MS, Couple and Family Therapy Students
Chloé Guenette (she/her) grew up in Blacksburg, a small town in southwest Virginia. She graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Human Development and Family Science and a minor in Disability Studies. During her time in undergrad she was a part of two research labs. The first ASPIRE Lab, conducted translational, community-engaged research on intervention and prevention strategies for youth suicide and associated mental health concerns. And the other CAATS lab focused on how intervention and experience may shape the development of executive function processes throughout the life course. Additionally Chloé completed an internship at a Marriage and Family Therapy clinic and volunteered at a local crisis hotline. All of these experiences instilled the importance of mental health care, and ignited a passion for systemic therapy. Chloé’s research interests include supporting LGBTQ+ communities and mental health, and looking at the intersection of movement and exercise for the benefit of mental well being. In her free time Chloe loves to cook, run, read, and is also a novice bodybuilder.
Genevieve McCall (she/her) is an Oakland, California native and lifelong learner, following her second career path. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts and Speech Communication from Dillard University of New Orleans, Louisiana and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing (Playwriting concentration) from Boston University. Her extensive background in theatre performance and playwriting serve as a springboard for her interest and commitment to exploring human behavior, relationships and healing through the field of mental health. Her diverse work history includes the non-profit and educational sectors, highlighting her passion for community. Select work experiences include her time as Administrative Assistant to the Deputy Director of the Center for Independent Living, a disability rights and advocacy organization in Berkeley, California. Select volunteer work includes mentoring in San Francisco's juvenile justice system through Each One Reach One, an organization that teaches playwriting and produces performances by detained youth. She is currently a volunteer with Silver Spring Village, an organization that supports independent, engaged aging. She is an enthusiastic new resident of Maryland, where she lives with her wife, daughter and son.
Hannah Sheehy (she/her) is originally from Cincinnati, OH and has made Washington, DC her home for the past 14 years. She earned her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Michigan and her Master of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley. She worked for several years in sexual and reproductive health, most recently designing an interactive training to help parents, teachers, and other caregivers gain confidence in talking about sexual health with the adolescents in their lives. A second-career student, she is eager to bring the sum of her personal and professional experiences to clinical work with couples and families. In her free time, Hannah enjoys one-bag travel, live music, and her book club. She lives in DC with her partner and two children, who constantly instill in her the importance of patience and deep listening.
Jun Lee (he/him) was born in South Korea and raised in California. He graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a B.A. in Psychology. After graduating, he worked as a Social Worker Assistant before joining the Asian Pacific Counseling Treatment Center in Los Angeles as a Case Manager for the Adult Full Service Partnership (FSP) program. In this role, Jun worked with clients experiencing a wide range of mental health symptoms and needs, providing case management, psychosocial rehabilitation, emotional support, and community resources. He also gained second-hand experience working alongside field-based therapists, observing their approaches with clients facing diverse mental health diagnoses and challenges. Working closely with clinicians gave him valuable insight into professional boundaries, clinical systems, supervision structures, and various therapeutic approaches. His passion for relational, couples, and marriage therapy has been long-standing, driven by a desire to help partners strengthen communication and deepen emotional connection. In his free time, Jun enjoys playing and watching soccer, as well as following other sports like baseball, basketball, and his recent favorite, pickleball. He also loves exploring new coffee shops and spending time outdoors, especially relaxing at the beach or walking among trees.
Katherine Lopez is from Columbia, MD. She graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho with a Bachelor of Science in Marriage and Family Studies and a minor in Psychology. During her time as an undergraduate, she dedicated her time to learning about family and marital dynamics, community resources available to families, and advocacy efforts to support familial issues on a larger scale. Katherine is passionate about motherlessness and fatherlessness, educating others on familial issues, and increasing mental health resources in the Hispanic community. She was also an intern at the Family Crisis Center in Rexburg, ID where she educated herself more on topics including domestic violence, stalking, dating violence, and how to grow public awareness of these topics. She spent time with advocates in the center and was able to attend court hearings, counseling sessions with survivors, and provided bilingual support to Spanish-speaking survivors. During her free time, Katherine enjoys listening to and discovering new music, cooking with her grandmother, reading, and soaking up as much family time as she can.
Kira Oh (she/her) is from Columbia, MD. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a B.S. in Psychology. During her undergraduate studies, Kira studied the psychology of interpersonal relationships, adolescents’ close relationships, and basic helping skills, which sparked her interest in relational dynamics and communication skills. She worked as a research assistant for the Interpersonal Relationships Lab, where she observed couples and collected data on relational dynamics regarding how beliefs about the world influence perceived social support and workplace behavior. She also interned at the Howard County Circuit Court Office of Court Administration, which solidified her desire to pursue a career helping others.
Kira is passionate about understanding how relationships affect mental and physical health and reducing the cultural stigma surrounding therapy in the Asian American community through culturally competent practices.
Outside of school, Kira enjoys weight lifting, walking through nature, doing puzzles, and photography.
Leah Dumaine (she/her) was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. She graduated from Elon University in 2024 with degrees in both Psychology and Music. While at Elon, Leah was very involved in the music program, leading the orchestra and participating in chamber groups. She volunteered in the local community, teaching music lessons to children who didn’t have access to the arts in school, and loved watching their confidence grow throughout the experience. Leah has always been interested in psychology, and during her undergraduate studies, she focused on her desire to help others, which led her to pursue a career in counseling. She is especially drawn to couple and family dynamics, particularly the effects of early life stressors and trauma on communication patterns in adult relationships. Leah is passionate about wellness and enjoys spending time outdoors – going for long walks, running, or reading. While at Elon, she conducted a study on the positive effects of daily time spent outdoors on work vigor. In general, she enjoys learning about ways to improve overall mental and physical wellness. In her career, she aspires to create a calm and safe space for her clients where they can explore new ways of connecting to themselves and each other.
Moniest Cardell was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She graduated summa cum laude from Howard University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in English. During her undergraduate career, she studied abroad in Kyoto, Japan, gaining cross-cultural perspectives on mental health and human behavior. She also completed a behavioral health internship with Synergy Family Services, where she created and implemented her own psychiatric rehabilitation program while working closely with children and LSW mentors to support healthy homes, habits, and headspaces.
Her passion lies in providing culturally competent and accessible care, especially for children and families from underserved communities, and she hopes to contribute to creating environments that nurture both mental and emotional wellness with her own practice. Outside of her professional and academic pursuits, she loves hiking through scenic trails, getting lost in a good book, and spending quality time with her cat.
Nevaeh Brown (she/her) is from Louisville, Kentucky. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Midway University in May 2024, where she was a six-time All-American in pole vault. Her athletic achievements helped support her education and fueled her academic motivation.
During her undergraduate studies, Nevaeh completed a practicum at the Recovery Café, working with individuals in recovery from substance use disorders. Inspired by her capstone project, she began conducting research on sexuality and the experiences of underrepresented groups, sparking a deep interest in relationship dynamics and couples’ therapy.
Following the loss of her father to a drug overdose in 2022, Nevaeh committed herself to serving her community. In 2025, she completed her Master’s in Healthcare Administration, focusing on ethics, patient advocacy, and systems of care. While pursuing her degree, she worked as an office manager at a sober living facility, where she supported individuals with addiction and co-occurring disorders. She also had the opportunity to co-facilitate group therapy sessions alongside a licensed therapist, gaining valuable clinical experience.
Nevaeh is passionate about creating inclusive spaces for marginalized communities and advocating for survivors of domestic violence. Outside of academics, she enjoys reading, working out, and spending time with her family.
Sunniva Harnisch (she/her) grew up in Berlin, Germany and graduated from Hampshire College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Queer Studies and a Five College Certificate in Queer, Trans, and Sexuality Studies. Her Bachelor’s thesis explored play as a tool for emotional resilience and political resistance through encouraging vulnerability, improving relationships, and challenging social norms. After she graduated, Sunniva volunteered in a mental health care facility for individuals with severe psychiatric diagnoses and varying abilities (e.g., BPD, DID, ASD, PTSD, Schizophrenia). To strengthen client confidence and independence, she provided informal counseling, instructed workshops, and accompanied her clients during everyday tasks. She also took on administrative work, such as documenting conversations and crises, as well as conceptualizing cases. Sunniva has since nannied two young children, through which she has gained intimate insight into family dynamics and different parenting approaches.
