Meet Our Los Angeles Team
Shuna Ball, M.A., LMFT
Regional Clinic Director
As Regional Clinic Director, Shuna Ball provides executive leadership and strategic oversight of all clinical operations across the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinics at VVSD in San Diego, Oceanside, and Los Angeles. In this role, she ensures the delivery of high-quality care to active-duty service members, Post-9/11 veterans, and military families. Shuna brings over two decades of experience supporting the military community through a range of clinical, operational, leadership, and volunteer roles across diverse settings.
A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Shuna holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Southern California Seminary’s School of Behavioral Sciences and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Averett University. She also holds a professional teaching certification from the University of West Florida, reflecting her commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
Shuna began her counseling and leadership journey by facilitating support groups for military spouses in San Diego, where her passion for service and advocacy took root. Clinically, she specializes in working with individuals, couples, families, military populations, and older adults. Her areas of expertise include depression, anxiety, trauma, stress management, marital conflict, career transition and development, and severe and persistent mental illness. She is trained in evidence-based practices and is dedicated to delivering high-impact, person-centered care.
Her leadership portfolio includes utilization management, clinical consultation, professional development, and systems-level consultation. She is skilled in building and sustaining collaborative community partnerships and cultivating clinical teams through mentorship, training, and operational excellence.
A proud Navy veteran, Shuna served honorably as a Hospital Corpsman at both Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms and Marine Corps Base Quantico. She is also the spouse of a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer who served honorably for 23 years. Her deep, personal connection to military service is grounded in a family legacy of proud and honorable military tradition.
Outside of her professional role, Shuna enjoys spending quality time with her family, exploring new destinations, and appreciating good food. She is also committed to lifelong learning and continuously seeks opportunities to strengthen her leadership and clinical expertise.
Jolene Balancio, LCSW
Clinic Director
Jolene has over 15 years of experience in community mental health across San Diego and Los Angeles Counties. A military spouse to an active-duty U.S. Army service member, Jolene understands the unique struggles military families face and grateful to be a part of a clinic that provides a place not only for healing, but also aims to create a community well beyond time in service.
Jolene is passionate about trauma treatment and trauma-informed care. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of California, Riverside and a Master of Social Work degree from California State University, San Bernardino, where she was a CalSWEC recipient.
Specializing in clinical operations and community-based healthcare models, Jolene has led teams in outpatient mental health settings that provide services to children, adolescents, transitional aged youth, military populations and first responders. Prior to leading the clinic, she has served as a program manager, where she developed and implemented a school-based suicide prevention program in North County San Diego. Additionally, her leadership background includes clinical supervision for the Transitional Age Youth LACDMH contracted program where she led multi-disciplinary teams in increasing and supporting access to care. Jolene has held roles as Intern Supervisor and Preceptor for MSW students fostering skills and cultural competencies in working with military population. Jolene is trained multiple evidenced based practices such as CBT, TF-CBT, CAMS and Signs of Suicide.
Jolene is inspired by her team’s commitment to make sure that no veteran, active duty service member or their families face their struggles alone.
“The Cohen Clinic at VVSD understands that mental health does not discriminate and access to high quality mental health services makes all the difference when somebody is ready to ask for help. It is a privilege to give back to our service members and their families who have sacrificed so much for our country.” Jolene said.
In her leisure, Jolene enjoys spending time with her family and friends, grabbing coffee or boba, going to concerts and traveling.
Leticia Acosta, LMFT
Lead Clinician
As a Lead Clinician, Leticia brings over 20 years of dedicated community mental health experience to the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic. Her experience includes providing trauma-informed care to foster care youth, high risk children and transitional-age youth, survivors of domestic violence, veterans, first responders, couples, and individuals navigating depression, anxiety, PTSD, life stressors, transitions, and anger management. She has also led women’s support groups, parenting groups, art groups for teens, couples’ groups and anger management groups.
