Wellness Center

 

 

Meet the Staff

 

Alexa Ara, Wellness Center Counselor

she/her/ella

 

Hi everyone! My name is Alexa Ara and I am the new Wellness Center Counselor at Redondo Union High School. I am excited to be joining the Seahawk team! As a school counselor, I am excited to be coordinating and serving the Wellness Center this year. I attended Brown University (Go Bears!) and CSU Long Beach (Go Beach!) where I honed in on Education Studies, Portuguese and Brazilian Studies, School Counseling, and Community Engagement. 

 

I have previously worked at USC, LBCC, and nearby school districts, serving in college counseling, outreach, and wellness positions. Just like our students, I’m also in school this year, continuing my education with a Child Welfare and Attendance certificate at CSU Dominguez Hills (Go Toros!). 

In my free time I like to kayak, swim, spend time with animals, art journal, and read. Whether you fill your cup with any of the same activities, please know the Wellness Center is always here to help fill your cup and support our Sea Hawk community!

 

I look forward to learning with and from our Sea Hawk students, families, staff, and community members. Please come by the Wellness Center, scan our QR code around campus or reach out to me at [email protected] or extension 4174. I would love to meet you!

 

Wyatt Ruiz

 

Hi! My name is Wyatt and I am a graduate intern for the Wellness Center! I’m currently working on my master’s in clinical psychology and aspire to one day be a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT). I have majored in psychology with a minor in sociology. I am thrilled to be at the wellness center this year and hope to get to know you and help be of the utmost support!

 

I will be here Mondays and Fridays this semester! 

 

I have a yorkie named Koda (yes she is named after Koda from “Brother Bear” and love spending time with her. During my free time, I love taking drives,  going to metal concerts, swimming, and spending time with loved ones. I also enjoy horror movies, and anything spooky or paranormal related. 

 

I’m a big believer in self care and believe it comes in many forms. Self care can look like being in nature which is my favorite way to ground myself. It can look like calling a trusted friend, reading your favorite book or even coming to the wellness center to help regulate.

 

I hope to help make you feel encouraged and confident to navigate through changes and challenges you may be dealing with. My goal is to make you feel comfortable to express yourself without judgement and to be present. Feel free to email me at [email protected] if you need to reach me or to request an appointment, or you may scan the QR code! It’s such an honor to intern at RUHS and I look forward to meeting new faces and reconnecting with returning students!

 

Hi! :) My name is Emily, and I am a graduate counseling intern at the Wellness Center! I am pursuing my Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at Vanguard University and I received my Bachelor’s degree in Psychological Sciences at UC Irvine. When I am not busy with school, I enjoy visiting new coffee shops, baking, and traveling! I understand how overwhelming it can feel to be a high school student faced with decisions about your future and career path. As a first-generation college student, I experienced many of those same pressures and anxieties. My goal is to help ease some of that stress by creating a safe, supportive space where you can talk openly about school, relationships, family, and life as a whole. I am super excited to meet with some wonderful students and be able to connect over time. I will be at the Wellness Center on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. You can reach out to me via email at [email protected] or feel free to scan the QR code to make an appointment with me! Hope to see you soon!

 

Jen Minich

 

Hi! I am Jen Minich, and I am excited to be joining the counseling team at the Wellness Center. I have been a teacher in the district for 15 years, primarily working as an ELD and ELA teacher at Adams Middle School. I am currently pursuing my Master's degree in Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University. I have a big connection to RUHS…I too am a Seahawk! I also have two children who attend Parras Middle School (future Seahawks!). As a family, we enjoy skiing, paddleboarding, mountain biking, and surfing. My favorite part about being a teacher is the connections I have made with my students. I hope to make more connections this year as a member of the Wellness Center team. I will be available on Wednesdays and Fridays. Feel free to reach out to me via email [email protected]

 

Luisa Bernardino

Hi!! My name is Luisa Bernardino and I am a school-based therapist through the non-profit  South Bay Children’s Health Center. I am so excited to be part of the RUHS family for a third  year!! I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and have a master’s in Clinical  Psychology from Pepperdine University. For the past four years, I have had the privilege of  solely working with youth and young adults through school-based counseling and allcove Beach  Cities. I am very passionate about building relationships and community, connecting with youth,  focusing on prevention, and destigmatizing mental health. I believe all students have the  capacity to be the best versions of themselves with the right support and guidance. I embrace a  collaborative approach and understand the importance of allowing young people to be heard  and seen. I look forward to continuing to assist students as they navigate their challenges and  build the tools needed to help them feel empowered while also fostering connections with  caregivers, parents, and staff.  

When I am not at school, I enjoy spending quality time with family and friends, cooking, listening  to music, reading, and finding joy in shared laughter.  

You can find me Monday through Friday at Faculty Room 112A in the Science and Art building. My RUHS extension is 4127.

 I look forward to meeting you!