Meet Our Staff and Therapists
The Mental Health and Wellness Center is staffed by therapists from Bay Area Clinical Psychology Ph.D. and Psy.D. programs. These practicum interns are supervised by William Firmender, Ph.D.
*Please note: (*) meaning a remote day. We are not available in person on Fridays.
Suzanna Ramirez, Administrative Assistant (she/her)
Available| Monday - Thursday 9 am- 5 pm|Remote Friday* 9 am -2 pm|
Suzanna serves as the administrative assistant at the Mental Health and Wellness Center at De Anza College, where she is also a proud alumna. She holds an associate degree in Liberal Arts with a focus on Social and Behavioral Science, along with an Associate in Communication Studies for transfer. Eager to further her education, Suzanna plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in communication studies. Her passion for supporting her community began in 2012 when she worked with low-income students in after-school programs, creating a safe space for them. In 2019, Suzanna joined the MHWC team and has since discovered a deep passion for her role. She is dedicated to providing her students with essential mental health resources while fully supporting her team.
Outside of work, she is a proud fur mom to a maltipoo named Mela, whom she adores. Suzanna is a compassionate and empathetic employee, deeply committed to the well-being of her students and colleagues.
William Firmender, Ph.D. (he/him) - Director of MHWC and Clinical Training |CA Licensed Psychologist- PSY31057
Available|Monday - Thursday|
Dr. Firmender is a licensed psychologist and the Director of the Mental Health and
Wellness Center at De Anza College. He moved to California after spending his childhood,
adolescence, and early adult years in South Carolina, Washington, D.C., and New York
City. His clinical and research interests include diversity and community mental
health, public policy, program development and evaluation, and therapeutic sports
interventions. He has a great deal of experience helping clients deal with stressful
life transitions. Using a combination of humanistic, behavioral, and attachment approaches
to psychotherapy, he aims to help clients feel comfortable with themselves, feel less
self-critical, and feel capable of making and maintaining meaningful life changes.
Such changes are based on substantive collaboration with clients to create tangible,
realistic, and attainable goals.
Puya Ahmadieh-Yazdi, PhD, CCSP (he/him) - Group Supervisor and Clinical Training Staff|CA Licensed Psychologist- PSY35090
Available|Monday through Thursday|
Dr. Yazdi is a licensed psychologist at the Mental Health and Wellness Center. He received an undergraduate degree in Psychology from University of California, Santa Barbara and received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from Palo Alto University. His clinical and research interests include the intersection of chronic illness and psychosocial stressors, community mental health, and evolutionary psychology. In his clinical work, he has addressed a wide array of concerns such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and ADHD in a wide range of settings such as in community/rural health centers, hospital systems, schools, and even in clients’ homes. Dr. Yazdi also enjoys traveling, playing video games, cooking, and spending time with his cats.
Brian Lippincott, Ph.D. (he/him)
Available|Wednesday|
Brian Lippincott Ph.D is a Psychologist and Supervisor for the Mental Health and Wellness
Center at De Anza College. Dr. Lippincott earned his Bachelor’s degree from Saint
Mary’s College of California in 1978 in the Integral Curriculum of the Liberal Arts
which is a Great Books program. He immediately went on to John F Kennedy University
to earn his Master’s degree in Psychology in 1981 and eventually matriculated to Pacifica
Graduate Institute where he earned his doctorate degree in 1992 with a specialization
in depth psychology. Dr. Lippincott is both a licensed marriage family therapist and
licensed clinical psychologist in the state of California. He has had a private practice
since 1985. Dr. Lippincott returned to John F Kennedy University in 1992 and has been
a faculty since then teaching every quarter in either the masters in psychology program
for MFT, LPCC program or in the PsyD program.Dr. Lippincott has taught a wide variety
of classes ranging from clinical case seminar, group process and other clinical classes
to research and advanced research. Dr. Lippincott spent 20 years working in community
mental health where he was the supervisor of the transition age youth program for
Monterey County which dealt with first episode psychosis. In 2013 Dr. Lippincott founded
the Center for Humanistic Development, a training center in Aptos, Watsonville and
Salinas California, which trains practicum students and interns in Humanistic psychology
and Creative Depth Psychology (CDP.) CDP embraces the ideas of Jung and others regarding
the depth of the human spirit and has a holistic approach. It also involves depth
perception in the outer world and is a community-based psychology aligned with the
work of Michael White and David Epston in Narrative therapy.
