Support and Care

Hub staff come from social work, education, and clinical fields, bringing expertise and real-world insight to working with clients in all of our programs.

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Charlotte Hajer

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Senior Director, Community Mental Health Hub

Dr. Charlotte Hajer has ten years of experience in nonprofit management and has worked with healthcare and social service organizations in San Francisco, Napa County, and the Sonoma Valley. She has a PhD in Medical Anthropology from the University of California, San Diego, with a focus on cross-cultural mental health. She conducted two years of research on psychiatric care and mental illness in Morocco. Charlotte is passionate about social justice, equitable access to high-quality mental health care, and managing strong organizations where both staff and clients feel seen, supported, and celebrated.

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Ms. Ricka L. White-Soso, MSW, LCSW, BIP, CEAT

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Clinical Director

Ms. White-Soso has 30+ years of experience working in the Bay Area. Her work in earlier years as a group home counselor moved her to further her education, which led her to the work she does today. Ms. White-Soso is a proud graduate of San Francisco State University with a BA in Psychology and a Master of Social Work. She has a wealth of experience working in and managing programs in group home, residential, day treatment, foster/adoption agency, behavioral managed care, hospital, home health, and private practice settings serving diverse populations from different backgrounds managing a variety of difficult life issues. She also has specialized training in sexual assault advocacy, domestic violence advocacy, batterer’s intervention and expressive art therapy.

Ms. White-Soso maintains membership in various professional organizations that promote high professional standards, integrity, and social justice. Currently, she is the Vice President of the Bay Area Association of Black Social Workers (2022-2024). She is a two-term past Region C Director of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) California Chapter and has served on a number of NASW state and national committees. In addition, she was a Founding Member and the Founding Secretary of the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy (NAHAC). Ms. Ricka has a passion for Social Work and stays active by participating in opportunities that allow her to help promote the profession. You can see her in action briefly in the documentary “The Waiting Room” which is now on Hulu and YouTube.

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Dr. Rachel Segundo

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Manager of Clinical Services for Legacy Program

Dr. Rachel Segundo has been at Hanna since June 2020 and has 15 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and families. She has provided services to victims of sexual assault of various ages as a hotline counselor and hospital respondent, in addition to working with abused and neglected children in the California foster system as an advocate. In her role at Hanna, Dr. Segundo oversees the daily functioning of the clinical aspect of our Legacy program, collaborating with leaders of other departments to ensure quality services and continuity of care. She also provides direct services to our youth and families.

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Emily Alona, LCSW #69804

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Parenting and Early Childhood Services Coordinator

Emily is a Sonoma native, graduating from Sonoma Valley High School before moving to Southern California. She received her BA from Long Beach State University and MSW from California State University, Fullerton. She worked with young children and their parents, both in Early Childhood Education as well as Early Childhood Mental Health, with an emphasis on improving parent-child relationships.  Emily has worked at Hanna Center since 2015. She enjoys traveling and, above all else, spending time with her husband and young daughter.

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Paulina Olvera

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Intake Coordinator

Paulina Olvera is the Intake Coordinator for the Mental Health Hub at Hanna Center. As the intake coordinator, she is the first point of contact and responsible for all intakes related to Mental Health Hub services. She comes to Hanna with an educational background in Child Development and Psychology, with an understanding of the vast necessity of mental health services and the desire to help her community receive those services. Currently, she is pursuing her Masters in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy with the University of San Francisco.

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Cindy Chaed-Sutton

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Substance Abuse Program Manager

Cindy Chaed Sutton was licensed as a psychologist and therapist in Europe before moving back to the US. She is currently pursuing a PsyD license with the California Board of Psychology as well as an LMFT license with the Board of Behavioral Sciences. She has expertise in addiction, dual diagnosis, and co-occurring disorders, with particular focus on substance use correlated to childhood adversity and experiential trauma with LGBTQ populations, sex workers, correctional system, migrants, and refugees. She also worked with populations suffering from chronic homelessness and marginalization during the COVID pandemic. She is passionate about her work and finds a deep sense of meaning in working with others.

