MS, Couple and Family Therapy Students
Adrian Cortez (he/him) was born and raised in Washington, DC and now lives in Maryland. He graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a B.S. in Family Science. Throughout undergrad Adrian worked in a bilingual DCPS school with second graders, fostering their overall well-being and comfort. After graduating he worked for over two years as a CI/CT for the Colorado Department of Public Health. Adrian worked primarily in regard to COVID-19 but also helped the state and local public health departments in other areas such as avian influenza and food/water-borne illnesses. Through this work he provided emotional support while connecting diverse and underserved communities/families to information and resources in Spanish and English. Adrian has since volunteered in hospice, visiting and sharing connections with patients. Adrian is also a Trevor chat/text volunteer crisis counselor for the Trevor Project supporting LGBTQ+ youth. His areas of interest are gender identity in youth and their families and is passionate about finding ways to provide specified support for the LGBTQ+ community regarding IPV. During his free time Adrian loves to connect with nature, rollerblade, bike, hike, find new music, do B&W photography, share moments with friends, and spend time with his pets.
Isaiah Myers (he/him) was born in Washington DC and raised in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. He is a senior in the Master's program in Couples and Family Therapy at the University of Maryland College Park, where he also obtained a Bachelor of Science in Family Science with a minor in Human Development. His preferred therapy models include CBT, Collaborative, EFT, Theraplay interventions, Sandtray interventions, Bowen, and Structural. Isaiah has gained many hours of clinical experience through the Couples and Family Therapy master's program at the Center for Healthy Families. He has also had the privilege of working with the non-profit organization Community of Hope DC, where he served in family shelters, gaining invaluable experience. Also, Isaiah has contributed to various volunteer initiatives. This range of experiences has honed his communication skills and underscored the value of privacy and discretion when dealing with families and individuals. When he's not working, he can be found exploring new places, engaging in a game of tennis, refining his culinary skills, indulging in the serene beauty of aquarium keeping, or enjoying a ride on his motorcycle.
Janae Freemen (she/her) graduated from Morgan State University in 2021 with a B.S in Psychology. She has completed 24 hours of Masters level Marriage and Family Therapy courses at Pfeiffer University. She currently resides in Columbia, South Carolina and enjoys the beach, and outdoor activities. Janae has a passion for music, she was a devoted member of the illustrious Morgan State University choir. Janae's career goal is to own a family counseling practice with a focus in play art, music and other alternative therapies.
Leilani Chavez (she/her) is from Hyattsville, MD. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a Bachelor of Science in Community Health and a specialization in Health Risk Behavior. After graduating, she has worked as a Community Health Worker and Lifestyle Coach at Holy Cross Health (HCH), assisting community members in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties by offering bilingual health education, informal counseling, and social support. Through community outreach and health education, Leilani has had the privilege to assist and interact with diverse communities needing resources such as food, housing assistance, car seat assistance, and so much more. As a Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Coach, she has led multiple groups of participants through a year-long CDC-recognized lifestyle change program to reduce the risk of diabetes in individuals with prediabetes or at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Leilani enjoys encouraging and supporting her participants to pursue a healthy lifestyle by giving them tips and advice on eating healthy, being physically active, and reducing stress. She sees the best in her participants and cheers them on as they make small changes that lead to significant accomplishments. Leilani’s interests include grief and loss, children and divorce, and the impact of substance abuse on families. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, walking, and caring for her plants.
Matthew Alvarez (he/him) is from Miami, Florida and graduated from the University of Florida with his B.A. degree in psychology. In his undergraduate career, he has spent his time serving his local communities as well as those abroad while gaining skills necessary to be equipped to help others such as being certified in CPR as well as an emergency medical responder. Matthew worked in a psychiatric rehabilitation center in Rockville, MD that helps adults learn life skills and gain a more solid grasp on independence as well as a helping hand when needed. Matthew’s research interest includes building better communication between others, helping manage expectations and breaking down barriers and stigmas surrounding mental health. During his free time, Matthew enjoys playing board games, going on hikes, singing and having a laugh with friends.