She is certified in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT), Seeking Safety (SS), Managing and Adaptive Practice (MAP), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and is trained in a variety of treatment modalities such as Written Exposure Therapy (WET), Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) to ensure that she is providing the best treatment possible using evidenced based treatment.
Her extensive leadership background includes a decade of clinical supervision for LACDMH Full-Service Partnership programs, where she managed multidisciplinary teams, guided clinicians in their clinical and professional development, provided crisis intervention, and completed LPS holds. In her current role, she supervises the clinical team to ensure the Cohen Clinic delivers high-quality care to veterans, first responders, and their families.
In the community, she served for four years as Secretary and board member of the Intercommunity Counseling Center. She also contributed to agency-wide suicide prevention initiatives by training therapists towards assessing and managing suicidal ideation and provided community training on the effects of domestic violence on children.
The Cohen’s Clinic mission resonates with my personal values of providing accessible and quality mental health services to our most deserving veterans.
“This is a population close to my heart, and one I have long aspired to serve. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to give back to our military members and first responders.”
Rakiya “Rocky” Ruiz, LCSW
Clinician
Rakiya “Rocky” Ruiz is a Clinician at The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at VVSD in Los Angeles, California. She earned an Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology/Web Development from ECPI University, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Spanish from Clemson University, and a Master of Social Work with an emphasis on Hispanic Families and Children from Our Lady of the Lake University.
Rocky’s connection to the military community began as the daughter of an Air Force veteran and was further shaped through her participation in the U.S. Air Force ROTC at Clemson University. These experiences, combined with her professional background, have fostered a deep commitment to serving service members, veterans, and their families.
Before becoming a clinician, Rocky served for 11 years in law enforcement as a Police Officer and Victims’ Advocate, providing crisis intervention and support to individuals and families during some of their most challenging moments. This experience continues to inform her calm, compassionate, and trauma-informed approach to therapy.
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Rocky specializes in suicide prevention and clinical risk management, insomnia and sleep health, and trauma-focused care. She serves as a co-trainer for the Cohen Veterans Network’s Suicide Prevention Foundations and Lethal Means Safety training programs and has presented at professional conferences on clinician burnout, cultural humility, and self-compassion.
Rocky is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS), Written Exposure Therapy (WET) for PTSD, and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples, along with several other evidence-based approaches for treating trauma, nightmares, suicide risk, anxiety, depression, and relationship concerns. She also has experience providing LGBTQIA+ affirming care and incorporates principles of cultural humility, diversity and inclusion, and parenting support into her practice.
When she’s not working, Rocky enjoys playing guitar, solving puzzles, reading sci-fi, and spending quality time with her family.
Jenny Rodriguez, LMFT
Clinician
Jenny is a mental health therapist at the Cohen Clinic at VVSD, Los Angeles, where she provides the veteran and military population a comfortable and supportive atmosphere along with a highly personalized and client-centered approach to assist them with attaining the personal growth and healing they are striving for themselves and their respective families.
She earned a Master of Science degree in Psychology, with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy, from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She started her career in a non-profit organization where she worked primarily with populations of low socioeconomic status, providing psychotherapy to individual, family, children, adolescents, and adults. Also, she assisted with co-facilitating a Dialectical Behavior Therapy group for young adults dealing with high-risk behaviors, interpersonal challenges, and difficulties with regulating emotions.
Jenny also has experience facilitating parent education classes with the purpose of helping court-mandated parents acquire effective parenting skills for implementing with their respective children. Moreover, she has trained and assisted therapists with assessing and managing suicidal ideation and related behaviors with the children and teenage population. Additionally, she has worked with middle-aged and older adults suffering from pain indexes and psychological conditions by providing Biofeedback therapy sessions.
She has experience working with veterans and their families and has close friends who are veterans or who have served in the military. “What resonates with me the most about the Cohen Clinics at VVSD is the client-centered approach and high quality of genuine care towards the veterans and their families strongly supported by evidence-based practices, which has allowed many veterans and their respective families live more fulfilling and meaningful lives,” she said.
