About Us

Jennifer Staffero
LCSW 20294
Clinical Lead Counselor

Jennifer Staffero has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2001 and has over 27 years of counseling experience. She attended Gavilan College then transferred to CSU, Fresno where she earned a B.A. in Psychology and a Masters of Social Work degree. As a first-generation college student, she understands the demands and stressors that students face. It is her ambition to empower students to embrace who they are, learn valuable coping skills, and achieve the success they desire.

Edward Colorado
LCSW 89031
Counselor

Edward is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He graduated from Stanislaus State with a B.A. in Psychology and in Sociology. He received his Masters in Social Work at Stanislaus State as well. Prior to joining PCS in 2019, he worked providing counseling to teens and young adults experiencing psychosis. Edward has also worked with youth from kindergarten to high school, providing counseling services.

Kimberly Richardson
LCSW 29532
Counselor

Kimberly Richardson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). She is an alumnus of Stanislaus State, obtaining both her B.A. in Organizational Communication and a Masters in Social Work (MSW) from the university. With over 15 years of experience in the social services field, Kimberly has witnessed the healing power that occurs when a person is SEEN and HEARD, thus she makes this her primary intention in all of her sessions. Kimberly strives to offer a compassionate and empathetic space to foster healing. Kimberly specializes in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR ) therapy.  Outside of the office, she enjoys dancing, music and spending time with loved ones.

Andrea Perkins
LCSW 92765
Counselor

Andrea Perkins is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). She is a graduate of Stanislaus State, obtaining her Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Liberal Studies (with a Concentration in Child Development). Andrea has over 20 years of experience in the social services field, which includes working with clients of various diverse backgrounds: socio-economic, racial, ethnic, LGBTQ, foster children and families. Andrea has provided support to patients and families coping with medical challenges, disabilities, grief, loss and end-of-life experiences within hospital settings. She has served as a Lecturer of Social Work and Faculty Liaison with the Stanislaus State Social Work Department for more than 8 years. Prior to joining PCS, she has provided counseling services to clients struggling with serious and ongoing mental health challenges. Andrea is committed to providing support to students as they strive to overcome challenges or stressors which may hinder their ability to achieve their personal or academic goals and overall emotional well-being. “I am committed to walking alongside you in your journey to obtain emotional healing”. ~ Andrea Perkins

Julia Rosas-Nieto
LMFT 99803
Counselor

Her passion for supporting and encouraging others has been a part of me for years. Currently, I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Her educational background includes an MS in Marriage and Family Therapy from CSU, Long Beach. Additionally, she has a BS in Psychology with a minor in Spanish from UC, Merced. She has been working with PCS for about 2 years. Prior to that, she has provided counseling services since 2013. In the sessions, her most used theoretical orientations are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused, and Self-Compassion Therapy. When she is not in the office, she enjoys spending time with her family.

Amanada Peterson
LMFT 109785
Counselor

Amanda is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist working as a Counselor at CPS since 2020. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of the Pacific and her master’s in clinical psychology from Azusa Pacific University. She started in mental health residential services 10+ years ago working with young adults struggling with severe mental illness and working on their recovery. She has engaged with clients in elementary schools, college, the community, and private practice. She utilizes a combination of person-centered and cognitive behavioral therapy as her primary treatment modalities. She provides a warm treatment environment utilizing education along with empathetic support to provide a sense of safety and comfort to address the client’s choice in topics. Outside of therapy, she enjoys time with family, is passionate about rescue animals, and is an amateur gardener.

Ruthie Torres
LMFT 1113776
Clinical Case Manager & Community Liaison

Ruthie is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). After earning a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education, she graduated with her Master’s in Clinical Psychology, from Brandman University in 2016.  Ruthie has a strong background working with individuals experiencing severe mental illness, cooccurring disorders and crisis intervention. Ruthie has previously worked providing direct services to a diverse population of clients in the private and public mental health sector. Ruthie employs Cognitive Therapy and mindfulness-based interventions to support recovery and rehabilitation using a person-centered philosophy to build and strengthen natural resource, with the goal of facilitating an increased sense of wellness.

My life motto is "You win some; you lose some" 

Jaclyn Garcia
LMFT 109469
Counselor - Stockton Campus

She is am a proud alum of Stan State and also a first-generation graduate. She was born and raised in the central valley where she has remained, staying connected & rooted to her community. She is passionate about helping others and seeing them rise above their difficulties.  Over the years, she has worked with diverse populations and most recently in a forensic setting where she worked in depth with those experiencing anxiety, panic, depression, trauma, grief, substance use and more. Through a humanistic and client-centered approach, grounded in authenticity, it is important for her to create a non-judgmental and safe environment for all of her clients. She feels privileged to have this opportunity in working with Stanislaus State college students and to give back to the community that was supportive through her academics. She is dedicated to our college students in seeing they have the opportunity to enhance their existing strengths, increase coping strategies, resources, and build a healthy support system. The most important aspect to remember to her, is that you are not alone in your struggles and through authentic human connection, one can find resolution and healing.