Carol Mellberg, MA, ATR, LMFT #37666 (she/her)
Available|Tuesday|
Carol is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a registered Art Therapist. She has a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy with an emphasis in Art Therapy from Notre Dame de Namur University. She has an undergraduate degree in Graphic Design from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and was a student athlete on the Cal Poly women’s tennis team. Carol has worked in the field of Mental Wellness for over 20 years as a Therapist, a Supervisor, and the Director of a Community Based Mental Health agency. Carol combines her interests in sports, arts, and therapy to support students and adults in removing barriers to learning in order to find their authentic voice. She has developed school-based Art Therapy programs to help individuals build resilience during stressful times through choice-making in a space of unconditional positive regard. Carol believes in the power of the individual to find their best solutions through healthy externalization of emotions in a client-centered safe space for exploration. She provides strength-based, trauma-focused therapy for a variety of clinical issues including anxiety, depression, and relationship challenges.
Derrick E Felton, DSW (he/him)
Available|Thursday|
Dr. Felton is an Army Veteran who joined the Mental Health and Wellness Center team in January 2020. He brings extensive experience in trauma, depression, anxiety, and hospice care from his previous roles at Vitas Healthcare and the Department of Veterans Affairs Readjustment Counseling. As a Social Worker, Dr. Felton leverages his social work skills to assess the emotional needs of students.
In addition to his role as a counselor, Dr. Felton is an adjunct professor at De Anza College and Cal State East Bay. He was honored as the 2024 Fellow of the Year for Father’s Uplift [Father's Uplift]. He also serves as the Nor Cal Chapter President for the Society for Social Workers Leadership in Healthcare [SSWLHC] and recently became a member of the Social Work Leadership Foundation Board.
Dr. Felton earned his Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Southern California and holds a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. He also earned a Master's in Public Administration and a Master's in Business Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management. He is a proud member of Phi Alpha, a national honor society dedicated to social workers across the United States.
“True wellness comes from addressing stress through a holistic approach, considering the mind, body, and spirit as interconnected facets of our well-being. Only by nurturing each aspect can we find balance and resilience in the face of life’s challenges.”
Ahsan Rathore, B.A. (he/him)
Available|Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday|
Ahsan is a third-year Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology at Palo Alto University. He earned his B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Prior to beginning his doctoral studies, Ahsan worked as a lead therapist for five years at Behavioral Health Works in Hayward, California, where he provided Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Born in Pakistan and raised in the United States since the age of four, Ahsan brings a multicultural perspective to his clinical work. He has called California home for over a decade, after spending his early years in Missouri. His diverse background informs a culturally sensitive and inclusive approach to therapy. Ahsan has experience delivering evidence-based treatments such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). He has worked with clients facing a wide range of challenges, including depression, anxiety, interpersonal difficulties, PTSD and other trauma related disorders. Grounded in a humanistic and person-centered framework, Ahsan emphasizes empathy, collaboration, and empowerment in the therapeutic relationship. He is passionate about helping clients build resilience, pursue their values, and lead meaningful, fulfilling lives.
Alejandro Ruelas-Mora, B.A. (he/him)
Available|Monday, Wednesday, Friday*|
Alejandro, also known as Taiyari (of Huichol heritage), holds a B.A. in Intensive
Psychology and Sociology with a concentration in G.I.S.E.S. from UC Santa Cruz. He
is currently a third-year doctoral student in Clinical Psychology, with an emphasis
in neuropsychology, at Palo Alto University. He was born and raised in the East Bay
until he moved to work in San Diego after graduating from UCSC, before returning to
the Bay Area for graduate school. Alejandro has extensive experience addressing a
spectrum of concerns across multiple clinical settings, including anxiety disorders,
mood disorders, trauma, life transitions and identity development, grief, academic
stress, personality disorders, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, ADHD, Autism Spectrum
Disorders, substance use, crisis intervention, and personal growth. Alejandro invests
in supporting people from all walks of life, with interests in reinidiginization and
facilitating ways to support clients in reconnecting with their cultural and identity
roots. His clinical work is grounded in trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming,
and strengths-based frameworks that emphasize self-compassion, resilience, and self-efficacy.
Alejandro is committed to co-creating a space that honors clients' multifaceted experiences,
supports navigation of distress on their own terms, and focuses on reclaiming and
reshaping personal narratives, while striving for authenticity. Outside of his clinical
work, Alejandro enjoys gaming, trying new foods, working out, traveling, music, reconnecting
with his indigeneity, and spending time with friends and animals.
