The La Selva Community Clinic is a grant-funded, community mental health clinic offering free, bilingual services in Spanish and English to adults 18+. The clinic is part of La Selva Group, a division of Momentum for Health. New this year, the clinic offers a parent coaching program to help caregivers navigate difficult times or establish healthy family dynamics.

The shift from summer to fall can stir many feelings at any age — from excitement about holidays and relief at cooler weather to stress about returning to school and anxiety about shorter days. We spoke with Ana Perez, a parent coach with the clinic, to learn how we can navigate these times of transition.

What is your role at Momentum for Health, and how long have you been with the agency?

I first worked at La Selva Community Clinic briefly between 2019 and 2020, and I returned in 2025 as a Parent Coach. So while my current role is relatively new, my connection to the organization goes back several years. Coming back in a different capacity has been really meaningful to me.

Today, my work has two main components: facilitating parenting workshops for parents and caregivers of children and adolescents, and providing one-on-one parent coaching. It’s been very rewarding to support our community in both ways, and I’m especially grateful to be part of an initiative working to make parenting support more accessible to Spanish-speaking families.

Please describe the new parent coaching program at the La Selva Community Clinic — who does it aim to help, and what does it offer?

The program supports parents, caregivers, and anyone interested in learning more about healthy family dynamics and relationships. It creates opportunities to learn practical tools, share experiences, and explore different approaches to everyday family challenges.

Our parenting workshops focus on practical topics that can benefit families at many different stages, such as communication, connection, understanding children’s behavior, setting respectful boundaries, managing emotions, and finding solutions that encourage cooperation. Although the workshops are designed with parents and caregivers in mind, people who aren’t currently in an active parenting stage have also found value in applying those skills across many kinds of relationships.

One-on-one coaching lets us focus on an individual client’s needs, concerns, and goals, and explore practical strategies for everyday life.

We’re very intentional about offering this program in Spanish because we want to reach more Spanish-speaking families and create a space where they can talk about parenting, share their experiences, and feel comfortable doing so in their own language and cultural context.

What kind of clients do you usually work with?

I work with a wide range of parents and caregivers of children and adolescents. Some come to coaching because of a specific challenge at home — communication difficulties, conflict, challenging behaviors, boundaries, or a particular transition. Others simply want to feel more confident in their parenting or strengthen their relationship with their children. Every parent and caregiver brings a different experience, and I really value getting to know each client, understanding what matters to them, and working together to find strategies that feel helpful for their particular situation.

Some clients may feel overwhelmed or unsure about how to respond to a particular situation and are looking for a space to slow down, reflect, and explore different perspectives. You don’t have to be in crisis to benefit from parent coaching. Sometimes having someone listen without judgment and help you think through what’s happening is valuable in itself.

Many adults may remember the stress and excitement of “back-to-school” season. How do those periods of transition usually impact us, as children, families, or even as adults?

Transitions bring a mix of excitement and stress. Even when a change is positive or something we’ve been looking forward to, it can still create uncertainty because we’re adjusting to something new.

For children and adolescents, transitions can show up as changes in behavior or mood. They may become more irritable, emotional, resistant, or have a harder time with routines. They don’t always have the words to explain what they’re feeling, so their behavior can be one way they communicate that something feels different or hard. One thing I encourage is for families to look beyond the behavior and ask, “What might my child be communicating through this?” That shift in perspective helps us respond with curiosity and connection rather than jumping straight to correcting.

Parents and caregivers are navigating the transition too. They may be adjusting schedules, routines, expectations, and responsibilities while also trying to support their children through the change. This recognition can help us approach these moments with a little more patience and understanding.

Do you have any tips for navigating transitions or seasonal ups and downs?

I encourage parents and caregivers to prepare children and adolescents for transitions in an age-appropriate way. Talk with them about what’s coming, give them room to ask questions, and involve them in the process when possible. Providing some information and predictability can help them feel more prepared.

I also encourage focusing on connection during times of change. When routines and expectations shift, small moments of connection help children and adolescents feel grounded. It can be as simple as a few minutes of one-on-one time or checking in about their day.

What do you hope people going through a period of transition, large or small, know?

There’s no single right way to navigate a transition, and it’s okay to ask for support along the way — to talk to someone, share what you’re experiencing, or get a different perspective. Sometimes having that space to pause can help us better understand what our child may be experiencing and how we want to respond.

