Therapinxy San Diego
Chapter Co-Lead Contact Information:
Melissa Nefalar, LMFT, PMH-C
Email: admin@melissanefalar.com
Phone: (619) 356-3562
Instagram: @chulavistatherapy
Bio:
Melissa Nefalar, LMFT, PMH-C is second generation Filipino American and has been a licensed marriage and family therapist for over 10 years. Her expertise is looking at individual holistic wellness through the lens of a person's relationships and external systems, including family, society, or culture through a feminist, postmodern, neuroexperiential (brain-body based) approach. She is perinatal mental health certified and specializes in women's reproductive mental health care for the lifespan including pregnancy, fertility challenges, postpartum mental health, and peri/menopause. She is certified in Brainspotting as a way to encourage and support clients to tap into their inner resources and healing. She is passionate in working with issues focused on women, anxiety, and grief and loss. She is a former board member of Postpartum Support International's California Chapter and current Community Partnership Co-Chair for Postpartum Health Alliance (PHA) in San Diego.
Melissa was born and raised in San Diego, CA as the youngest child of four to Ilocano parents including a father who retired from 20 years of US Navy service and a mother who immigrated to the US without any support; she has lived experience and understands the intergenerational and cultural challenges that come with being brown in the United States. She received her undergraduate and post graduate education locally at UC San Diego and San Diego State University. She is married with three children and enjoys being a lifelong learner, traveler, and enjoys dancing as her favorite form of therapy.
What does Filipino healing and wellness look like to you?
Filipino healing and wellness looks like reducing shame (hiya) and stigma for seeking support and mental health services. Introducing or re-introducing ancestral healing and internal resources to our community for holistic and embodied care and growth.
Chapter Co-Lead Contact Information:
Jezreel “Jez” Cornel (he/him/siya ᜐᜒᜌ), Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT)
Email: jezreel@solpathwellness.com
Bio:
Jezreel “Jez” Cornel (he/him/siya ᜐᜒᜌ) is a second-generation Filipino American, heteronormative cisgender male, Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) born and raised in San Diego, California, on Kumeyaay ancestral lands.
jezreel cornel is from California State University, Sacramento’s BA in Psychology program and San Diego State University's MS in Marriage and Family Therapy program with a focus on Narrative Therapy. jezreel received clinical training in the San Diego Unified School District Outpatient Program as a school-based therapist. He is now an associate marriage and family therapist at Solpath Counseling & Holistic Wellness.
Alongside his formal education, jezreel studied Sikolohiyang Pilipino (Filipino Psychology) through conversations with established Filipino mental health professionals and reviewing existing literature. jezreel is a community organizer through San Diego Kababayan, and is an honorary member supporting Kasamahan's Board of Directors as resource support and social media.
jez has a passion for working with Filipinx/Americans, colonialism/colonial mentality, decoloniality, Sikolohiyang Pilipino (Filipino Psychology) and Filipino American Psychology, intergenerational messages, stress management, anxiety, depression, identity, life transitions, grief/loss, men’s issues, and self-esteem.
What does Filipino healing and wellness look like to you?
Filipino healing and wellness looks like collective care involving family, friends, loved ones, and community members of past, present and future; incorporating Sikolohiyang Pilipino (Filipino Psychology) values like kapwa ᜃᜉ᜔ᜏ, bayanihan and kabutihang/kagandahang loob; integrating religiosity/spirituality whether that’s a Higher Power or through hilot, albularyo or tawas; eating sinigang, arroz caldo or tinola; our collective karangalan, katarungan and kalayaan