In her spare time, Jenny enjoys reading Jane Austen or Virginia Woolf books, along with any psychology articles or books she comes across. Also, she loves hiking, going on walks, and meditating, which helps her remain grounded and balanced. Additionally, she likes to travel to different states or countries around the world, which has increased her knowledge, earnest interest, and connection with other cultures and traditions.
Fernando Raygoza, LCSW
Clinician
As a clinician and clinical supervisor at the Cohen Clinic at VVSD, Los Angeles, Fernando has served veterans, active-duty service members, and their families since joining the clinic in 2023. He provides individual, couples, family and group therapy, oversees the clinic’s internship program, provides clinical supervision to graduate-level interns, and collaborates with local universities to strengthen partnerships with MFT and MSW programs. Prior to joining the Cohen Clinic team, Fernando worked for five years in a Los Angeles County contracted community mental health clinic, where he provided individual psychotherapy to children, adolescents, adults, and older adults experiencing a broad range of mental health concerns, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and substance misuse. He is trained in multiple evidence-based practices, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Seeking Safety, and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples.
Fernando received his B.A. in Psychology from California State University, Northridge and a Master of Social Welfare from University of California, Los Angeles. He has multiple family members and friends who have served in the military. Learning and witnessing the difficulties veterans have faced after returning to civilian life is what sparked his desire to support others in similar situations. What has really stood out to him about the Cohen Clinic at VVSD, Los Angeles is how client-centered it is. “You can truly sense the genuine care and efforts to provide a high quality of care to veterans. I am extremely grateful and feel honored to be a part of an organization that aims to provide the best care and access to those who have served in the military,” he said.
In his spare time, Fernando loves to spend time with his wife and two children. He also enjoys backpacking, camping, and other outdoor activities.
Suji Yamauchi, LMFT
Clinician
Suji is a Marriage and Family Therapy Registered Associate at the Cohen Clinic at VVSD, Los Angeles serving veterans, service members and military families. She served in the U.S. Air Force for 10 years as an Intelligence Officer. She completed her master’s degree in clinical psychology at Pepperdine University and has experience providing mental health services for women veterans at Women Vets on Point (US Vets). Within private practice and South Bay Children’s Health Center, Suji also provided trauma therapy to youth and child therapy for families.
Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from California State University at Northridge, Suji joined the Air Force through the Air Force R.O.T.C program and completed tours in Texas, South Korea, Georgia, California and four deployments. Suji is certified in Montessori Early Childhood Education, which led to a significant path to studying psychology and becoming a psychotherapist. Within the clinical psychology training, she is certified in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Brainspotting Level I, Gottman Level I, Managing and Adaptive Practice (MAP), the Principles of Positive Parenting for child and teen, and utilizes a variety of treatment modalities to ensure that she offers the best treatment possible.
What resonates for Suji at the Cohen Clinic at VVSD, Los Angeles is the support in improving the quality of life for veterans and military families. She is thrilled to implement her experiences and skills to support individuals and family members to manage and cope with military- related unique challenges and to support build resilient relationships.
In her spare time, Suji enjoys spending time with her husband and three children by traveling, cooking, and volunteering in activities in sports, music, school, and community.
Adriana Toledo
Case Manager
As Case Manager for the Cohen Clinic at VVSD, Los Angeles, Adriana identifies areas of need within the military community and builds connections that link veterans, service members, and their families to valuable resources. Connecting clients with additional resources and support helps them overcome barriers and get back to better, faster.
Adriana earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from California State University, Los Angeles. Prior to joining the Cohen Clinic at VVSD, she spent five years in the field of case management, serving diverse populations, including high school students, families, and individuals experiencing homelessness. Adriana utilizes Motivational Interviewing to empower clients and help them achieve their personal goals.
“Being part of the Cohen Clinic at VVSD, Los Angeles is so rewarding because I am able to support families who sacrifice so much for our country,” she said. “Supporting veterans and military families means so much to me because I have experienced life as a military family member and understand the unique challenges that come with military service. That firsthand experience has strengthened my passion for connecting military-connected individuals and families with the resources and support they deserve.”
