I knew I would be in good hands training with the Brain Health team again.”
– Tina G.
Carlo’s Journey: From Intern to Associate Therapist
Carlo, now an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist (AMFT), began as a Brain Health intern and has since grown into a staff therapist role at DCP. His journey reflects the kind of long-term investment and impact this program fosters.
“Vicki was my supervisor at the Daly City Youth Health Center. She was my biggest supporter and cheerleader there, so when I learned about the opportunity to work with her again through DCP, I had to take it.”
Carlo has worked with preschoolers to seniors, offering individual and couples therapy, as well as facilitating groups on meditation, stress management, and caregiver support. He delivers therapy in a variety of settings—virtually, in-person, in schools, and in senior facilities.
What stands out most to Carlo is the vulnerability and bravery of his clients.
He values DCP’s ability to remove financial and logistical barriers for clients:
“At our clinic, we don’t have the barriers that often make therapy inaccessible. That’s why this work matters so much.”
“The most rewarding part is seeing clients develop a sense of trust and agency. For many, just showing up and disclosing intimate details about their lives with a stranger is an act of courage. That trust they hold with me is something I hold sacred.”
– Carlo M.
Marija: Building Safe Spaces for Self-Discovery
Marija, also an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist (AMFT), brought a person-centered approach to her internship, drawing from psychodynamic, existential, and mindfulness-based theories depending on each client’s needs. During her time at DCP, she supported adolescents through issues like anxiety, identity, and school avoidance, and worked with adults facing trauma, grief, and life transitions.
“The variety of clients I had the opportunity to work with—not only in age and demographic, but in their past experiences and individuality—was incredibly meaningful.”
Her work ranged from individual sessions to couples therapy and group settings. One interaction that stood out was a heartfelt comment from a high school student with autism:
“He told me that he felt like he could come into the room with me and be his authentic self and not think about performing—that he doesn’t have that in any other part of his life.”
Marija’s internship affirmed her long-term commitment to the mental health field:
“I truly feel I’m meant to do this work. It reminded me to stay curious, avoid assumptions, and show up with presence and non-judgment.”
“Go in with an open mind and willingness to grow. Daly City Partnership will meet you with the support you need to develop as a future licensed therapist.”
– Marija M.
Why It Matters—And How You Can Help
Across each story, a common thread emerges: accessible, stigma-free therapy changes lives. The Brain Health team doesn’t just offer mental health services—they create safe spaces where community members can be heard, understood, and supported.
As Marija put it: “Mental health support shouldn’t be something only available to people with money or resources. Everyone deserves a space to heal.”
This Mental Health Awareness Month, we invite you to invest in the mental well-being of our community. Every donation helps expand access to counseling for those who need it most.
Together, we can make sure no one is turned away from support.
