Mental Health Providers
Justin T. Gibson, PhD
Interim Executive Director
Clinical Director, Mental Health Services and Psychologist
UC Berkeley, Predoctoral Internship and Postdoctoral Fellowship in Psychology
University at Albany, NY, Counseling Psychology, PhD
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Social and Behavioral Sciences, BS
Professional Experience
Dr. Gibson joined UCSF Student Health and Counseling Services (now Student Mental Health and Wellbeing) in 2017 after working for more than 12 years in student counseling, community mental health, behavioral health and neuropsychological rehabilitation settings.
Dr. Gibson engages in an integrative counseling approach tailoring his style to the unique and specific needs of the individual, commonly incorporating humanistic, cognitive behavioral, interpersonal neurobiology and multicultural perspectives. He is particularly interested in minority mental health emphasizing the reduction of stigma and barriers to help-seeking.
Dr. Gibson has also run a number of skills and therapy groups including Healthy Relationships, Stress Management, Health & Wellness, Life Skills, Interpersonal Process, LGBTQ support groups, Gay Men of Color Groups, and various other Men's Groups throughout his career.
Anja Bircher, PsyD
Psychologist
SF VA Healthcare System, Postdoctoral Fellowship in Interprofessional LGBT Healthcare Psychology
Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial VA Hospital, Predoctoral Internship in Primary Care Behavioral Health
AIU California School of Profession Psychology SF, Clinical Psychology, PsyD
California State University Long Beach, Film and Video Production, BA
Professional Experience
Dr. Bircher has worked in hospital, community primary care, and outpatient mental health settings, including SF VA, Lyon-Martin Health Services, and SF Stress and Anxiety Center. They use an integrative approach in order to best meet the needs of the individuals they work with and their specific concerns. They draw primarily from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, as well as mindfulness, Dialectal Behavior Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. Their practice is attuned to aspects of identity, guided by each individual's values, informed by social justice within a strength-based and collaborative approach. They are passionate about supporting people in coping, adapting, and engaging with changes in life.
Special Area of Focus
Life transitions, trauma, transgender identities, sexual identities, sexual concerns (including and affirming of consensual kink), relationships (including polyamory, nonmonogamy, and monogamy), addressing internalized oppression (racism, ableism, etc.), and chronic illness/pain.
Liliana Campos Ramales, PsyD
Psychologist
UC Davis, Pre-doctoral Internship in Health Psychology
University of San Francisco, Clinical Psychology, PsyD
Long Beach State University, Psychology, BA
Professional Experience
Dr. Campos’ approach to understanding mental health wellness is to strengthen the existing resilience of individuals from a social justice lens. Dr. Campos believes that individual and community wellness are deeply connected and can be available to us when we create and nurture empowering, radical, and liberating narratives. She aims to work in collaboration with people in a supportive, warm, and welcoming manner.
Dr. Campos is a generalist counseling psychologist inspired by Liberation Psychology. This means she aims to understand the impact of sociopolitical factors on health and focuses on your strengths and goals to help you cocreate healing and wellness. Dr. Campos is Latina-identified and draws from critical race theory, decolonial thought, activism, and community organizing to explore the intersection of wellness, healing for self and community transformation.
Special Area of Focus
Decolonial healing, racial trauma, first generation college students, immigrant, undocumented, and international students, activism, and community organizing. Clinical and research area of interest engaging in ancestral healing practices to address impact of racial trauma and colonial trauma with an emphasis in exploring impact of activism among immigrant, refugee, undocumented, students of color.
Alexia Capsuto, MD
Psychiatrist
Northwell Zucker Hillside Hospital, Adult Psychiatry Residency
New York Medical College, MD
UC Berkeley, BA Public Health, CalTeach Science and Math Education
Professional Experience
Dr. Capsuto trained in New York, where she gained experience in inpatient and outpatient settings, resident supervision, as well as telepsychiatry, emergency psychiatry, and consult-liaison psychiatry. She has focused on outpatient mental health care in her work, primarily treating college students, medical students, and resident and fellow physicians.
Special Areas of Interest
Dr. Capsuto’s areas of special interest are medical education, stress management and mindfulness, cultural humility and antiracism informed practice, LGBTQIA+ identities, and women’s health. Her clinical focus is on management of ADHD, personality disorders, anxiety, panic disorders, burnout, and depression.