Sunniva’s studies and experiences have invariably affirmed her faith in relational healing and her path toward a career in Couple and Family Therapy. Her areas of academic interest and research include gender identity, sexuality, shame, non-normative relationship and family structures, intergenerational trauma, and multi-cultural identity and belonging. With the conviction that every human deserves to be understood, loved, and cared for in ways that align with their identities and experiences, Sunniva aims to take an intersectional and client-centered approach to create gender-affirming, sex-positive, and social justice-centered spaces that feel encouraging, kind, and safe. Beyond her work, Sunniva finds joy in journaling, reading LGBTQIA+ fiction, taking nature walks, knitting, cooking new recipes, laughing with friends, and spending time with cats.
Tatiana Brofft (she/her) spent the past fifteen years of her professional career advancing human rights through foreign and migration policy. She responded to consular protection petitions, supported people affected by immigration enforcement, visited immigration detention centers, monitored the needs of people traveling in caravans from Central America to the US and crossing the Darien Gap, and developed programs to facilitate migrant integration and empowerment. The testimonials she heard convinced her of the urgent need for state-of-the-art, evidence-based, and culturally sensitive mental health services for migrant families and those who serve them. Tatiana seeks to specialize in addressing the stressors and traumas associated with displacement and cultural transitions, as well as the vicarious trauma and burnout among advocates and humanitarian workers. She wants to create a practice grounded in unlocking resilience, healthy and meaningful relationships, and vitality. Her policy background has given her skills and knowledge to incorporate political, economic, sociocultural, and environmental factors into her practice. Tatiana holds a BA in International Relations from El Colegio de México, an MSc in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies from Oxford, and a Certificate in Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery from Harvard.
Tatiana is an immigrant herself. She was born and raised in Mexico City and currently lives in Washington, DC, with her husband and their two pets. She is passionate about dance. She also enjoys creative writing, peeping into Little Libraries, visiting parks, spicy candy, and swimming. Tatiana’s heart is warmed by a good story, a good conversation, and having a glimpse into people’s everyday joys.
Aleyah Perry (she/her) grew up throughout the DMV area and currently resides in Bowie, Maryland. She earned her B.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Maryland, College Park. As an undergraduate, she joined the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study and continued her work after graduation as a postbaccalaureate research assistant. Her research has focused on human development and supporting initiatives that promote healthy child brain development. Through her work with families as an MRI operator on the HBCD Study, Aleyah developed a deeper appreciation for the resilience of families and the importance of healthy relationships, inspiring her pursuit of couples and family therapy. In her free time, she enjoys coaching and playing volleyball, reading, hiking, trying new foods, and working out.
Azjah Tate is from Waldorf, Maryland. She graduated summa cum laude from Spelman College in 2026 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Throughout her academic journey, she has demonstrated a deep commitment to mental health advocacy, mentorship, and supporting marginalized youth and families. At Spelman College, Azjah served as president of Sisters in Sync, a mental health organization focused on sisterhood, service, and holistic well-being. In this role, she advocated for the importance of mental wellness through educational discussions, burnout‑prevention programs, and community‑building events for young black college women. Alongside this mission, she mentored more than 50 students from kindergarten through early college, facilitating activities aimed at strengthening their self‑esteem, interpersonal skills, and emotional resilience. Since 2019, Azjah has contributed to Monument Academy Public Charter School, where she supported students with behavioral and mental health needs. During her 2025 internship, she collaborated with social workers, counselors, and the family engagement team, assisting with sensory-based activities, parent communication, and new student enrollment. These experiences strengthened her passion for family systems work and culturally responsive care. As she advances her education in Couples and Family Therapy, Azjah aims to provide compassionate, collaborative, and culturally competent care to underserved families and children. She is committed to creating safe spaces that foster healing, connection, emotional safety, and holistic growth. Outside of her professional interests, Azjah enjoys psychological thrillers, R&B music, outdoor walks, family vacations, meaningful conversations, and cozy winter activities.
