Counseling Team

Dr. Scott Salvatore

Dr. Scott Salvatore (he/him), Director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), is a licensed and board-certified psychologist who earned his Doctor of Psychology degree (Psy.D.) from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology and completed an APA-accredited internship at U.S. Naval Medical Center San Diego.

Prior to joining the Cal State San Marcos CAPS team, Dr. Salvatore worked as a senior psychologist at Montana State University's Student Wellness Center after serving a combined 27 years as an officer in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Public Health Service. Dr. Salvatore's roles included leading military mental health clinics and psychological health programs for multiple federal agencies, including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) college suicide prevention grant program. He also served on U.S. Public Health Service deployment teams in support of disaster responses and international humanitarian missions. Dr. Salvatore continues to provide leadership assessment and developmental coaching for U.S. Naval Special Warfare and U.S. Navy Surface Forces.

Dr. Salvatore's areas of interest include clinician and student wellness, resilience, sleep, group therapy, performance/sport psychology, organizational culture, and exercise practices to enhance well-being. He is a certified mindfulness teacher, having completed teacher training programs at UCLA and UCSD. He has also volunteered as an EMT with the San Diego Sheriff Search and Rescue Team. In his free time, Dr. Salvatore enjoys live music, theater, movies, watching/playing sports, discovering new restaurants, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Dr. Lissa Lim

Dr. Lissa Lim (she/ella), Orientation and Didactics Coordinator, is a multiethnic (Mexican/Chinese) bilingual psychologist who specializes in Latinx mental health, sexual trauma, immigrant communities, and first-generation college students. She earned her B.A. and M.A. in Psychology at CSUSM, and her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She has over 15 years of clinical experience working at community mental health, private practice, and several university counseling centers in CA and IL. As a bilingual psychologist, she has experience providing individual and group therapy, assessment, training, and supervision in both English and Spanish. Dr. Lim also has teaching experience and taught psychology courses at the community college and university levels.  She also founded the SHCS Health Assistance Fund while in her role as SHCS psychologist and co-founded the Women and Gender Equity Center while an undergraduate at CSUSM.

Her treatment approach is integrative, rooted in Feminist-Multicultural, Interpersonal, and Person-Centered therapy. What this means for clients is that she attends to the ways relationships shape and affect us, attends to experiences of power and oppression, and focuses on empowering clients to heal in ways that are consistent with their sociocultural context. She also emphasizes empathy, compassion, and authentic connection, and uses a Trauma-Informed perspective when working with all clients.

For self-care, Dr. Lim enjoys joyful movement like dancing, yoga, and exercise. She loves to garden and has a bountiful veggie garden. She enjoys cooking and considers herself a foodie.  She enjoys reading and is often in the middle of at least three different books at one time. She is a cat lover and fosters cats and kittens from a local shelter. She is also an extrovert and loves spending time with family and friends.

CA Lic. PSY  30077

Dr. John (Jay) Howell

Dr. John “Jay” Howell, (he/him/his) received his Psy.D. and M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University – Seattle and his M.S. in Social Work from University of Texas – Austin.  He completed his psychology internship at the University of Washington Counseling Center and has received formalized training in two community mental health clinics, a male adolescent inpatient facility and an alternative high school. 

Before joining Cal State San Marcos Student Health and Counseling Services, Dr. Howell worked for seven years at Seattle University’s Counseling and Psychological Services. He is a generalist clinically and has expertise, training and experience in college developmental and mental health concerns.  He utilizes an integrative approach for psychotherapy drawing upon psychodynamic, interpersonal, developmental and different cognitive-behavioral therapies. 

Areas of special interest include anxiety and depression, mindfulness, men and masculinity, gender and sexual identity, alcohol and substance abuse, couples counseling, multicultural issues, and grief and loss. Dr. Howell provides clinical supervision to Psychology Interns.