Max Frankel (he/him) was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. He graduated from San Diego State with honors, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in communications. As an undergraduate, he worked as a crisis hotline respondent, also actively contributing to the hotline's outreach team, which worked to destigmatize seeking help and support. Max further played a pivotal role as a member of a research lab focused on developing innovative tools to measure early language acquisition as well as assess the impact COVID-19 had on children's language learning. His journey extends beyond academics and research as he engaged in the campus community. He worked with a food bank and a center for displaced children, along with serving as a teaching assistant and tutor for subjects including rhetoric, communications, and math. These experiences have all strengthened his interest in the therapeutic field with emphases on LGBTQ+ care, sex therapy, relational communication, and non-traditional family/relationship structures. Max finds joy in journaling, thrifting, jogging to his favorite music, and spending time with friends and family.
Ola Elwakeel (she/her) is from Cairo, Egypt. She graduated from the American University in Cairo (AUC) in 2018 with a B.A. in psychology (highest honors). Her undergraduate thesis focused on analyzing, through a socio-cultural lens, the manifestation of depression amongst Egyptian women. She recognizes the significance of socio-cultural dynamics, and aims to develop culturally-sensitive therapeutic approaches and interventions. Shortly after graduation, she had the opportunity to train at a reputable psychiatric hospital in Egypt -Al Mashfa- where she further developed her understanding of different disorders, therapeutic treatments, and psychological assessments. After that, for a period of 5 years, she was able to gain extensive experience in working with children and adolescents with special needs and neurodevelopmental disorders, in both specialized centers and international school settings. As a cognitive therapist and later a learning support teacher, she provided interventions for clients/students with very diverse profiles and varying abilities (ADHD, LDs, ASD, and CP to name a few). She empowered and supported them to reach their maximum potential, and also provided their parents with guidance and strategies to assist them in best supporting their children. Prior to joining the University of Maryland, she also became an accredited executive functioning (EF) coach through the Connections in Mind foundation in the UK. Ola was then able to take initiative, propose a plan, and have the honor of introducing and teaching executive functioning classes at her school, making it the first school in Egypt to offer such classes. She aims to have EF interventions complement and enrich her therapeutic approaches, so as to better serve her clients, specifically those who have neurodivergent brains. Her research interests include, but are not limited to, personality disorders in couples/families, the impact of neurodiversity on couples/families, intimate partner violence, and intergenerational trauma. She also hopes to be able to serve Muslim and Arab communities, as well as historically underrepresented communities, and those for whom therapeutic access has been limited or challenging. In her free time, Ola enjoys working out, exploring new places, reading, and spending time with loved ones.
Adriana Munoz (she/her) was born and raised in Modesto, California. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a B.A. in Classics and a minor in Applied Psychology. During her time at UCSB, Adriana worked as a research assistant for the S.H.E Lab where she focused on studying barriers to healthcare for sexual minority women. She also worked as a Mental Health Coordinator for UCSB Associated Students to organize campus events focused on mental well being. After graduating, Adriana took on a position as a Behavior Technician for a year working with autistic children and their families. Most recently, Adriana worked as a Social Work Assistant with Welbe Health in Long Beach for two years where she gained experience working with older adults facing financial and socio-emotional hardship. Through her career, Adriana has had experience working with diverse clients, particularly Spanish speaking and immigrant populations. Adriana is passionate about continuing to work with low income immigrant families and Latine individuals to understand the impact of acculturation on familial dynamics and 2nd generation children’s relationships. In her free time, Adriana enjoys exploring museums and nature, trying different restaurants, going thrift shopping, and doing any and all things creative.
Arina Borodkina (she/her) was born in Meleuz, Russia and moved to the United States at the age of 6, where she was raised in Portland, Oregon. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Portland State University in 2024 with a B.A. in Sociology and a minor in Psychology. Her research interests include the effects of legislative decisions on community mental health, culturally-specific methods of addressing intimate partner violence, and the family systems of Post-Soviet populations. Due to her own complex immigration experiences, Arina embodies a lived understanding of the challenges immigrant families face with acclimating to new environments, social, political, and economic challenges, and in raising children amidst times of high stress.