In her spare time, Adriana enjoys cheering on her children at soccer, jiu-jitsu, and dance practices, as well as spending family days at Disneyland.
Wendy Ochoa
Business Office Manager
As Business Office Manager at the Cohen Clinic at VVSD, Los Angeles, Wendy is responsible for office administration at the clinic, overseeing the office coordinator and supporting the entire clinic staff. She has worked in community mental health since 2015.
Prior to her role at the Cohen Clinic at VVSD, Wendy has worked at other mental health facilities, where she started as a Front Office Clerk and was then promoted to Program Administrative Coordinator, where she worked closely with the Program Director and the Office Manager. In these roles, she would greet clients, help with questions and concerns, answer incoming calls, as well as schedule intakes and medical appointments. She also ran various billing reports, scheduled trainings for clinicians, and helped coordinate clinic events.
She said she prides herself on great customer service. “I have friends who are Veterans. Hearing their stories and what they have gone through made me want to help those who have served our country,” she said.
In her leisure, Wendy likes to spend time with her family, which includes her husband, 16-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter. They stay busy with sports, including baseball and softball.
Marlene Oviedo
Front Desk Receptionist
As the Front Desk Receptionist and Billing Coordinator at the Cohen Clinic at VVSD, Los Angeles, Marlene is the first friendly face clients see when they visit. Her role includes answering questions clients may have to initiate care. She also supports the clinical team with administrative needs and billing, including preparing and sending invoices. Marlene has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Prior to joining the Cohen Clinic at VVSD, Marlene worked at a logistics company where she oversaw data entry, paper trail and transportation, while also providing exceptional customer service to clients.
As a military family member, “I enjoy being part of an organization that is making a difference in our community by aiding and providing resources to those associated with the military,” she said.
In her leisure, Marlene enjoys her hobby of customizing signs, center pieces and backdrops for her friend’s parties. She also likes to travel, make new friends and “discover more of this beautiful planet we live on,” she said.
Melissa Villalba
AMFT, Clinician
Melissa is a clinician dedicated to helping individuals heal from life’s challenges with compassion, authenticity, and evidence-based care. She currently serves as a Clinician at the Cohen Clinic at VVSD in Los Angeles, where she provides high-quality mental health services to veterans, service members, and their families. Melissa offers treatment both in person and through telehealth, helping clients navigate concerns related to trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, life transitions, and other mental health challenges.
Melissa has experience working with individuals facing depression, anxiety, PTSD, and ongoing life stressors. She believes healing is most effective when the mind, body, and spirit are all acknowledged, and she enjoys incorporating a somatic approach into therapy to help clients reconnect with themselves in meaningful ways.
She is trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and is currently completing training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), expanding her ability to provide specialized trauma-informed care. Melissa is passionate about lifelong learning and values continually strengthening her clinical skills to provide the highest quality care for those she serves.
What drew Melissa to the Cohen Clinics at VVSD is their unwavering commitment to supporting the mental health and well-being of the military community. She deeply appreciates the organization’s dedication to ongoing professional development and shares its mission of providing compassionate, evidence-based treatment.
Melissa believes that healing begins by understanding not just what we’re struggling with, but the experiences that have shaped us.
Her goal is to create a safe, supportive space where clients feel heard, valued, and empowered. Melissa chose this profession because of her genuine love and compassion for others and her belief that everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and reminded of their worth.
Melissa shares:
“Healing isn’t about becoming someone new—it’s about reconnecting with the parts of yourself that have always deserved love, compassion, and understanding. I invite you to begin that journey with me. Together, we’ll explore not only the challenges you’re facing, but also the strengths you already possess. My hope is to help you gain the insight, knowledge, and tools to navigate life’s difficult moments while embracing the joy found in the good ones. Remember, you don’t have to do life alone—no one does or should. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and I would be honored to walk alongside you as you heal, grow, and create a life rooted in hope, resilience, and self-compassion.”