CA Lic. PSY 25920

 Dr. Juan Alvarez

Dr. Juan Alvarez, (he/him/él) is a bilingual counselor who strives to provide multi-culturally competent student services in English and Spanish. He received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Washington State University, and his B.A. in Cognitive Science at the University of California, Irvine. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Student Health and Counseling Services at California State University San Marcos, and an American Psychological Association accredited psychology internship in Health Service Psychology at the University of Northern Colorado Counseling Center.

Dr. Alvarez is passionate about college mental health and has worked in college mental health centers in Washington, Idaho, Colorado, and California. He is a generalist clinically and has experience working with a variety of presenting concerns typical of the college student population, including anxiety, depression, identity development, relationship issues, transitions, and sexual identity. Areas of special interest include Latinx mental health, working with Student-Athletes, sports psychology, and mindfulness.

 

Dr. Alvarez has experience providing individual, group, and couples therapy. He utilizes an integrative approach drawing from humanistic psychology, cognitive-behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, and self-compassion. Dr. Alvarez provides clinical supervision to Psychology Interns.

CA Lic. PSY 30185

Certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy

 

Dr. Ryan Stevenson

Dr. Ryan Stevenson, (he/him/his) received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and his Masters of Social Work from the University of Utah. He completed his psychology internship at the UC – Santa Barbara’s Counseling and Psychological Services and his post-doctoral fellowship at UC – San Diego’s Counseling and Psychological Services. He has experience working in university counseling centers, community mental health, rape crisis centers, and private group practice. Prior to joining CSUSM’s Student Health and Counseling Services he worked at UCSD, the VA in San Diego, and on a clinical trial treating veterans with PTSD. He also taught a course called Strategies for Academic Success for three years in graduate school and he enjoys helping students with these skills in therapy and in campus workshops.

Dr. Stevenson has experience providing individual, group, and couples therapy. He utilizes an integrative approach drawing from interpersonal, mindfulness, feminist-multicultural, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Areas of special interest include PTSD/trauma, working with veterans/service members, anxiety, depression, mindfulness, multicultural issues, men and masculinity, conflicts around religion and spirituality, performance psychology, and substance abuse.

Dr. Stevenson enjoys working with students from diverse backgrounds and providing a safe space for healing and growth. Dr. Stevenson is the Coordinator of the Pschology Practicum Training Program and also provides clinical supervision to our APA Psychology Interns.

CA Lic. PSY 27441 

 Dr. Leah Tappero

Dr. Leah Tappero (she/her/hers), Psychology Internship Training Coordinator, has specialized in college mental health for 15+ years. A refugee from Cambodia, she was raised in San Diego County after moving to the U.S. as a child. Dr. Tappero earned both her B.A. and M.A. degrees in Psychology from San Diego State University. She earned her M.S. in Counseling, Family, and Human Services and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of Oregon. Dr. Tappero completed a pre-doctoral internship at CSU Long Beach and a post-doctoral residency at UC San Diego counseling centers. Dr. Tappero is passionate about training and supervision, finding joy in mentoring the next generation of psychologists.

Dr. Tappero utilizes an integrative therapeutic approach, blending interventions from Interpersonal, Emotion-Focused, Cognitive Behavioral, and Client-Centered therapies. Her interests include Asian/Asian American mental health, issues faced by first-generation college students, immigrant and refugee experiences, multicultural concerns, and interpersonal relationship challenges. Dr. Tappero guides clients to explore how relational, social, educational, and cultural factors influence their life experiences. She takes a holistic approach and adapts her therapeutic style and interventions to meet client’s needs while fostering a safe, supportive, and empowering space for personal growth. Dr. Tappero believes that therapy can help clients work towards creating positive changes to heal and live authentically. Her multicultural identities and life experiences contribute to her passion for supporting underrepresented and marginalized communities.

In her free time, Dr. Tappero enjoys spending time with her family, friends and three dogs. She likes reading and listening to audiobooks. She considers herself to be a foodie and likes exploring different restaurants, coffee, and boba shops.

