Meet Our Team

Sharon Burnett, PhD, MFT has been in private practice for over 30 years as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist working in the area of trauma and recovery within the family and larger social community. After her doctoral studies at the University of Oregon, she trained under Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, and continues to lead workshops based on Dr. Kubler-Ross’s model of grief, loss, and trauma recovery. Dr. Burnett brings this model of trauma recovery to her mediation work with children and their families. She is the Founder and Executive Director of both the Ventura Counseling & Wellness Center and West Valley Counseling Center, nonprofit, community-based counseling centers.

Dina Olivas, LCSW, received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from California State, Long Beach. As a bi-cultural mental health professional, she began her career 39 years ago in Los Angeles, providing services to diverse children, youth, couples, and families experiencing complex trauma. Her work settings range from public and private hospitals to schools, universities, and clinics. Ms. Olivas is a trained Early Childhood Mental Health Interventionist and community crisis specialist trained in Psychological First Aid, Critical Incident Debriefing, and Crisis Response Management for first responders.With years of leading, supervising, and training clinicians, she is grounded in promoting the neurobiology of healing through relationships while looking through the lens of culture and identity. Ensuring community access to quality counseling services has been paramount in her last 20 years of service in Ventura County. Ms. Olivas’s guiding belief in her teaching and clinical perspective is that healing occurs through a genuine, respectful therapeutic relationship that honors one’s intrinsic strength as a whole person.

After growing up on the remote western slope of Colorado, Kacie Goff graduated from Westmont College summa cum laude with a degree in Communication Studies. Now fully settled on the California coast, she writes for a variety of publications and serves as a marketing consultant for international firms. Mental health is a top priority for her. She is proud to work with VCWC to offer quality, life-changing mental health services people throughout Ventura.

Eric is currently pursuing his MA in Couples & Family Therapy at Alliant International University. Before beginning his journey toward becoming a therapist, he spent years working as a creative director, event coordinator, and in the fitness world. These experiences shaped his ability to meet people where they are, with empathy, flexibility, and a deep respect for each person’s path.Eric has long been drawn to the English language and the power of stories—how we tell them, how we carry them, and how they shape the way we see ourselves and the world around us. He brings that same curiosity into his work with clients, creating a warm and grounded space where people can reflect, grow, and reconnect with what matters most to them and their values.Eric enjoys working with teens, young adults, couples, co-parents, creatives, and fathers—especially those navigating identity, relationships, life transitions, or just feeling stuck. His approach is thoughtful, down-to-earth, and collaborative. Eric’s experiences growing up in a culturally diverse household shaped his belief that support should feel authentic, respectful, and tailored to each person’s unique background and needs.Eric feels privileged to walk beside others as they make sense of where they’ve been, where they are now, and where they hope to go.

As a dedicated mental health therapist, Holly is committed to holistic healing. Her theoretical practice emphasizes the important interconnectedness of all aspects that make us human- mind, body, spirituality, and identity. Holly earned her B.A. in holistic psychology from Lesley University in Cambridge Massachusetts and returned for her M.A. in clinical mental health counseling. In her free time, Holly enjoys hiking, kayaking, playing with her kittens or relaxing in nature, and curling up with a good book. Holly works primarily with individuals and couples, teens, young adults, and adults facing challenging life transitions, as well as anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns using a trauma informed lens. Her approach integrates an array of evidence-based practices, compassion, support, warmth, and a touch of humor. Holly holds a deep respect for each individual's unique journey and personal values, recognizing them as the experts to their own experience. By fostering a collaborative and safe environment, Holly guides each client to explore and address the underlying causes of their difficulties, develop effective coping strategies, and cultivate resilience. Her aim is to empower individuals to achieve balance, peace, growth, and a sense of fulfillment in their lives and their relationships.

As an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, Amanda fosters a warm, compassionate, and collaborative environment where healing unfolds through deep listening, authenticity, and the integration of mind, body, and soul. She is dedicated to creating a safe, supportive space where clients feel genuinely seen and heard. Grounded in person-centered and humanistic modalities—including somatic awareness and mindfulness—her approach encourages individuals to explore their inner world at their own pace and without judgment, supporting clients reconnecting with their inner strength, nurturing self-compassion, and cultivating meaningful, lasting emotional growth.Amanda’s background in behavioral health includes serving as the Executive Director of a countywide program that supports children with special needs, working with high school age youth, as well as with individuals with psychosis and addiction. She holds an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, as well as an M.A. in Educational Psychology from NYU and a B.A. in Psychology from CSUN.Amanda gladly walks alongside individuals, couples, and adolescents through life’s challenges, gently reaching into the spaces where anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship struggles, and life transitions take root. Committed to culturally responsive care and ongoing professional development, Amanda fosters an inclusive environment where all identities and backgrounds are valued and respected as integral to the therapeutic journey.

Lindaluz is pursuing her Master's in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute. She is also the founder of Vital Plexus Therapy and is self-employed as a Certified Massage Therapist and Somatic Coach. She approaches therapy with a deep understanding of the nervous system and the mind-body-spirit connection. As a Marriage and Family Therapist trainee, Lindaluz utilizes a trauma-informed, somatic and multi-cultural spiritual lens to approach healing and growth. Her practice often incorporates art, movement, breathwork training, psychoeducation, and community resourcing. As a companion for the bereaved, she welcomes those experiencing grief and loss issues. Committed to inclusive services, Lindaluz welcomes culturally diverse, LGBTQIA2S+, disabled, and neurodivergent individuals. Lindaluz brings years of experience in person-centered work, service coordination, and advocacy and seeks to empower those experiencing systemic and interpersonal challenges. She is committed to co-creating a safe space for you to feel seen, heard, and welcomed as you explore and navigate your mental health journey. Lindaluz is open to working with individuals of all ages, couples, families and can provide all services bilingually, in English and Spanish.

As an Asian adoptee, James has a personal appreciation for the complexities of identity, culture, and belonging. This perspective informs his interest in supporting individuals navigating emotional issues related to identity, family dynamics, and life transitions. James strives to honor each client’s lived experiences, recognizing that every individual’s story and path toward healing are unique.  His approach integrates evidence-based practices with cultural humility and a client-centered perspective. James values creating a supportive, respectful, and collaborative environment where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered to work toward meaningful change.  James is currently pursuing his M.A. in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University in Santa Barbara. James earned his B.S. in Psychology from Cal State University at Channel Islands, Camarillo, California.  He enjoys working with children, adolescents, and adults from culturally diverse backgrounds who are facing various challenges such as stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns.