The Jeri Weiss Mental Health Program

The Jeri Weiss Mental Health Program at Camino Nuevo Charter Academy offers a wide range of free mental health services to the network’s uninsured children and their families, helping them overcome social and emotional challenges and regain the focus and motivation to succeed in school and in life.

Through the program, students and their families can receive individual and group therapy for a variety of challenges, ranging from abuse to neglect to trauma. The staff also works closely with teachers and administrators, providing them with tools and strategies to best support students who are struggling.

By having access to mental health services during the school day, more students are able to get the help they need and realize their academic goals. Camino Nuevo also partners with other agencies to meet the mental health needs of our students and families. To access mental health services at your school, please reach out to the Family Services Coordinator at your school.

The Jerri Weiss Mental Health program also offers practicums for eligible candidates pursuing a master's degree in marriage and family therapy, a master's degree in social work, or a doctorate in psychology. To inquire about practicum opportunities, please email our Director of Mental Health, Alexandra Plascencia at [email protected].

Meet Our Staff

Alexandra Barillas, LMFT Director of Mental Health	Alexandra is the Director of Mental Health. She brings 9 years of dedicated experience in supporting individuals and families through their mental health journeys. Before stepping into leadership, she progressed through the field as a trainee, associate, licensed mental health clinician, and supervisor, gaining deep insight into the complexities of mental health care. With a strong commitment to serving the Latinx community, Alexandra is passionate about ensuring families receive culturally responsive and accessible mental health support. Her journey in this field began in the classroom as a preschool teacher, where she recognized the need for more comprehensive family support beyond the school setting. This realization led her to pursue a career in mental health. Alexandra earned her undergraduate degree from Cal State Los Angeles before obtaining a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy with an emphasis in trauma studies from Pacific Oaks College. Her expertise in trauma-informed care and family systems has allowed her to advocate for and implement meaningful mental health programs that empower individuals and strengthen communities. Alexandra remains dedicated to fostering compassionate, inclusive, and effective mental health services that create lasting change for the families she serves.
Arisdelsy Renteria, LMFT Clinical Supervisor, Kayne Siart Campus	Arisdelsy started her journey with CNCA in 2021 at the Kayne Siart Campus as a Licensed Clinician. She received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from California State University Los Angeles. She also has a Masters in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy with a specialization to work with Spanish speaking communities from Mount Saint Mary's University. Prior to joining CNCA, Arisdelsy spent 4 years working in community mental health as an employee of Dignity Health – California Hospital. She is currently the Clinical Supervisor for the Mental Health Associate's and Trainees at Kayne, Eisner and Castellanos campuses. Arisdelsy also supports attendance initiatives at Kayne Siart campus and is a member of the Success Conference Planning Committee as well as the Ethnic Studies Committee. Arisdelsy is passionate about decreasing the stigma of mental health within marginalized communities and empowering others to practice self-advocacy.
Jeannette Arias, AMFT Associate Mental Health Therapist, Kayne Siart Campus	Jeannette Arias is a first generation college student from Mount Saint Mary’s University. During her time at MSMU, she joined Camino Nuevo as a Marriage and Family Therapist trainee in 2022. In August 2024, she joined the Kayne Siart team as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. She is passionate about supporting families and students in their growth and well-being. Jeannette approaches her students with a playful smile and curiosity to learn from them. Jeannette became interested in the mental health field her freshman year in high school while attending a psychology class. As a result, she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University of Dominguez Hills in 2016. After some time as a homemaker, her son inspired her to pursue her dream of becoming a Marriage and Family Therapist and received her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2023. Jeannette possesses the skills to work with children, teens, and families, helping them overcome life’s challenges and struggles. She has guided individuals to overcome anxiety, trauma, emotional distress, self-esteem, and difficulties with life adjustments. She focuses on the needs of each individual and implements different modalities that best fit such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), person centered approach, and play therapy.
Elizabeth "Ely" Palma, AMFT Associate Mental Health Therapist, Burlington	Ely is a passionate mental health professional dedicated to supporting individuals from historically disempowered and marginalized communities. She is driven by the belief that all communities, particularly those with marginalized identities, deserve equitable access to culturally humble mental health care, Ely’s work is deeply rooted in principles of cultural responsiveness, anti-racism, and anti-oppression. She celebrates the multi-faceted stories, voices, and strengths of BIPOC communities, and strives to contribute to the decolonization and destigmatization of mental health care. Ely holds a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, Trauma Studies from Pacific Oaks College. She earned her undergraduate degree from Tufts University, where she majored in American Studies and minored in Latinx Studies. Since beginning her professional career in 2022 as an MFT trainee at CNCA, Ely has served as a clinician at the Burlington campus, approaching her work from a person-centered, emotionally-focused, and attachment-oriented lens. She is committed to helping clients gain clarity on their needs and empowering them to cultivate fulfilling relationships with themselves and others. Ely is also EMDR trained, further enhancing her ability to support individuals in their healing journeys. Outside of her professional life, Ely enjoys cooking, reading, spending time in nature, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Delorie Flores, LMFT Licensed Mental Health Therapist, Castellanos Campus	Delorie Flores was born and raised in South Los Angeles. She is our Licensed Marriage and Therapist and started her Journey with CNCA in November of 2023 at our Jose Castellanos Elementary School .She received her Bachelors Degree in Sociology with a Minor in Child Development from California State University of Fullerton. She also received a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, Los Angeles. Prior to working for CNCA she worked with programs in Los Angeles that aimed towards creating safer and healthier communities by addressing gang violence .Delorie is also certified in Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) where she is able to provide clients with an alternative to processing trauma. Much of her experience was gained in providing mental health services to children, adolescents, and adults specifically in Grief and Trauma. She currently works with students in grades TK-5th and aims towards providing services to them using creativity and Art Therapy.