Dr. Melvin (Mel) Walker, Jr.

Dr. Melvin (Mel) Walker (he, him, his) earned his PhD in Clinical Psychology from Hofstra University (Long Island, NY). He completed his APA-accredited, pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral training at Student Health & Counseling Services, CSUSM. Dr. Mel received his M.A. in Psychological Science from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C and his M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Hofstra University, after transitioning from the military as a commissioned officer. He received formalized training at two university counseling centers and a Veterans Affairs medical center in New York. He has also conducted research and has publications in the areas of suicidality among service members, military leadership, and service members transitioning into civilian life.

Dr. Mel utilizes an integrative approach to psychotherapy, drawing upon cognitive-behavioral, schema, trauma-informed, and interpersonal approaches. He particularly focuses on establishing a strong relationship with the people he works with.  His areas of interest include people of color, Veterans, suicide, romantic relationship challenges, sexual & complex trauma, and men’s issues. In his free time, Dr. Mel enjoys many forms of exercise, taking Spanish and Portuguese classes, traveling, going to the movies, food, watching his favorite sports teams, and spending time with his family and friends. 

CA Lic. PSY 36355

Dr. Claudia Miranda

Dr. Claudia Miranda (she/ella), is a bilingual (Spanish/English) psychologist who specializes in working with ADHD and first-generation related concerns, Latinx mental health, and intergenerational trauma. She was born, and raised, in the Bay Area and her passion for psychology is rooted in her experiences as a daughter of immigrants and first-gen transfer student. She earned her undergraduate degree from UC Davis and her doctorate in clinical psychology from The Wright Institute in Berkeley, California.

 

Dr. Miranda’s clinical experience and training include providing individual therapy in Spanish and English at community-based organizations, private practices, and college counseling centers. Dr. Miranda’s additional clinical interests include identity development, acculturative stress, understanding complex family dynamics, and LGBTQ+ related concerns. Dr. Miranda’s values as a therapist are rooted in her cultural identity and include authenticity and transparency. Her approach to therapy is collaborative and grounded in exploring, building awareness, and workarounds for the many things that influence how we think and act.

Throughout her clinical experiences, Dr. Miranda has learned to draw strength from her community cultural wealth and strives to empower others to do the same. She is passionate about amplifying the voices of historically silenced communities in both her clinical and professional work, for instance through creating resources and supportive services for underrepresented students and advocating for a decolonized approach to clinical training.  Dr. Miranda has been recognized by the California Psychological Association (CPA) for her advocacy efforts and accomplishments in the advancement of education and training in Clinical Psychology, including co-founding a nationwide Students of Color Council for BIPOC students attending graduate programs of professional psychology. During her personal time, she enjoys exploring new foods and places with family and discovering bingeworthy shows.

 Supervised by Dr. Jay Howell CA Lic. PSY 25920 and Dr. Lissa Lim CA Lic. PSY 30077

Marcy Ryan, LMFT

Marcy Ryan, LMFT (she/her/hers) has provided therapeutic counseling to individuals, couples, and families for over 20 years. She has worked collaboratively within a broad array of community care systems including county mental health, residential treatment, hospice, schools, and in private practice. As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist her humanistic approach specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy to help clients cope with strong emotions and manage high-risk behaviors.

Other interests include the treatment of anxiety, ADHD, grief/loss, attachment, trauma, family and relationship struggles. She holds a B.A. in Human Development from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a M.S. in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Santa Barbara. Prior to moving home to San Diego, she worked for Casa Pacifica, Centers for Children and Families, becoming Clinical Supervisor for their Therapeutic Behavioral Services program serving Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. 

Marcy is dedicated to inclusive practices supporting students while fostering a sense of safety and belonging.  She enjoys connecting with students from all different backgrounds and providing treatment that highlights her client’s individual strengths. Marcy is passionate about student social emotional health and wellness.  

CA Lic. LMFT 53126