Calista Leung, B.A. (she/her)
Available|Monday*, Wednesday, Thursday|
Calista is a third-year clinical psychology PhD student at Palo Alto University. Calista was born and raised in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and earned her BA in Psychology at the University of British Columbia prior to arriving in the Bay Area to pursue her doctoral studies. Given that she is an international student herself, she is attuned to how culture influences the way mental health is experienced and strives to provide the most inclusive environment possible for students. Calista has had experience working with young adult to older aged individuals who have experienced a variety of stressors including depression, anxiety, relationship problems, trauma, grief, and life transitions from a strengths-based framework. Calista believes that each student has the capability to thrive, and is honored to help students achieve their potential and goals. Her clinical style is culturally sensitive and integrative, meaning that she selects techniques from a range of treatment orientations like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), or DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) to best suit each student’s needs.
Outside of clinical work, Calista’s research interests are in studying adults with mood disorders and developing digital interventions that help broaden access to mental health services. In her spare time, you can find her exploring what the Bay Area has to offer (like hiking and craft fairs!), trying out new coffee pods, and honing her embroidery skills.
Carrie Lee, M.S. (she/her)
Available|Monday and Tuesday|
Carrie graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Psychology and is currently a fourth-year
Clinical Psychology doctoral student at the PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium. She grew
up in China and immigrated to Vancouver, Canada when she was six years old. She went
on to study and work in Los Angeles before moving to the Bay Area, where she now lives. Carrie has experience working with a wide range of concerns across various settings,
including anxiety, depression, trauma, identity development, grief, eating disorders,
academic stress, and interpersonal challenges, as well as medical and neuropsychological
conditions, psychosis, substance use, and life transitions. Carrie is passionate about
supporting students from diverse backgrounds and cares deeply about helping them feel
seen and understood in the context of their culture and identity. She approaches therapy
from a trauma-informed and strengths-based perspective that emphasizes self-compassion,
resilience, and self-efficacy. Carrie is committed to creating a collaborative, safe,
and supportive space where students can process difficult experiences, navigate distress,
build confidence, and work toward creating a life that feels meaningful and fulfilling.
Outside of her clinical work, Carrie enjoys dancing, gaming, reading, working out,
trying new foods, and spending time with friends and animals!
Naomi Gupta, M.S., (she/her)
Available|Tuesday|
Naomi graduated from the University of California, Merced with a B.A. in Psychology, and is currently a 5th year Clinical Psychology doctoral student at Palo Alto University. Growing up in the culturally rich environment of the Bay Area as a first-generation Indian American deeply instilled in her a profound commitment to practicing with a high degree of cultural sensitivity. This background is the primary driver behind her passion for the field of psychology and her core belief that a "not one size fits all" approach is essential for effective therapeutic outcomes. In her comprehensive clinical work, Naomi employs a sophisticated integrative approach, strategically pulling from evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), as well as narrative and strength-based modalities, tailoring her interventions precisely to the unique needs of each client. Her practical experience since beginning graduate school is both broad and deep, encompassing work with a diverse spectrum of populations including young adults, older adults, neurodiverse individuals across all age ranges, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and families. Complementing her therapeutic skills, she also holds valuable experience with formal neuropsychological and behavioral assessments. Ultimately, Naomi’s professional mission is centered on empowering others, helping them navigate self-discovery, recognize their inherent strengths, and actively employ positive growth in their lives.
Outside of her clinical work, Naomi enjoys travelling, cooking, drinking coffee, trying new restaurants, and cuddling up with her two cats (Coco and Kulfi).
Sharon Li, M.A. (she/her)
Available|Tuesday*, Wednesday, Thursday|
Sharon is currently a third-year Clinical Psychology doctoral student at the Wright Institute in Berkeley. She graduated with a B.A in Communication at Santa Clara University, and has worked in the tech industry for over eight years before her career change. Sharon is a first-generation Chinese American immigrant and a De Anza alum, who had experienced the struggles of transitioning to college, navigating the complexity of self-identification, and preparing for the future. Sharon approaches therapy with a culturally sensitive, trauma-informed perspective and is deeply committed to providing a safe, compassionate, and non judgemental space for her clients. She has experiences in working in diverse settings with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds including in community mental health and inpatient psychiatric hospitals. Sharon has worked with families, adults, children and adolescents with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and psychosis. She employs a strength-based, humanistic framework, with a special focus on trauma and its impact on an individual's identity, relationships, and physical health. Sharon is dedicated to supporting students in their journey of self-discovery and personal growth, and is devoted to serving marginalized identities with openness and warmth.