Chinelo Odike is originally from Lagos, Nigeria and has lived in the US for the past four years. Chinelo, who often goes by Nel, graduated from the University of Maryland with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Public Leadership. As an undergraduate, Nel studied the intersections of psychology and policy, focusing especially on how race, gender and politics affects individuals’ mental health. They also dedicated much of their time to creating and maintaining spaces for marginalised people to exist in community with one another. Nel is passionate about creating accessible care for underserved communities through equitable mental health policy and culturally competent mental health practices. They are especially drawn to working with children as seen in the time they spent volunteering to provide transformative play experiences for children in families experiencing homelessness. This experience emphasised to them, the necessity of community based care. Outside of academics, Nel enjoys baking, playing cozy video games, and reading romance novels.
Chiso Ufondu (she/her) was born in New York and raised in Alberta, Canada. After graduating from McGill University with a B.A. in English and a minor in Psychology, she worked in Publishing for 3 years and is now transitioning into a new career path. A foundation in community, commitment to accessibility and a centering of marginalized groups led her to seek out diverse voluntary work and personal projects. Ranging from mentoring at-risk youth in her local community in Toronto to bolster child autonomy, to launching a reading workshop for children and parents in her apartment building, improving literacy while closing relational gaps between parents and children, to launching an online forum for individuals to meet, discuss, and dissect systemic and societal structures. She is excited to bring the culmination of her experiences into clinical work in the program and play a pivotal role in bolstering relational dynamics, connection, and healing.
When not working, you can find her baking, gaming, or elbows deep in a good book or meal, possibly at the same time.
Daria Brunet pursued Psychology in her undergraduate studies followed by Social Service Administration in graduate school. While she briefly pursued a career in social work and held her LICSW, for the past thirteen years she has been in community development and affordable homeownership, most recently holding a Chief of Staff title at Growth Homes. She is excited to return to academic and clinical pursuits where she hopes to learn how to help couples navigate life transitions, infertility, pregnancy loss, and postpartum mental health impacts on the family, with a special interest in collaborative divorce.
Elvira Levchuk (she/her) grew up in Potomac, Maryland. She recently graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in General Business. As the daughter of Russian and Ukrainian immigrant parents, she developed a deep appreciation for the strength of family, resilience, and the relationships that shape our lives. During her undergraduate years, Elvira worked her way up through several roles with the University of Maryland TOGETHER Program, which provides relationship and financial education to couples in the community. She began as a Program Support Intern, assisting with participant communication, workshop preparation, data organization, and community outreach. She was later promoted to Marketing and Recruitment Assistant, where she created outreach materials and supported the program’s marketing efforts. Elvira then advanced to the role of Internship Coordinator, helping onboard and guide undergraduate interns, lead meetings, coordinate assignments, and support the program’s daily operations. Through these roles, she gained experience in community-based relationship education, program coordination, and working with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Elvira also completed coursework focused on helping skills and became certified in Mental Health First Aid. Together, these experiences strengthened her commitment to systemic therapy and affirmed her passion for supporting individuals, couples, and families. Her clinical and research interests include relationship functioning, family dynamics, communication, and mental health. Outside of her professional interests, Elvira values time with family and loved ones and expresses her creativity through sourdough baking, floral design, and exploring her local art stores.
Giselle Maya (she/her) is from Gaithersburg, Maryland. She graduated from the University of Maryland with a B.S. in Psychology. For the past two years, she has worked at Children’s National Hospital as a clinical research assistant. Her work includes supporting behavioral health research with families managing chronic health conditions. Through her research and community-engaged work, she’s developed a strong interest in family systems and culturally responsive care. As a bilingual, English- and Spanish-speaker, she is passionate about making mental health care more accessible to Latino communities. Outside of her work, Giselle enjoys reading, traveling, photography, and spending time with loved ones.
J Farrington is from Arlington, Massachusetts. They graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a degree in Psychology, a minor in Gender Studies, and a certificate in American Sign Language. His undergraduate thesis explored trans and non-monogamous individuals' experiences of interpersonal care and social support. During this time, he interned at the Center for Positive Sexuality, where he designed a curriculum on the best practices for affirming non-monogamous clients in therapy. After graduation, they began working as a sexual health educator in queer spaces throughout Western Massachusetts. These experiences sparked their interest in relationships, family dynamics, and care, leading them to pursue a career in Couple and Family therapy. He is passionate about creating therapeutic spaces where clients feel safe, supported, and affirmed in their identities. Outside of academic pursuits, he also has an extensive background in environmental conservation and trail work. He enjoys spending time with trees, gardening, reading food writing, and creating linocut prints.