Arina prides herself on being an advocate for breaking painful intergenerational cycles and bridging communication barriers that arise in diverse multigenerational families.
As an undergraduate, Arina held a variety of jobs which furthered her knowledge of clinical mental health. She worked in a medical setting during the COVID-19 pandemic, as a Research Assistant in the PSU Department of Gerontology, and as a Program Aid to an official Youth Advisory Body. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Arina helped develop a mutual-aid project to provide fresh food and supplies to homeless individuals in Portland as response to insufficient city aid. In her free time, Arina enjoys cooking for her loved ones, exploring new neighborhoods, curating thematic playlists, and reading 3 books at a time.
Emily Schonemann (she/her) is from Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from the University of Missouri Columbia in May 2021 with a B.A. in Psychology and a B.A. in Philosophy. While in undergrad, she studied abroad in Lancaster, England at Lancaster University where she volunteered with the Crisis Line as a phone operator for the students of the university in thrice monthly overnight shifts. Following completing her undergraduate studies Emily moved to London, England where she studied a MSc in Mental Health and Psychological Therapies at Queen Mary University of London. During her post-graduate education Emily completed clinical hours with MIND Mental Health charity in the London Borough of Camden supporting individuals with severe mental health conditions with accessing government benefits and personal goals. In addition to individual support, she led therapeutic groups for anxiety and depression as well as specialized groups for individuals who hear voices or experience hallucinations. Following graduation Emily gained employment in the National Health Service (NHS) in the South London Borough of Croydon with a community mental health clinic supporting patients with severe mental health conditions including psychosis. During her employment Emily held a caseload average of 25 patients supporting them with guided support plans to achieve individual patient recovery goals. Some patient recovery goals included finding suitable housing following hospital discharge, engaging in community activities, and coleading family therapy sessions. Outside of her normal employment Emily interned in a Systemic Family Therapy Clinic in the London Borough of Westminster where she worked supervised with a licensed Family Therapist and reflecting team to conduct family therapy sessions. During her training in the family therapy clinic Emily completed the Post-Graduate Certificate in Peer Supported Open Dialogue and Family Therapy at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University and London Southbank University. In her free time Emily enjoys being active through running, swimming, and long walks in green spaces. Emily also values traveling and exploring other cultures and speaks intermediate Spanish. She also likes being creative with her favorite outlets being painting, embroidery, and knitting. Emily also has two cats, Lewis and Isla Jane, who she likes to spend time with at home, reading and watching movies and shows.
Helen Romero (she/her) is from Silver Spring, MD. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Currently and throughout her years pursuing her undergraduate degree, she has worked as a Certified Trainer at Chipotle where her goal is to provide a welcoming and warm atmosphere to incoming hires while maintaining company standards. She is passionate about strengthening and mending familial relationships, especially through the processes of divorce and separation and understanding the emotional impacts behind these changes. Helen enjoys getting involved in her church community, running, exploring new places, trying new foods, and spending quality time with friends and family.
Jalan Walker (she/her) was born in San Diego, California, and raised in Waldorf, Maryland. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland College Park and received her Bachelor's in Psychology. During her undergraduate career, Jalan found her passion for working with underrepresented communities while working in the Growth and Resilience Across Development (GARD) lab at the University of Maryland. She also worked as a lab coordinator in the Maryland Psychology Clinic and Research Lab (MPCRL) in which she worked very closely with Dr. Clara Hill the creator of the Helping Skills 3-stage model which is used across the world to help therapists facilitate exploration, insight, and action with clients. One day, Jalan hopes to open up a community center that focuses on teaching underrepresented individuals and families the importance of mental and physical health. Jalan's interests include children and divorce, the stigma surrounding mental health, and Black families. In her free time, Jalan loves cooking and baking new recipes, hiking new trails with her partner and dog, and traveling.