Jyoti Rajpoot, DO
Psychiatrist
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center Psychiatry Residency, PGY II-IV
Louisiana State University-Shreveport Psychiatry Residency, PGY I
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, DO
UC Riverside, BS Biology
Professional Experience
Dr. Rajpoot joined UCSF’s Student Mental Health and Wellbeing in March of 2021. Prior to joining SMHW she had experience working with the college population as a Psychiatrist at CSUSB’s Student Health Center. In her role, she served both undergraduate and graduate students and became interested in their unique mental health needs. Throughout her career she has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She has worked at county clinics, state hospitals, the California prison system and large HMOs.
Special Areas of Interest
Dr. Rajpoot’s area of focus include Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia and Schizophrenia related disorders.
Cynthia Tawasha Diwan, MA, LMFT
Clinical Coordinator
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), San Francisco, CA, Masters in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis on Expressive Arts Therapy
San Francisco State University, San Francisco CA, B.A., Urban Studies
Professional Experience
Cynthia has a background of working in community mental health and acute psychiatry. She joined Student Health and Counseling (now Student Mental Health and Wellbeing) in 2023 after working at Langley Porter Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Programs for eight years, where she provided individual therapy, and led groups in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Cynthia takes a person-centered approach, and provides evidence-based, trauma-informed care. She enjoys helping people move in the direction of their values, make sense of ambivalence, and tolerate living in the question. Cynthia’s approach is culturally sensitive, compassionate, and at times, directive. Her goal is to help those she works with become more effective in their lives and to simply feel better.
Special Area of Focus
Include anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, mood disorders, racial identity, multicultural identity, women’s issues, grief, life transitions, parenting, coping skills, mindfulness, self-compassion, infusing DBT skills groups with expressive arts.
Winifred “Winnie” Wu, LCSW
Clinical Social Worker
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (California and New York)
New York University (NYU), New York, NY, Masters in Social Work
CUNY Queens College, Queens, NY, BA Psychology
Professional Experience
Winnie joined Student Health and Counseling Services (now Student Mental Health and Wellbeing) in 2023 after working with patients living with and beyond cancer at UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. She has extensive experience in working with clients coping with anxiety, self-esteem, relationship issues, life transitions, grief and loss, terminal illness and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). She has a certification in working with individuals and caregivers in Palliative and End-of-Life Care, and is yoga teacher certified. Winnie uses a strengths-based and client-centered approach with cultural sensitivity, often using a mind-body approach with an intention to provide the environment, guidance and support needed towards personal growth and empowerment.
Special Area of Focus
Grief and loss, terminal illness, mindfulness, anxiety, life transitions, relationship issues, coping skills, Asian American mental health, students of color.
Nicole Reinosa, PsyD
Lead Psychologist
UCSF, Predoctoral Internship and Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Psychology
The George Washington University, Clinical Psychology, PsyD
Harvard Graduate School of Education, Education with a focus in Human Development and Psychology, EdM
San Francisco State University, Psychology, BA
Professional Experience
Dr. Reinosa has experience working in hospital, outpatient clinics, school, public health, and community-based settings. She comes with a deep commitment and knowledge of healing traumatic wounding and bolstering the sense of possibility amongst marginalized communities of color at the intersection of mental health and education. Her work is rooted in social justice and strengths-based frameworks, and she draws from trauma-informed, multicultural, psychodynamic, and person-centered approaches to provide a safe, non-judgmental environment, where one can be seen, heard, and grow. With sensitivity and compassion, Dr. Reinosa, works collaboratively with students to address their individual needs, cultivate self-awareness, balance, and confidence. She believes that everyone can develop insight and change emotional, behavioral, and relational patterns that get in the way of our happiness, healing, and living our best lives.
Special Area of Focus
Dr. Reinosa’s areas of special interest include trauma, life transitions, depression, anxiety, stress management (work, life, school, racial), first generation college students, parenting, women’s issues, racial/multicultural/intersectional identities, and African American mental health.
Wellness and Health Promotion
Zoë Urcadez, MA
Wellness Case Manager
University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, M.A. in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in School Counseling and Clinical Counseling
Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA, B.A., Latin American Studies
Professional Experience
Zoë has a background in both community mental health and higher education. She previously worked at Colorado State University, first as a Mental Health
Counselor, serving both undergrad and graduate students. She has previous experience in individual and group therapy, outreach to campus groups, and wellness workshops. She then transitioned to a non-clinical role as a Student Success Manager supporting Cultural Resource Centers with program development and assessment.
