PUSD Mental Health Services

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PUSD Mental Health Services

351 S. Hudson Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91109

PUSD's Student Wellness and Support Services houses two unique internal mental health departments dedicated to providing mental health services to our student community. PUSD Mental Health Services and THRIVE: School Mental Health aim to provide a spectrum of comprehensive, integrated, culturally sensitive services that support the academic achievements of PUSD students by addressing mental, social, and emotional barriers. Learn more about both further down the page.

Home

Call or text 9-8-8 national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and get immediately connected to a trained counselor 24 hours a day.

Contact	Phone	Title
Erica Villalpando, LCSW	(626) 396-5920 x 10998	Manager, PUSD Mental Health Services
Front Desk	(626) 396-5920
Erica Cardenas, LCSW	(626) 396-5920	Supervisor, LCSW
Donna DeFazio, LCSW PsyD	(626) 396-5920	Supervisor, LCSW Consultant
Alex Guthman, LCSW	(626) 396-5920	Supervisor, LCSW
Cecilia Muniz, LCSW	(626) 396-5920	Supervisor, LCSW

PUSD Mental Health Programs

Lara Choulakian, LCSW

Manager, THRIVE: School Mental Health

351 S. Hudson Avenue Room 208

Pasadena, CA 91109

(626) 396-3600 x 88233

Services Provided

Individual, group, and family therapy
Attendance support
Intensive case management
Crisis intervention services
District-wide mental health crisis planning, training, and support
School emotional support to school sites
Linking to community resources and agencies
Clinical expertise and knowledge during IEP and SST meetings, as requested

Eligibility

No Insurance (Uninsured)
Private Insurance

How to Refer

Contact Lara Choulakian, Manager of THRIVE: School Mental Health at (626) 396-3600 x 88233 or at choulakian.lara@pusd.us

Erica Villalpando, LCSW

Manager, PUSD Mental Health Services

1520 N. Raymond Avenue Bldg 7

Pasadena, CA 91103

(626) 396-5920 x 10998

Services Provided

Individual therapy provided at school, community, phone, or virtual
Family therapy
Collateral parent / caregiver sessions
Targeted case management
Crisis intervention
Community outreach services
Prevention and early intervention services
Medication support
Behavioral support

Eligibility

Children and adolescents 5-21 years of age enrolled in PUSD and/or living in the Pasadena area
Must have Medi-Cal Insurance

How to Refer

Contact Erica Villalpando, Manager of PUSD Mental Health Services at (626) 396-5920 or mentalhealth@pusd.us

Intern Program

Student Wellness and Support Services Mental Health Department works in partnership with Master of Social Work (MSW) and Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) interns from USC, APU, George Mason University, CSULA, CSUN, and CSULB. MSW Interns receive supervised training involving individual, group, and family therapy, intake assessment, attendance support, intensive case management, and crisis intervention. In addition, interns receive training in program development, outreach skills, and various specialized therapeutic skills involving students.