Lacey attended graduate school at USC and received her Master of Social Work degree in December 2020. While attending graduate school Lacey had the opportunity to intern with a non-profit mental health agency that provided treatment to adults, teenagers, children, and families struggling with substance use and mental health. Prior to earning her master’s, Lacey worked as an occupational therapy assistant working with both adults and adolescents struggling with mental health and substance use. Her desire to help individuals stems from watching family members and friends struggle with mental health and/or addiction and not being able at a younger age to help in any capacity. Lacey has a firm belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to be heard and grow from their own past, and desires to aid individuals in this journey.

She has worked in a variety of mental health settings since 2017, which include: intensive outpatient services, inpatient residential working with clients diagnosed with mental health and substance use; private school working with children with behavioral and emotional regulation disturbances; and developing groups for agencies including behavioral modification, parent education on mental health, and women’s trauma.

Lacey found a calling working with individuals who have experienced trauma, struggle with mental health and substance use, and those who feel society has outcasted them. Lacey utilizes a variety of evidence-based treatments to aid clients on their journey and always starts where the client is at. Two of Lacey’s top treatment modalities are trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and harm-reduction.

Lacey enjoys traveling, thrift shopping, drinking iced coffee, hanging with her husky, and being at the beach.

Lisa obtained her Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 1998 from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo and her Master of Social Welfare in 2000 from University of California at Berkeley. Lisa has been a member of NASW since 2000, was the Chair of the SLO Unit for 3 years and received the Award of Social Worker of the Year in 2016.

She has worked at several agencies within San Luis Obispo County including the PATHS program at Child Welfare Services, Family Care Network Inc., Hospice Partners of the Central Coast, and more recently has joined Aspire Counseling Service as a supervisor for Associate Interns.

Lisa has also been teaching at Cuesta College since 2006 in the Human Development/Human Services Department within the Applied Behavioral Sciences Division. Most of her courses are related to Addiction treatment and Social Work. She attended the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals conference in 2019, Evolution of Psychotherapy conference, Wraparound conferences as well as the California Cultural Competence Summit on several occasions. Lisa continues to obtain and provide trainings on a regular basis to enhance her practice.

Lisa has lived in San Luis Obispo for 41 years and enjoys playing and listening to music, hiking, paddle boarding, and being outdoors.

Jacob Fox is an intern counselor currently pursuing a degree in psychology and certification in addiction studies at Cuesta College. With a passion for assisting individuals struggling with mental health challenges and addiction issues, Jacob desires to make a positive impact in his community. Through his commitment to ongoing education and practical experience, he strives to provide empathetic support and evidence-based counseling to those in need. Jacob is dedicated to fostering well-being and facilitating recovery. As he continues to expand his knowledge and skills, Jacob hopes to become a compassionate advocate for mental health and addiction awareness in his county.

Carley obtained her bachelor’s degree in women’s studies and cultural anthropology in 2015 from California State University, Fresno. She moved to the beautiful central coast in 2016. She has always been interested in the mental field, but it wasn’t until she reached out for her own mental health that she realized this was her passion, to help others the way she has been helped.

Carley made the decision to change careers and go back to school in 2022. She is currently in a marriage and family therapy and professional clinical counseling master’s program at Umass Global. Carley is a therapist intern and is expected to graduate with her master’s degree in December 2024. Carley enjoys reading, traveling, taking walks in nature, drinking coffee, spending time with animals, and cooking.