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Center for Community Counseling and Wellness

The USF Center for Community Counseling and Wellness (CCCW) provides free to low-cost mental health services to adults and couples in the San Francisco community while training the next generation of social justice therapists.

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What We Offer

The CCCW provides high-quality, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive mental health services that address injustices and remove barriers to well-being and health for marginalized and underserved communities in San Francisco. At this time, we offer no fee (in most cases) individual, family, and couples therapy to low-income, uninsured, or otherwise vulnerable adults who do not qualify or cannot access other mental health services due to financial, linguistic, cultural, logistical, or other barriers. No client will be turned away for inability to pay for treatment. Our short-term (12 weeks), evidenced-based counseling services are provided in person and via telehealth to adults (18 years and older) who live or work in San Francisco, are not currently receiving other master’s level mental health services, and are appropriate for outpatient treatment in a community mental health setting. Services include:

Screening, assessment, and client-centered treatment planning
Clinical support services (psychoeducation, case management, and referral to community services and resources)
Mental health counseling utilizing evidence-based, culturally adapted modalities

Am I Eligible?

Services are available to adults who are 18 years and older who live or work in San Francisco. There is no fee for therapy services at this time. Therapy Services are based on individual clinical needs.

Meet Our Counselors

Clinicians at the CCCW are USF graduate Counseling Psychology MFT training program students under the supervision of licensed clinical supervisors.

Gena Castro Rodriguez, Training Coordinator

Dr. Castro Rodriguez is an Assistant Professor at USF and her training, research, and expertise is in interpersonal violence, trauma recovery, and working with survivors of violent crimes. She supports students at CCCW with individual supervision and training.

Cristina Collins, MFTI, MSIO

Cristina Collins is a second-year student in the USF Master’s program for Marriage and Family Therapy and is interested in working with couples. In addition to her current training at the CCCW, Cristina is passionate about social justice and is exploring doctoral programs to continue her advocacy work related to race, diversity, and inclusion.

Nasim Abbassian-Castro (she/her)

Nasim Abbassian-Castro, a Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee in her final year at USF, is committed to advocating for equitable mental health services and addressing intergenerational trauma, with a focus on the Iranian diaspora. She currently provides behavioral health services to justice-involved adults with serious mental illnesses at The Community Assessment Service Center (CASC) within Citywide Case Management at UCSF Department of Psychiatry.

Jing R. Klotz, MA (she/her/hers)

Jing is a third year student in the USF Marriage and Family Therapy program with a special interest in working with individuals facing issues related to identity, trauma, and cultural pressures. Being bilingual in English and Mandarin, Jing’s background growing up in China and navigating life as an immigrant informs her passion for culturally sensitive therapy and supporting clients through complex emotional challenges.

Slava Veselova (she/her)

Slava Veselova (is in her final year at USF Master’s Program for Marriage and Family Therapy. Her aim is to provide person-centered therapy in a supportive and empathetic environment. She hopes that her experience as an immigrant, and being bilingual in Russian and English, can help her provide culturally informed care to our wonderful, diverse community.

USF Social Justice Values

The MFT training program and CCCW are grounded in USF’s social justice values of equity, inclusion, and engagement, all of which provide an important opportunity to provide quality mental health services while training and preparing new therapists. Students at the clinic have completed all core coursework, are supervised and supported by licensed clinicians, and receive initial and ongoing training in trauma-informed strategies, cultural humility, and evidence-based practices.

Work for Social Justice

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Our Mission

At the CCCW, our mission is to provide high-quality, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive mental health services to underrepresented and marginalized communities. We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment that prioritizes the mental well-being of all individuals, ensuring they receive the compassionate care they deserve. Simultaneously, we offer MFT students a supportive and supervised learning environment, where they can develop their skills and practice community mental health care. Through this dual focus, we strive to enhance the overall well-being of our community while nurturing the next generation of dedicated and skilled mental health professionals.