Our experts are here to help
JULIANNA MOEFU-KALEOPA, LCSW, CSAC
Julianna earned her master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She has years of experience in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health field providing assessments, group, case management and individual counseling services. Julianna has years of experience working with adolescents in the foster care system, families with troubled teens, and juveniles in family court.
Julianna specializes in assisting clients who are coping with depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and substance abuse. She utilizes a blend of cognitive behavioral, harm reduction, and client centered therapy that incorporate a strengths perspective and empowerment process. Julianna’s wide range of experiences have given her the opportunity to work with clients of various cultural backgrounds, age groups, genders, and sexual orientations.
MELISSA TAKEYAMA, LCSW,CSAC
Melissa graduated with a Master’s degree from the University of Hawaii School of Social Work. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor. She is known for her warm, relaxed, and client-centered approach to therapy. Melissa uses the strengths and insights of each person to help them make positive changes in their lives. She has experience working with substance use disorders, adult/childhood trauma, codependency, anxiety, depression, anger management, and dual diagnosis. She works from a helpful and affirming perspective using evidence-based interventions, techniques and skills drawn from therapeutic modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Informed Care, Solution Focused, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Integrated Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Psychoeducation, and Mindfulness.
JESSICA LEE, LMFT, CSAC
Jessica earned her Master of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Argosy University. Jessica is experienced in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health field providing assessments, group, anger management and individual counseling services. Jessica also has experience working with youths at risk, focusing on bridging the gap between parent/caregiver and child.
Jessica specializes in helping clients to find solutions, identify strengths, and adjust to life cycle changes. She utilizes a blend of family systems, cognitive behavioral, experiential, client-centered, and solutions-focused therapy to foster growth, one’s true sense of self, and purpose. Working with a diverse population allows her to identify with various styles of parenting, various styles of communication, different beliefs and values, religious practices, and traditional versus non-traditional family units.
DANMERLE CAPATI, MSW
Danmerle earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. She has a wide range of experience in working with adolescents, families, homeless, SMI, SPMI, and forensically encumbered populations. She believes in strength based, solution focused models, cognitive behavioral and client centered practices to move towards empowerment and motivate positive change.
ALEX NAKAMOTO, MSW
Alex earned his Master’s degree in Social work at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa with a specialization in behavioral mental health. Alex has experience working with adolescents, families and the criminal justice population, focusing on reentry and reintegration back into the community. Alex also contributes to research conducted with the Department of Psychiatry at the UH Mānoa, helping them to develop substance abuse prevention programs using Hawaiian cultural practices. He prides himself on his ability to build rapport with his clients and believes in a client-centered, strengths based and culturally relevant approach to his work.
MICHAEL ORTIZ, LSW
Michael earned his Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a specialization in behavioral mental health. Michael has experience working with children and adolescents with developmental disabilities and special health care needs, families, individuals, and groups via the community health systems and the medical field. Michael believes in client centered, strengths based, and culturally relevant approaches to treatment and interventions.