Lisa grew up in Kings County and suffered from substance abuse and alcoholism for many years. She came to Bakersfield in 2006 to attend rehabilitation. Since then, Lisa has been a part of the recovery community in Bakersfield. Lisa watched the disease destroy families for many years. Wanting to help people and give back to her community, she enrolled at Cal State University, Bakersfield in the drug and alcohol studies program, graduating in 2020. After graduating, Lisa became a counselor at Aspire Counseling Services. In her free time, she enjoys live music, comedy, and her large family.

Cynthia was born in a small military town in Okinawa Japan, was raised in Oceanside California, and for the last 18 years has called Bakersfield her home. She is the youngest child of five siblings. She knew very early in life that she had a calling to help others and an unwavering compassion for those in need. She currently holds an AA in Human Services, Psychology, Substance Abuse and Mental Health as well as awaiting her RADT. Being able to effectively contribute to the community from different aspects was her ultimate educational goal. She has contributed many volunteer hours with various organizations within our community and has years of experience working with at risk adolescents.

Her passion for working with clients who suffer from substance abuse issues, specifically adolescents, derives from her own troubles as a young adult. She began her internship with Aspire in June of 2021 and quickly became an official part of the team.

Arieanna was born and raised in Bakersfield, CA. She recently graduated with two Associate Degrees in Sociology and Liberal Arts from Bakersfield College and is continuing her education in order to obtain her Bachelor’s in Psychology. Arieanna has a passion for helping others in any way she can. Her main goal for the future is to work with children and adolescents as a counselor. Her inspiration comes from her personal experiences of dealing with mental health as a preteen; however, she grew up in a household that did not acknowledge mental health. Therefore, Arieanna did not understand what was going on with her or how to manage it. Arieanna shares, “I want to bring awareness to the importance of mental health, so our youth know they are not alone in their struggles and that support is available to them. I want to help teens gain a better understanding of what is going on inside of them, and help them develop healthy coping skills to better manage their symptoms.” In Arieanna’s free time she enjoys traveling, nature, going on hikes, and being around loved ones.

Nicole Baeza, a Kern County resident, who prides herself on her integrity and love for her community, has developed an extensive career in the mental health field. Nicole completed her bachelor’s degree at the California State University of Bakersfield in 2019. Nicole is a graduate from Grand Canyon University in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and now has obtained her associate’s number from the State of California. Additionally, she has credentials from SUDRC and is often attending seminars and studying peer reviews to continue her personal and professional development. In addition to this, Nicole has experience working with children, parents, peers, and community service providers during her time with Child Protective Services and Phoenix House where she worked with incarcerated youth. Nicole is passionate about advocating for youth and their educational needs because of her brother who suffers from severe mental health issues. She shows a genuine interest in helping the community, evidenced by her volunteer role with California Farm Workers and Families, an organization where she contributes her time counseling our agricultural communities. Nicole states that the interest of the community is her number one priority.

Rosamaria Reynosa was born and raised in Bakersfield, CA. She completed her BA at California State University, Bakersfield, and her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Phoenix. Rosamaria has worked with adolescents and adults in various settings and from different socio-economic statuses. She is a RADT and recently obtained her associate’s number from the State of California. Her passion began from her experience of dealing with anxiety and having a parent suffering from alcoholism. Rosamaria wants to bring awareness about addiction and mental health, as they often go hand in hand. She is motivated to educate others on the necessity of mental health services and support those individuals whose families stigmatize mental health. When human beings experience trauma and severe life stressors, it is not uncommon for their lives to unravel. Rosamaria states that her purpose is to bring healing to people by helping her clients find a healthy perception of themselves and achieve their full potential.

Steven Kelly has been a member of the 12-step program for over 30 years. He discovered his true calling while doing hospital panel groups and landed a support staff job in a residential treatment center in Santa Ana. In 2012, he attended TIAC College in Lakewood under Father Jack. Steven describes himself as feeling like Johnny Appleseed, planting the seed of sobriety and watching it grow. Over the years, he has had countless sponsees and has regularly led panel groups. Steven enjoys his job so much that even after retirement he couldn’t stay away and came to Aspire to do the job he loves. In 2019, when his wife passed away, and he returned to Bakersfield after 40 years. Steven has worked in various areas of the addiction treatment industry, including the prison system, outpatient MAT, and residential programs. He is determined to keep planting the seed of sobriety wherever he goes. In his free time, Steven attends meetings, bowls weekly, and has aspirations to write short stories.