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Karina Pena

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Therapeutic Activities Coordinator, Community Mental Health Hub

Karina comes to Hanna with over sixteen years of experience working in the social service field in various capacities. She has both assisted and managed successful substance abuse grant programs and has an extensive background as a Parent Educator in Sonoma County. Karina has been a Case Manager for clients experiencing domestic violence, substance use and housing difficulties. In addition, she has background in after school programing and teaching. She is bilingual and bicultural and works from a trauma informed care lens. Karina brings with her training in CBT, DBT, Seeking Safety, Green Dot, ACE’s, various levels of Triple P and Motivational Interviewing. 

 

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Eliana Martin, MSW, ACSW

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Bilingual Mental Health Clinician

Eliana Martin is a bilingual Clinical Social Worker; she obtained her master’s in social work from Western Carolina University. She enjoys working with people from all backgrounds but specializes in BIPOC individuals; especially Spanish speaking migrants, and those who identify as LGBTQAI +. Her practice prioritizes Cultural Humility, Solution-Focused, Client-Centered, and LGBTQAI+ affirmative care.

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Erminio Carreno

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Clinical Trainee (MFT Student)

Erminio has been at Hanna Center for 6 years, he has taken many roles at out center beginning as a youth counselor, following with coordinator of residence and caseworker roles. Currently Erminio is transitioning into the role of MFT Trainee, he is enrolled in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling masters program at Sonoma State University and is working towards getting licensed as a marriage and family therapist.  As a Latinx MFT trainee, he is passionate about serving the Spanish-speaking community and helping lessen the fear of accessing mental health services. Erminio is interested in furthering his clinical work with adolescents experiencing trauma, Hanna Center alums, families, couples and adults. 

 

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Dr. Sita-Marie Pillay

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Post-Doctoral Fellow

Dr. Sita-Marie Pillay obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from the CSPP at Alliant International University. While Dr. Pillay has worked with a wide range of clientele, she has a current emphasis on transitional-age youth. She has found that each client is unique in their needs and uses multi-theoretical psychology to support her clients. Dr. Pillay’s research includes multiethnic adolescents who have experienced events of trauma and bibliotherapy. Her current specialties include the LBGTQAI+ population, the South Asian-Pacific Islander community, the multiethnic identity, suicide awareness, and trauma.

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Keanu Henley

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Practicum Trainee

Keanu Henley is a graduate student at John F. Kennedy’s School of Psychology at National University. She is pursuing a dual degree, obtaining a Master of Arts in Sport and Performance Psychology and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Keanu has a passion for working with underserved youth of color and specializes in a strengths-based approach to therapy. Through her experience, Keanu has found the most success when working collaboratively with clients and their families to build a safe and supportive therapeutic relationship. Keanu’s research focuses on code-switching and its impact on individuals’ perception of fit within society.

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Ayanni Manning

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Practicum Trainee

Ayanni Manning is a doctoral student at John. F. Kennedy School of Psychology at National University. She is pursuing a degree in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D). From a young age, Ayanni has been passionate about working with adolescents with intersecting identities and has dedicated her clinical training to agencies that provide services to youth and families with underrepresented backgrounds. While working with children, adolescents, and families Ayanni utilizes attachment theory, schema therapy, play therapy, strength-based therapy, and motivational interventions to support them while also keeping their culture and salient identities at the forefront.

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Max Levine

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Practicum Trainee

Max Levine is a doctoral student in clinical psychology at the Wright Institute, currently working towards his PsyD degree. With a background in art education, he brings a unique perspective to his work with adolescents and transitional-age youth. Mr. Levine uses a multi-modal approach to treatment, incorporating art therapy, physical movement, meditation, and traditional psychodynamic talk therapy to help his clients. His research interests include evolutionary approaches to treating depression, with a specific focus on treating rumination (repetitive negative thinking). Mr. Levine is dedicated to providing his clients with a safe, non-judgmental space to explore their unique needs and pursue their goals for psychological growth.