Clinical Staff

SANDRA PATRICIA CANOTE, PsyD ABD (LPCC) with over 13 years of experience, is the founder and CEO. She graduated from Loyola Marymount University and received a Master of Arts in Counseling with an emphasis in Mental Health. As a National Certified Mental Health Counselor, she has gained experience working with children, families, couples and individuals across several settings, such as: schools, substance use treatment centers, non-profit organizations and private practice. She is bilingual, fluent in English and Spanish. She is trained in the following evidence based practices (EBP): TF-CBT, CBITS (Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools), Triple P- Positive Parenting Program, DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) and LGBTQIA2s+ affirmative therapy.

Melissa Del Carmen Rodriguez (LMFT) graduated from Pepperdine University and received a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. She specializes in early childhood, transitional aged youth, and family mental health with a specialty in positive parenting strategies, Parent-Child Interactive Therapy, anxiety and trauma focused therapy. Melissa is bilingual, fluent in Spanish and English.

Yadira Gaeta (LCSW) is a bilingual therapist. She is fluent in Spanish. Her experience consists of working with children, families and adults across school, criminal justice system and private practice settings. She is trained in CBT, TF-CBT and DTQI.


Cecilia Licon Aguilar (ACSW) graduated from California State University, Northridge and received a Master of Social Work degree with an emphasis in Urban Communities. She has gained experience working with adults and teenagers. She is a first generation professional WOC. She is bilingual, fluent in Spanish and English. She is trained in Grief Counseling, CBT and uses evidence based therapies. She is currently under the supervision of Sandra Patricia Canote, LPCC.

Crystal Liseth Ochoa (ACSW) is a bilingual associate therapist with experience working with children, families and adults. She is fluent in Spanish. She graduated from University of Southern California and received her Masters in Social Work.

Leslie Del Torro (ACSW) graduated from the University of Southern California and received a Master of Social Work degree with an emphasis in children, youth and families. She has gained her experience working with transitional aged youth, minors and families who have been displaced due to their immigration status in school settings, non profit organizations and group homes. She is bilingual, fluent in Spanish and English. She is trained in CBT.

Crystal Elias (ACSW) graduated from the University of Southern California and received a Master of Social Work degree. She has gained her experience as a social worker assisting transitional aged youth in community clinics and non-profit organizations. She is bilingual, fluent in Spanish and English. She is trained in the following specialties: CBT, TF-CBT and trauma informed care.

Danielle Navaroli (AMFT, APCC) graduated from California State University, Fullerton, and received a Master of Science degree in Counseling. She has gained experience working with adults, teenagers, children (12+), and couples in community clinics and private practice. She uses an integrative approach when working with clients, which draws on evidence-based, person-centered, and other theories. She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). She is currently under the supervision of Sandra Patricia Canote, LPCC.

Yessica Curiel (AMFT/APCC) graduated from California State University, Fullerton, and received a Master of Science degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is a bilingual Spanish-speaking clinician who specializes in attachment trauma with individuals and couples as well as working with BIPOC who experience depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and life transitions. She is trained in emotionally focused therapy and utilizes an attachment and experiential approach with her clients. 

Our Therapy Style

Therapists work collaboratively with families, couples and individuals by using a systemic lens. We guide the sessions by exploring how early childhood experiences within your own family system and various environmental factors, affects your role and the way you view, understand, communicate and overall relate to others. The self-awareness gained in sessions, leads our clients to long-lasting and stronger relationships with friends, partners, family members and community at large.

The Feelings Exchange

Social Justice Initiative

  • The Feelings Exchange is dedicated to helping all clients to achieve wellness and success regardless of background, history or identity. Our values are not only based on social justice but equity. We understand that we live in a time where racism and oppression have been highlighted by oppressive systems. We are committed to openly discuss these systems in session with honor and respect, as we partner with our clients in their healing process. We understand and acknowledge that some of the treatment modalities and theories used in our field, did not take marginalized groups into consideration. We honor the history of the marginalized groups through flexibility and adaptability in our work. We believe in the power of experiencing corrective responses in order to achieve collective growth. As an agency, we are doing our best to address social issues and respond to them as best we can to support our clients and the community socially, environmentally and economically.

  • Social— We work within and beyond our sessions to fight for social justice and dismantle systems of oppression. We practice anti-racism and decolonization of therapy by: assessing mental health care and guiding it away from heteronormative, patriarchal, gender-binary and White narrative; hiring clinicians who are not only skillful in their craft, but who are also committed to working inclusively and willing to challenge themselves by unlearning beliefs rooted in systemic oppression and by using our positions of privilege to advocate for social change and empower our clients to use their voice.

  • Environmental— We maintain sustainable business practices determined to reduce overall impact on the environment by: actively identifying areas in our business to reduce waste and provide online and virtual therapy to minimize the use of office space.

  • Economic Impact— We believe in and provide pro bono work to increase access care for clients by: using a sliding scale to reduce service fees and partner with community organizations that serve disadvantaged populations to offer and provide therapy free of charge.