Zoë’s case management approach is informed by social justice practices and the importance of holistic support that emphasizes community. Her work with students is collaborative, transparent, and focuses on empowering students to advocate for themselves and find their voice.
Special Area of Focus
Zoë’s areas of special interest include: exploring multicultural/racial identity, supporting students through life transitions, and working with first-generation students, undocumented students, and students of color. Her clinical approach is person-centered, humanistic, and utilizes liberation psychology.
Michelle Zhao, MPH, CHES
Health Promotion Specialist
Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, MPH
University of Toronto, HBSc
Michelle is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. She is interested in understanding the intersecting factors that shape students’ health and wellbeing through a public health and health promotion lens.
Her master’s thesis on imposter phenomenon among graduate students demonstrates strong research skills and desire to understand nuances in the student experience. In addition to research, Michelle has experience in health communication, program planning, and key partner engagement. Her background in student government and community engagement highlights her ability to build partnerships and foster a well-being-centered campus culture.
Michelle believes that university campuses can be hubs to provide students with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed to flourish in college and beyond. With her background in health promotion, student wellbeing, and program development, she seeks to achieve this goal through an evidence-based approach and by working with the campus community to build a culture of wellbeing on campus and support student health and wellness.
Maya Ezekiel, MPH, RDN
Health Promotion Specialist
UC Berkeley School of Public Health, MPH, Dietetic Internship
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, BS
Maya is a registered dietitian with a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Food, Nutrition, and Population Health from UC Berkeley's School of Public Health. She is an advocate for body liberation at a systems level and has significant experience working with students of all ages to improve nutritional health and the psyche surrounding food and body.
As a graduate student, Maya worked on various studies relating to drug use and physical activity, sustainable efforts in school food programs, and spoken word as a motivator of post-pandemic resilience and recovery in communities of color. Maya has a background in mixed-methods research, culturally relevant health education, and nutrition counseling. Maya has served as an instructor for various nutrition courses at both of her previous institutions and looks forward to engaging in further nutrition education opportunities at UCSF. During her time at Berkeley, Maya developed a deep appreciation for cooperative living and working systems. Her dedication to cultivating community and radical self-care efforts is central to her approach to public health and health promotion.
Avantika Sharma, MS
Student Ambassador
University of California, San Francisco, MS Health Data Science
University of California, Riverside, BS Biology
Avantika is passionate about mental health advocacy, health equity, and using data-informed approaches to support student wellness and inclusive healthcare systems. As a graduate student, Avantika has worked across research, clinical, and data-focused roles, including analyzing health data, supporting interdisciplinary research teams, and engaging in projects centered on health disparities and digital health.
Through her role as a Student Ambassador, Avantika is excited to connect with students, amplify wellness resources, and contribute to building a supportive and compassionate campus community.
Garam Hong
Student Ambassador
University of California, San Francisco, School of Dentistry
Garam is a current student at the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University, where she studied Chemistry with minors in Nutrition & Health and Business. Her academic and professional interests focus on health as an interconnected, holistic system rather than isolated domains. She is passionate about integrated approaches to care that consider the physical, mental, and social factors influencing overall wellbeing.
Administrative Staff
Rodelyn Montemayor
Practice Manager
City College of San Francisco, Certified Medical Assistant
Professional Experience
Before coming to Student Health & Counseling (now Student Mental Health and Wellbeing), Rodelyn worked as both a manager and medical assistant in Internal Medicine for 14 years. Prior to that, she worked in a Periodontic clinic for four years. Rodelyn has been with Student Mental Health since 2004.
Nancy Cardona
Practice Coordinator
Bryman College, Certified Medical Assistant
City College of San Francisco, AA
Professional Experience
Nancy is the Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Mission Bay Coordinator and has been with Student Health (now Student Mental Health and Wellbeing) since 2006.
Student Health Insurance Staff
Charles McDonough
Student Health Plan Administration & Business Manager
University of Massachusetts Amherst, BBA, Finance
Professional Experience
Prior to joining Student Health and Counseling (now Student Mental Health and Wellbeing), Charles spent 12 years working in the financial services industry. His experience is in financial planning & analysis, project management, and business operations. Charles has been with Student Mental Health since 2007.
Resurrecion Y. Alfonzo
Insurance Coordinator
Philippines’ Far Eastern University, BS
Bryman College, Medical Assistant
Professional Experience
Recy has been working at Student Health and Counseling (now Student Mental Health and Wellbeing) since 2001. She works as both a medical assistant and insurance coordinator – assisting students with special financial and insurance processing needs.