Suzzette Garcia is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor +, Certified Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral and Dialectical Behavioral Therapist, American Psychological Association Fellow, Chief Executive Officer of California’s Association of Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors, and is a recipient of the Audre Lorde Voice and Vision Award for Outstanding Social Justice Advocacy. Suzzette grew up in a small agricultural community in California’s Central Valley, which influenced her to become a social justice advocate and mental health provider. According to Suzzette, “Growing up in the Central Valley taught me the impact that poverty, multi-generational trauma, and systemic injustice have on a person’s mental health”.
Suzzette obtained her bachelor’s in psychology from Fresno’s National University and then went on to obtain her master’s in clinical counseling from San Francisco’s Alliant International University and doctoral degree in Organizational Psychology. Suzzette was previously the Clinical Program Manager III for a Bay Area Non-profit Outpatient and Intensive Outpatient Program, the Executive Director for two Bay Area PHP and IOP programs, and the owner of her own consulting firm. Prior to her work in mental health, Suzzette was the Founder and CEO of Inferno Elite All Starz Association, a non-profit organization that provided at-risk youth access to mentoring, athletic programs, tutoring services, and college application assistance.
Suzzette uses her platform to mentor beginning clinicians, and implements the development of therapeutic programs that are based in neuroscience, cultural competency, accessibility, and diverse therapeutic interventions. Suzzette’s goal is to empower individuals to reach their full potential by integrating wellness and mentorship programs in schools, communities, and corporate settings.