Wellness Wave Wisdom

By Mx. Van Ethan Levy (they | elle) LMFT & LPCC Van is a queer, non binary, trans, AFAB (Assigned Female at Birth), dually licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. Van is passionate about holding space for all intersections of one’s identity(ies). Van also provides trainings on trans and non-binary identities, is author of the interactive book Exploring My Identity(ies) (2020), and the organizer of the upcoming Do Something: Identity(ies) conference, an international virtual gathering that centers and celebrates the most erased and underrepresented realities within the LGBTQPIA2S+ community. Both Van’s book and conference attendance is free for MCC students. When hearing the term Intimate partner violence (IPV) , many think of physical violence. While physical abuse is one form of IPV, it is only one piece of a much larger reality of IPV. Intimate partner violence can include emotional abuse, verbal abuse, coercive control, financial abus...

by Nidya Ramirez Ibarra, LMFT Nidya Ramirez Ibarra is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who grew up in Escondido, CA. An immigrant and past community organizer, Nidya utilizes her knowledge and years of experience as a therapist to co-create a space to initiate change, gain insight, build skills, and establish support. Prior to joining the mental health team at MiraCosta College, among Nidya’s experiences was working for 8 years at a local non-profit with families, individuals, and children struggling with trauma due to intimate partner violence and sexual abuse. In addition to working with students in individual, relationship, and family counseling sessions, Nidya also facilitates MiraCosta’s support activities for undocumented/ mixed status students and their loved ones. The common idea about abusive relationships is a picture of something visible or loud, like screaming or physical violence. However, many unhealthy and abusive relationships do not ...

  By Dorian Owens Dorian Owens is a graduate student at San Diego State University, pursuing a Master’s in Counseling through the Community-Based Block (CBB) Program, focusing on multicultural counseling and social justice. Dorian's approach to mental health care is rooted in humanistic, trauma-informed, and client-centered practices, emphasizing support for marginalized communities, particularly BIPOC populations. When people hear the term Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), they often picture physical harm. But for many college students, IPV can show up in quieter, less visible ways especially through emotional abuse. And because it doesn’t leave bruises, it’s often overlooked or misunderstood. What is Emotional Abuse? Emotional abuse is a pattern of behaviors used to control, manipulate, or undermine a partner’s sense of self. It can include constant criticism, gaslighting (making someone question their reality), jealousy, controlling who you see or talk to, or making you feel guil...

By Daykia Knight (she) Mental Health Counselor, under the supervision of Ghada Osman LMFT 83472 Daykia is a Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate student at the University of San Diego with a strong commitment to culturally responsive, trauma-informed care. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Washington, where she began exploring how systems of oppression shape emotional well-being. That foundation continues to inform her clinical lens today. Guided by Feminist Theory and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Daykia integrates values-based behavioral work with a deep understanding of racial, gendered, and intergenerational trauma. She believes healing must address not only the individual but also the sociocultural forces that often go unrecognized yet deeply impact mental health. We currently live in a political climate that justifies the disproportionate punishment and criminalization of people of color, particularly those of undocumented status. Fighting thr...

  What It Looks Like, Why It’s Hard to Talk About, and How to Get Help By Citlalli (Lali) Mendoza Citlalli (Lali) Mendoza is a bilingual (Spanish/English) graduate student in SDSU's Community Based Block (CBB) Multicultural Community Counseling and Social Justice Education Program. Raised in San Diego on Kumeyaay land, Lali grew up as the oldest kid in a mixed-status family and understands the complexities of navigating both cultural and societal expectations. He earned their BA from Harvard in Psychology with a minor in Latine Studies and has dedicated their career to supporting marginalized communities, especially trans and queer BIPOC individuals.  Intimate partner violence (IPV) is any pattern of behaviors a partner uses to gain power and control—physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, digital, or financial. It happens in all communities, including LGBTQIA+ relationships. National data show IPV is common across the U.S., and sexual and gender minority people can face equal or...