Her favorite moto is: “We rise by lifting others” – Robert Ingersoll

Susan Brumm
LPCC 115
Counselor

Susan Brumm is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor.  She came to the United States as a young international student, the first person in her immediate family to graduate from college.  Later in life, she embarked on a second career and completed her Master’s degree in counseling.  She has worked as a counselor for more than 15 years and is in her fourth year at Stan State.  She has worked with clients of all ages, from 2 to 96, in previous jobs.  Susan is client-centered in her approach to therapy and enjoys supporting students through the challenges of college, family, relationships; helping students build their confidence and identity; and providing a safe place for healing from trauma.

Tami Weise
Administrative Support Coordinator II

Tandy Das
MFT Trainee

Tandy is an MFT Trainee and Graduate Student at Stanislaus State who is passionate about supporting college students through unique challenges such as identity development, relationships, academic stress, life transitions, and more. As a Black, Filipino, and Indian clinician-in-training, they bring a multicultural perspective and commitment to culturally responsive, social-justice-oriented care. Their experience as a Well-Being Ambassador at the Stockton campus and their work at PREVAIL have strengthened their commitment to mental-health advocacy, crisis support, wellness outreach, and connecting individuals with meaningful resources. They are dedicated to creating a compassionate, affirming, and supportive space where students can explore their experiences, build resilience, and develop coping strategies that support their overall well-being. Outside of school and work, she enjoys exploring new hobbies and interests. Recently, she has especially enjoyed spending time with friends and family, hiking and exploring the outdoors, and listening to and making music.

Sasha Martello
MFT Trainee

Sasha is an MFT trainee and Graduate student. She is a proud alumna of Stanislaus State, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and competed as a softball collegiate athlete. As a former student-athlete, she understands firsthand the pressures and challenges that come with balancing academics, athletics, with the demands of everyday life. She is passionate about creating a supportive and safe space where clients can recognize their strength and resilience, discover their full potential, and feel empowered throughout their healing journey. She takes an eclectic approach to therapy, drawing from therapeutic modalities such as Humanistic, CBT, and ACT to meet the needs of each client. Sasha strives to empower every individual she has the honor of working with by fostering an environment where clients can find their voice, explore their experiences, heal, and grow.  

Jordan Bettencourt
MFT Trainee

Jordan is an MFT Trainee and Graduate Student at Stanislaus State. She takes an integrative approach utilizing aspects of CBT, ACT, and Humanistic modalities. She is motivated by social justice and passionate about creating a safe and supportive environment for all students. She emphasizes the importance of self compassion and radical acceptance, and seeks to improve her clinical skills by gaining experience helping students pursue their values. When she isn’t at work she enjoys practicing mindfulness through gardening as well as spending time with her family

Andy Xiong
PCC Intern

Andy is a PCC intern and a graduate student at CSU Stanislaus. He is in the Counseling program specializing in a Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential and a Professional Clinical Counselor (PCC) licensure. As a first-generation student, he graduated from UC Merced with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Spanish. Andy values advocacy and providing support for all individuals regardless of background and uses a person-centered approach, while incorporating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), allowing clients to feel heard and supported. Outside of the office and his academics, he enjoys working out at the gym, reading, spending time with friends/family, and watching TV shows.

Esteban Juarez
PCC Intern

Esteban is a PCC intern and graduate student at Stan State. Esteban earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Fresno State. While at Fresno State Esteban was involved in multiple organizations and understood the stress and challenges students face when trying to maintain multiple responsibilities. Esteban takes a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach while incorporating a person-centered environment to create a non-judgmental, safe, inviting, and inclusive space. Outside of school and work, Esteban enjoys spending time with his cat, going to the movies, and spending time with family.  

Shauna Johnston
MSW Intern

Shauna is currently a Master of Social Work (MSW) student at California State University, Stanislaus, where she earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology and played collegiate soccer. As a first-generation college student, she understands the challenges, growth, and perseverance that can come with navigating higher education. She previously interned at Jessica’s House, where she worked with children and families experiencing a death. Through this experience, she developed a deeper understanding of grief and learned the importance of creating a safe, compassionate, and supportive environment for individuals as they process difficult experiences. She is passionate about building meaningful connections with others and helping individuals recognize their strengths, develop coping skills, and work toward their personal goals.