Maddie Fan (she/her) is from Raleigh, North Carolina. She graduated from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies, and a minor in Studio Art in May of 2024. During her time at UNC she gained research experience by being a research assistant in two different labs focusing on positive emotions within romantic partners, and the effects of war and displacement on Syrian refugee mothers and their children, respectively. Maddie was also able to intern at the Southeast Institute of Marriage and Family Therapy where she was able to sit in on supervision sessions and certification training programs, allowing her to gain insight on how therapists collaborate to provide optimal treatment for their clients. Lastly, throughout college, Maddie served as a crisis counselor at the Crisis Text Line where she learned how to support texters struggling with various crises or mental health challenges. Maddie's research interests involve topics surrounding the LGBTQ+ community and the intersection of multiple minority identities on mental health. During her free time, Maddie loves being outside, doing yoga or dance, having quality time with friends, and eating good food!
Mika Graviet (she/her) was born and raised in Boise, Idaho. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Nursing and Minor in Theatre. For the past 3 years, she has lived in Baltimore and worked as a nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit. Mika's experience with patients and families navigating debilitating illness and grief inspired her to pursue her Master's in therapy. During her undergraduate years, Mika interned as a research resident for the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders at Penn and as a nurse intern on an inpatient Psychiatric & Addiction Rehabilitation unit where she supported patients and families battling addiction. In both her current role as a nurse and future work as a therapist, Mika is passionate about prioritizing cultural sensitivity and trauma-informed care. Outside of work, Mika likes to play volleyball, host game nights with friends, and explore new bubble tea cafes.
Victoria Francois (she/her) was born in Nyack, New York and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. She is a graduate of Howard University and received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, summa cum laude, with a minor in Swahili. She had the opportunity to travel to Kenya for an eight-week study abroad program where she immersed herself in the culture, people, food, and traditions, underwent intensive daily Swahili language instruction, and aided in teaching math and English to elementary school students. After completing her education at Howard University, Victoria began working at a clinic for children who have Autism and other related disorders as a Registered Behavior Technician. In this clinical setting, she learned how to utilize Applied Behavior Analysis strategies with her clients while maintaining a fun and playful learning environment.
Victoria is also of Haitian descent and was born to immigrant parents. Her interests include connecting with other first-generation individuals who have similar experiences, making therapy more accessible in underprivileged communities, and providing the necessary tools and support for other young adults, especially those experiencing financial burdens, peer pressure, social media hardships, uncertainty, and much more.
In her downtime, she takes pleasure in painting, exercising, listening to music, and traveling with her family and friends.
Xu “Heidi” Huang (she/her) was born in Beijing and received her Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Fudan University in Shanghai. Before joining the CFT program, Heidi obtained a PhD degree from the department of Neurobiology and Behavior at Cornell University in 2024. Her interests began to shift towards interpersonal dynamics and family therapy during the pandemic and grew through her volunteer experiences with the Suicide Prevention and Crisis Services and Open the Lid, where she answered Warmline calls and workshopped soft skills with clients with I/DD, respectively. After taking a developmental psychology class and giving a presentation about how early adversities are studied in neuroscience labs at the Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York, Heidi was inspired to explore innovative ways to bring the worlds of neuroscience and therapy together. Outside of work, Heidi enjoys hanging out and doing silly things with her friends and her cat Osci, as well as trying out new hobbies and experiences.
Zahra Javaid (she/her) is from Laurel, Maryland. She graduated in 2022 from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a Bachelor of Science in Family Science. After graduating, Zahra worked at an OMHC in Bowie, Maryland, as their Communications Coordinator and On-Site Clinical Manager. In this role, Zahra gained valuable experience in the administrative and operational aspects of a therapy clinic, overseeing the daily workings of 30+ clinicians. The opportunity to work closely with clinicians deepened her admiration for mental health services and patient care.
Passionate about helping others, Zahra is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Couple and Family Therapy, with a focus on providing culturally competent care. She aims to bridge the gap in mental health services for the Muslim and South Asian communities, particularly for those who face cultural stigma when seeking therapy. Her cultural upbringing and bilingual skills enable her to connect deeply with these communities, providing the support and resources they need to address their concerns. Through her work, Zahra hopes to create a safe and welcoming environment for individuals and couples to explore their challenges and find meaningful solutions. Her journey reflects a blend of professional expertise and personal passion, making her a compassionate and effective advocate for mental wellness.