Joe Galindo, LMFT Clinical Supervisor, Dalzell Lance Campus	Joe Galindo, a Los Angeles native, began his education at Glendale and Pasadena City Colleges before earning a Bachelor's in Business with a Finance concentration from the University of Phoenix. Driven by a passion for helping others, he pursued a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy with a specialization in Trauma from Pacific Oaks College. Joe started his mental health career in 2016 at Camino Nuevo Charter Academy’s Miramar High School, completing his practicum and internship. After graduating in 2017, he worked with a Department of Mental Health agency, supporting foster youth with high needs. In 2019, after becoming licensed, he joined Dalzell Lance High School as a Mental Health Therapist and was promoted to Clinical Supervisor in 2021, mentoring trainees as he was once mentored. Specializing in trauma, grief, anxiety, and depression, Joe tailors his approach to each client using modalities like CBT, TF-CBT, DBT, EMDR, and Mindfulness. Now in his sixth year at Dalzell Lance, he remains committed to fostering healing and growth in his community.
Margherita Mera, LMFT Licensed Mental Health Therapist, Dalzell Lance Campus	Margherita Mera was born and raised in Italy, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education and started working as a Professional Educator in her community and local schools. She moved to the United States in 2017, where she earned her Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from USC in 2019, and is currently working towards obtaining her Doctorate of Education in Mental Health Leadership. Margherita began her professional journey with Camino Nuevo in 2018 as a Marriage and Family therapist trainee at our Miramar campus. She came to Dalzell-Lance as a volunteer in 2021 where she now is a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist. Margherita’s expertise lies in working with teens, their families, as well as young adults, working on issues ranging from anxiety and depression to self-esteem, trauma, difficulty adjusting to life transitions, complicated relationships, or with people who simply wanted to get to know themselves better. In her experience, a “one size fits all” approach does not apply when it comes to therapy. This is why she prioritizes a person-centered approach. She incorporates trauma-informed care and various therapeutic interventions based on what each person needs, including existential therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, energy psychology, play, and expressive arts.
Danitza Reveles, LMFT Licensed Mental Health Therapist, Eisner Campus	Danitza Reveles was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and her Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University. Danitza started with CNCA in 2018 as an intern providing services to Eisner, Burlington, and Dalzell students. After graduating from Pepperdine University, she continued working with marginalized communities with The Village Family Services, providing individual and family therapy to foster youth and parents. Danitza is currently the clinical therapist at CNCA’s Jane B. Eisner campus. Danitza’s culture and community inspired her career as a mental health therapist. Danitza aspires to bridge the gap in access to mental health services in marginalized communities. Operating through a decolonized framework, Danitza recognizes the intersectionality of an individual’s identity and honors their expertise within themselves. She emphasizes a client-centered, trauma-informed approach and incorporates interventions from Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT), narrative therapy, mindfulness, liberation psychology, and arts in her therapeutic work.
Elizabeth Esquivel, LMFT Clinical Supervisor, Burlington Campus	Elizabeth Esquivel, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Clinical Supervisor at Camino Nuevo Charter Academy’s Burlington campus, brings over 15 years of experience in mental health. Born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico, she is bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural, ensuring culturally inclusive care for her clients. Elizabeth began her career as an MFT Trainee in 2008 and played a key role in establishing the Jerri Weis Mental Health Team at CNCA. She specializes in anxiety, depression, trauma, parenting, and assimilation struggles, using a person-centered, trauma-informed approach. Passionate about supporting families, she emphasizes empowering parents—particularly mothers—to heal and thrive. She holds two Bachelor’s degrees from CSUN in Mexican-American Literature and Sociology and a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pacific Oaks College. Her experience with DCFS as a Social Worker further deepened her understanding of family dynamics and child welfare. Committed to holistic care, Elizabeth continues to advocate for resilience and healing within her community.
Estela Magaña, LCSW Clinical Supervisor, Cisneros Campus	Estela Magana is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Clinical Mental Health Supervisor at Camino Nuevo Charter Academy, Sandra Cisneros Campus. She holds a double Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and Spanish Literature from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California (USC) in 2012. With a strong background in mental health, Estela spent seven years at a Department of Mental Health (DMH)-contracted agency, where she worked with diverse populations, including children ages 0-5, teenagers, young adults, and parents, providing individual, family, and group therapy. As an LCSW, Estela is passionate about providing a comprehensive practicum experience for interns, fostering the next generation of mental health professionals. In addition to supervising mental health interns, Estela maintains an active caseload of students and is deeply engaged in the school community. She is particularly dedicated to creating workshops and resources to promote mental health awareness among parents and staff. Outside of her professional role, Estela enjoys spending quality time with her family, taking her dogs on walks, hiking, and enjoying nature. A coffee enthusiast, she finds joy in the simple pleasures of life while maintaining a strong work-life balance.