College of San Mateo | Personal Counseling & Wellness Services

Makiko Ueda, LMFT, Bilingual English and Japanese

Title: Coordinator/Clinical Supervisor/Counselor
Responsibilities: Makiko provides confidential counseling/consultation to students, staff, and faculty; handles crisis on campus; and coordinates the Marriage and Family therapist (MFT) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) internship training program.
Years at CSM: Since 2007
Education: M.A., California Institute of Integral Studies
Other Interests: Singing, traveling and reading

Gil Perez, LPCC, NCC, CCMHC

Title: Personal Counselor
Responsibilities: Provides personal counseling to students and consultation to staff/faculty; Coordinates the Mental Health Peer Educator Program; Serves as the Club Advisor for Active Minds
Years at CSM: Since 2016
Education: M.S., Counseling, San Francisco State University
Other Interests: Running, being outdoors, spending time with family and friends, exploring different cultures and food

Margarita Baez, AMFT, Bilingual English and Spanish

Title: Personal Counselor
Responsibilities: Margarita provides personal counseling to students, with an emphasis in serving undocumented students.
Years at CSM: Since 2022
Education: M.S., Clinical Psychology, Notre Dame de Namur University
Other Interests: Spending time with family, reading, and cooking.

Alexandra Caldeira, AMFT, Trilingual-English, Spanish and Portuguese

Title: Personal Counselor
Responsibilities: Provides personal counseling to students and consultation to staff/faculty; specializing in psychodynamic and expressive arts therapy. She also offers a variety of groups on campus including Guided Visualization and Expressive Arts group and the Women's Circle.
Years at CSM: Since 2017
Education: M.A., Counseling Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies
Other Interests: Dancing, connecting with nature, and traveling.

Daniel Rhyne, AMFT, APCC

Title: Personal Counselor
Responsibilities: Provides personal counseling to students and consultation to staff/faculty specializing in work with Veterans and Athletes; provides crisis support for students on campus; provides workshops on de-escalation and crisis management.
Years at CSM: Since 2019
Education: M.A., Counseling, Palo Alto University, B.S. Psychology and Social Action Palo Alto University
Other Interests: Biking, Backpacking, Video Games, Reading, Family, Hockey, Helping people.

Johnny León, AMFT, Bilingual English and Conversational Spanish

Title: Personal Counselor
Responsibilities: Provides personal counseling for students, offers presentations/workshops, and consults with staff/faculty.
Years at CSM: Since 2023
Education: M.A., Counseling Psychology, Univeristy of San Francisco, B.A., English, UCLA; transfer student who attended Chabot College, Laney College, and Merritt College
Other Interests: Running, listening to music, reading, traveling, meeting new people.

Emily Barrick

Title: Director of the Wellness Center
Responsibilities: Oversees the Wellness Center, which includes the Health Center and Personal Counseling
Years at CSM: Since 2018
Education: M.H.S. PA-C, UC Davis, B.A., Spanish and Portuguese, University of Northern Iowa
Other Interests: Spending time with friends and family, traveling, cycling, and photography.

Gloria D'Ambra

Title: Staff Assistant
Responsibilities: Schedules appointments for Health Services & Psychological Services, manages international student insurance and campus accident insurance, handles absence notifications and P.E. Waivers for health reasons, coordinates the intake and billing process for Family Planning Services (FPACT), and assists in coordinating the health fair and other events.
Years at CSM: Since 1986
Education: Diablo Valley College & College of San Mateo/Business
Other Interests: Exercising, cooking, and spending time with seven grandchildren.

Ushta Cawasji, MFT Trainee

Title: Personal Counseling Intern
Responsibilities: Provides Personal Counseling to Students
Years at CSM: Since 2023
Education: M.A. Counseling Psychology with an Emphasis in Health Psychology and LGBTQIA+ Counseling, Santa Clara University
Other Interests: Music, Movies, Reading, Travel, and Art.

Laura Held, AMFT

Title: Personal Counseling Intern
Responsibilities: Provides personal counseling to students.
Years at CSM: Since 2022
Education: M.A., Counseling, Palo Alto University, B.A. Psychology and Mass Communication, UC Berkeley
Other Interests: Traveling, Reading, Gardening.

Xia Zhou, AMFT, Bilingual English and Mandarin Chinese

Title: Personal Counseling Intern
Responsibilities: Provides personal counseling to students and specialize in expressive arts therapy and music therapy.
Years at CSM: Since 2022
Education: M.A., Counseling Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies.
Other Interests: Singing, conscious dancing, drumming, meditating, being in nature, cooking, watching movies and taking naps.

Meet the Staff