Jonathan Luna is from Arlington, Virginia. He graduated from George Mason University with a B.A. in Psychology and a concentration in Clinical Psychology. During his time as an undergraduate, he volunteered on George Mason University’s Spanish Emotional Support Line, where he provided emotional support to the Spanish-speaking community and later served as an On-Call Supervisor. Through this experience, he discovered his passion for expanding access to bilingual mental health care. Jonathan has also been involved in his church community for several years, where he has worked closely with the youth group. He has helped lead bilingual workshops on various psychology topics, community service projects, and group activities, while also supporting younger members. His passion lies in providing culturally responsive mental health care and serving as a resource for Latino families and other underserved communities. He is especially interested in helping families navigate cultural stigma, language barriers, and limited access to care while strengthening their relationships. During his free time, Jonathan enjoys playing and watching soccer, traveling to new places, learning new languages, and trying new foods.
Jorrin Ellison (she/her) was born and raised in Prince George's County, Maryland. She graduated from the University of Maryland in 2026 with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Portuguese and Brazilian studies. During her time as an undergrad at Maryland, she was a research assistant with the Resilient Adaptation across Culture and Context lab. Here she helped one of their nonprofit partners create a free group therapy program for African and Caribbean immigrants. Through this experience she learned how important social support can be, especially for marginalized groups. She was also a teaching assistant for the Psychology of Happiness course and Parliamentarian for the National Council of Negro Women’s University of Maryland section. These experiences helped her understand the importance of community which sparked her interest in Marriage and Family Therapy.
She believes community is an integral part of mental health and therefore wants to aid others in mending and growing the important relationships in their lives.
Outside of school, Jorrin likes to paint, sculpt, and hang out with friends.
Mist Nguyen (they/she) is from New York. They have lived in Maryland for ten years, working as an Emergency Medical Technician before attending the University of Maryland to complete their Bachelor of Science in Family Health with a minor in American History. Mist's time as an EMT during the COVID-19 pandemic gave them invaluable experience with working with patients during high stress situations and patients who were very different from their own background. Their undergraduate studies included maternal and child health, child development, introductions to couples and family therapy, and immigration and ethnicity in the United States. Mist also interned at the Center for Healthy Families as an undergraduate student, where they were able to observe live therapy sessions and assisted with clerical duties.
Mist has gone through their own mental health journey and wants to become a Couples and Family Therapist in order to help others receive the same help that they did during their mental health struggles. They are passionate about representing LGBTQ+ and Asian people in the field of behavioral health and want to be an accessible resource for LGBTQ+ people and children of immigrants, being a child of Vietnamese immigrants themselves. Mist also wants to help address provider burnout, as they witnessed first hand what it did to providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. During their free time, Mist loves to lift weights, go on hikes, watch movies, play video games, and spend time with loved ones.
Rana Cayir (she/her) was born and raised in Istanbul, Türkiye. After immigrating to the United States as a teenager, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Florida State University, with minors in Religion and Women’s Studies. As an undergraduate, she volunteered as a research assistant and mental health peer educator while working at a local crisis hotline. Rana began her professional career in education as a substitute teacher and paraprofessional. After relocating to Maryland in 2024, she was introduced to the field of Applied Behavior Analysis as a Registered Behavior Technician. In this role, she implemented behavioral therapy programs for children and adolescents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder across clinical, school, and home settings. Her experience working closely with children and their families, along with her lived experience as an immigrant, inspired Rana to pursue a career in Couple and Family Therapy. In her practice, she hopes to foster a therapeutic environment characterized by compassion, openness, and intersectional understanding. Her academic interests include attachment and relational development, intergenerational trauma, neurodivergence and relational well-being, sociocultural stress, immigrant and first-generation experiences.
Outside the classroom, Rana finds creative expression through cross-stitching, sewing, and collaging. As someone relatively new to Maryland, she especially enjoys exploring parks, trails, museums, local markets, and community events.