The Northern California Mental Health Training Program has the privilege of highlighting another member of our dedicated Clinical Supervisor team, Veronica Ochoa, LCSW (she, hers, ella). As a clinical supervisor, Ms. Ochoa brings a wealth of experience and knowledge including certifications in EMDR and DBT and the status of “CPT Provider” from Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD. When asked about what compelled her to become a mental health provider, Ms. Ochoa stated “my interest in the mental health field stems from my experiences as a BIPOC member of society who witnessed firsthand the great obstacles and inadequate services available for BIPOC and immigrant communities.”
Ms. Ochoa began her mental health career journey in 2008 as a Premaster’s Intern trainee with Kaiser Permanente in the Department of Psychiatry in Vallejo, CA. During the initial training year, she recalls feeling grateful to have received such excellent support and guidance from her incredible supervisors who positively impacted her life. Upon graduation from her Master’s program, she worked for a local Community Mental Health Clinic and later joined San Mateo County Mental Health and Recovery Services for six years.
In 2017, she began working for the KP Department of Psychiatry in Oakland as a psychotherapist, contributing to the DBT team, Trauma Recovery Program, and Couples Programming. She quickly became involved in the Training Program, providing secondary and primary supervision for Postmaster’s Fellows. In February 2023, she stepped into the role of co-director of the Bilingual Training Program, where she focused on the training of Spanish-speaking therapists entering the workplace. In November 2023, Ms. Ochoa became a Clinical Supervisor with NCAL- MHTP, where she provides didactics, clinical supervision to Premaster’s and Postmaster’s Trainees, and collaborates with her team as they develop the Trauma Specialty Training Program for NCAL MHTP.
As a clinician working in the field since 2008, Ms. Ochoa is aware that the demand for mental health services far surpasses the number of clinicians entering the field capable of providing needed services in these communities. Working with the Training Program has given Ms. Ochoa opportunities to give back in a way that supports new talent and addresses the need in these communities for culturally competent mental health services.
In her free time, she enjoys being in nature, visiting the magnificent local parks and beaches in the Bay Area. She also strives to practice her spirituality daily, which includes meditation, prayer, acts of compassion and physical self-care.
Contributed by Chelsea Vilinskas, PsyD