And perhaps most importantly, give yourself grace. Adjustment takes time, and things won’t go perfectly right away. What works for one child or family may not work for another, and that’s okay. Give yourself the space and permission to adapt too.

What does this work mean to you?

For me, this work is about creating a space where parents and caregivers feel heard, supported, and less alone. Parenting can be incredibly rewarding, but also exhausting, and sometimes we need a place to pause and talk openly about what we’re experiencing without judgment.

I really value being able to walk alongside parents and caregivers rather than simply telling them what to do. Every caregiver is different and knows their children best. My role is to listen, ask questions, offer a perspective, and help identify strategies that might help.

As a Latina, doing this work in Spanish and connecting with the Spanish-speaking community holds special meaning for me. I know how important it is to have a space where you can communicate in your own language and feel understood.

Is there anything else you would like people to know?

Our doors are open. You don’t have to be in crisis or facing a specific challenge to participate — sometimes it’s enough to be curious or open to exploring a different perspective on parenting and family relationships.

We’re all learning along the way, and there’s always room to reflect and try something different. We’d love to connect with more families in our community and create a welcoming space where people can share their experiences, ask questions, and feel supported.

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Thank you to Ana for sharing her expertise with us. If you are interested in learning more about parent coaching or any other service offered by the La Selva Community Clinic, please reach out to learn what help might be available. Call us at 650-617-8350 or send us a text at 650-484-1428. You can also visit us at: https://thelaselvagroup.org/la-selva-community-clinic/

We’re thrilled to introduce you to La Selva Group’s team of exceptional psychiatrists, all of whom bring a wealth of experience and diverse cultural perspectives.

They each have extensive backgrounds spanning clinical research, psychopharmacology, and psychotherapy. Their collective expertise reflects a commitment not only to clinical excellence but also to inclusivity, innovation, and the highest standards of mental health care.

Each of our psychiatrists offer compassionate care tailored to each individual.

To learn more about our services, including psychiatry, visit our admissions page at www.thelaselvagroup.org/admissions.

Sincerely,

Dr. Brenna Connolly, Psy.D. (22175), Clinical Director

BConnolly@momentumforhealth.org

Dr. Shefali Miller, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Operating Officer

Dr. Shefali Miller specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mood disorders, with a particular focus on bipolar disorder. Before joining La Selva Group/Momentum for Health, Dr. Miller held key positions at Stanford University School of Medicine, including Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Chief of the Bipolar Disorders Clinic.

Dr. Miller’s research has significantly advanced the understanding of bipolar disorder, emphasizing its complex nature and the importance of accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment strategies.

Dr. Garrick Wang, Residential Psychiatrist

Dr. Garrick Wang graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Biochemical Sciences, where he was honored with the National Science Scholar award for his academic excellence.

He went on to earn both his M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, demonstrating a strong foundation in both clinical medicine and scientific research. Dr. Wang completed his psychiatry residency at Stanford University.

Dr. Juliana Lockman, Neuropsychiatrist

Dr. Juliana Lockman is an esteemed neuropsychiatrist who directs our Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) track. She completed residencies in Neurology at the University of Virginia and Psychiatry at Stanford Hospital & Clinics, equipping her with a unique dual perspective on the intersection of neurological and psychiatric conditions.

Her professional goals include developing effective therapies and improving access to care for clients with FND and related disorders, reflecting her commitment to enhancing the lives of individuals affected by these complex conditions.

Dr. Jasmine Tatum, Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Tatum graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University and received her M.D. from the Ichan School of Medicine. She completed her residency at Stanford University where she served as Chief Resident and underwent training in psychopharmacology, psychodynamic therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. She also completed specialized training pathways in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and consult-liaison psychiatry (CLP).

She is deeply committed to expanding access to mental health care and approaches treatment through a holistic lens, integrating evidence-based practices with personalized, compassionate care.

Dr. Charles Fagundes, Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Fagundes received his M.D. from Brown University and completed his psychiatry residency at Stanford University. He has undergone training in psychopharmacology, psychodynamic therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy.

In residency, he developed a special focus on interventional psychiatry, including Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). Dr. Fagundes also completed a Psychoanalysis Fellowship Program through the San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis (PAPPTP).