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.

Emily began her yoga journey at 14 years old as a helpful coping skill to get her through some difficult times. At age 22, when she was diagnosed with Bipolar II and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, Emily decided to make yoga a career. Her own struggles with mental health motivated her to become a 200 Hour Certified Yoga and Mindfulness Instructor. Emily strives to aid those who struggle with mental illness, helping them to heal by using the gentle technique of trauma-informed vinyasa yoga. This style of yoga provides a safe space for those who have experienced trauma and allows them to deepen their relationship with themselves.

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.

Gabriel Solla was born and raised on the central coast, and has been working in the mental health field for over 11 years, gaining experience in long term residentials, in home care, and crisis residential treatment. Through this experience, they have observed many disparities and gaps within the system, which motivated them to further their education. They made the decision to go back to college, and in May 2021, obtained a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies from Liberty University. Following this accomplishment, they applied and were accepted into the University of Southern California’s Master of Social Work program, where they are currently pursuing their degree and scheduled to graduate in August 2023.

Lauren Cook graduated from the University of Iowa in May 2020 where she earned a BA in Exercise Science and BFA in Dance. She is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Public Health from USC.

Lauren has always had an interest in medicine, but it wasn’t until she spent time abroad in the Dominican Republic that she realized working at the community level was what she enjoyed most. As a Central Coast native, she loves working with the SLO County community and giving back to the place she has always called home.

Lauren has truly enjoyed meeting and getting to know the clients at Aspire and helping them reach their goals. In her free time, Lauren loves to go hiking, surfing, and doing anything 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.

Calista is a psychology major at Cuesta College. After getting a bachelor’s degree in psychology, she will pursue a master’s degree in clinical psychology. Calista was inspired to pursue a career in therapy after being the client of a therapist. Looking at maladaptive behaviors and dysfunctional dynamics objectively motivated changes in her life that she is grateful for. She feels passionate about the effectiveness of therapy, which drives her motivation to assist clients in their treatment. Having grown up on the Central Coast, Calista enjoys meeting and getting to know clients in her community. Calista enjoys dancing, reading, listening to podcasts, and spending time with friends and family in her free time.

Lauren is an intern therapist at Aspire who is currently pursuing a Master of Clinical Psychology degree from Antioch University with a scheduled graduation date of September 2024. Upon graduation, Lauren plans to continue gaining experience and expanding upon her clinical knowledge, with the ultimate goal of acquiring her license in marriage and family therapy. Prior to pursuing this career path, Lauren’s experience had been in the field of agriculture. Growing up in the Santa Maria Valley, she has always taken great pride in the ag industry and is grateful for the years she spent within it. However, throughout her experience, she felt an intense pull to pursue a career where she could connect with others and lean into her innate sense of empathy and compassion. Working within an intensive outpatient therapy agency has fueled Lauren’s enthusiasm for growing within this field and learning tools to help advocate for and empower clients. Lauren’s therapeutic approach is rooted in empathy, active listening, and collaboration. She believes in creating a non-judgmental space where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered to explore their thoughts and emotions. Drawing from evidence-based practices, she tailors her approach to meet the unique needs of each individual that she has the privilege to work with. In her free time, Lauren enjoys kayaking, golfing, sunset chasing, and being surrounded by family and friends.

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.