Maita San Pedro, ASW
Fellow
Maita San Pedro, ASW, is a dedicated Associate Social Worker who recently earned her Master’s in Social Work from California State University, Dominguez Hills. She has experience working with individuals facing challenges such as substance use, sexual abuse, PTSD, trauma, anxiety, depression, and military sexual trauma. Maita is skilled in evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and motivational interviewing, and she emphasizes a client-centered approach to treatment planning.
Maita’s professional background includes working in healthcare and hospital settings, where she provided social services to elderly individuals and their families, helping them navigate the complexities of healthcare systems. Currently, she is a Fellow at the Cohen Clinic, where she practices as a clinician while receiving advanced clinical training and supervision on her path to independent licensure.
She has extensive experience working with veterans in various settings, including her final social work internship at the VA in Long Beach. She is passionate about the Cohen Clinic’s client-centered approach and its use of evidence-based treatments to help clients achieve their goals and improve their quality of life.
In her spare time, Maita enjoys walking, watching movies or TV shows, and savoring a good cup of matcha.
Alissa Gonzalez
Receptionist
As a Front Desk team member, Alissa is responsible for greeting clients and assisting with their appointments, as well as supporting both clients and clinicians in any way she can. She also serves as a Child Watch provider to help support the clinic’s “no barriers to care” policy, where she supervises children up to 14 years old so their parents can attend their therapy sessions without having to worry about their kids.
Prior to working at the Cohen Clinic at VVSD, Los Angeles, Alissa has had experience working with children, including where she has planned and oversaw outings and fundraisers. She is currently pursuing an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education.
“As a military spouse, what resonates with me most about the Cohen Clinic is knowing that there are resources available to help, not only veterans and service members but also their families,” she said. “I understand how much being a military family member can take a toll on everyone, so it brings me joy and comfort to know we have a place that supports us.” Her husband has been serving on active duty in the U.S. Army for 9 years.
In her spare time, Alissa enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She also enjoys watching her boys play sports on the weekends—one plays soccer, and the other plays basketball. Additionally, she likes swimming, hiking, and bike riding, and is a HUGE fan of karaoke nights!
Edzna Rodriguez, ASW
Intake Coordinator
As the Intake Coordinator at the Cohen Clinic at VVSD, Los Angeles, Edzna serves as the first point of contact for veterans, active-duty service members, and their families beginning their care journey. She conducts initial screenings and coordinates clients’ access to services, providing a welcoming and supportive experience as they enter the Cohen Clinic.
Edzna is a recent graduate with a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and brings over seven years of experience supporting military veterans and their families. She previously worked in Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), focusing on case management and supporting the homeless veteran population. Her background also includes time at the VA Hospital in Long Beach, where she gained experience in crisis intervention, inpatient psychiatric care, and inpatient medicine.
Edzna’s commitment to this work is deeply rooted in her own experience as a military family member who has received veteran family services. She understands firsthand the importance of accessible, compassionate care for this community. “The Cohen Clinic allows me to continue serving a population I care deeply about. I know how meaningful it is for veterans and their families to be met with understanding and support,” she shares.
In her spare time, Edzna enjoys relaxing at the beach, spending time with her dog, husband, and family, and is rediscovering her love for reading and yoga after completing graduate school.
Rachel Segovia
Receptionist/Child Care
Rachel works as a receptionist, where she greets clients in person as well as on the phone. She assists with scheduling appointments and provides childcare when needed. Prior to working with the Cohen Clinic, Los Angeles, she worked in customer service in many different areas, making sure clients always felt heard and supported with whatever they needed.
The Cohen Clinic at VVSD, Los Angeles resonates with Rachel because it provides high-priority mental health care to our veterans, and she believes that is very important for everyone. She has family members who are veterans, as well as a brother-in-law who is a purple heart veteran.
In Rachel’s spare time, she likes to spend time with her husband and family. She loves to try new coffee shops and restaurants. And she also loves to travel to new places, and has been to places like Japan, Italy, and Mexico.