At Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas, our staff is dedicated to providing hope and healing to the community. Take a look at the wonderful people who are the heart of our mission!
While she can’t sing or play a single instrument, Kristina has an almost obsessive love of music. A former client of the Center, Kristina is passionate about the work we do and feels privileged to be a part of such a rock star team. Her little known talent is her ability to communicate only using movie quotes “so I’ve got that goin’ for me, which is nice.”
A San Antonio native, Sylvia has had quite a career in the countdown city. At the Center, Sylvia helps ensure every dollar and donation is accounted for. Her role ultimately helps us continue to fuel our mission of hope and healing. We’ve got our runners-up for her job well done! Meep, Meep!
Bonjour! Meet Adriana McKinnon, our Chief Program Officer. Adriana brings both heart and leadership to the Children’s Bereavement Center. She fosters a supportive and collaborative atmosphere for her talented team of clinicians, empowering them to provide exceptional care to grieving families. Adriana’s dedication to serving others ensures that every family feels understood, supported, and comforted during their journey through loss. You can find her pursuing her passion for learning French in her free time.
Catie White, our Chief Development Officer, brings passion and dedication to supporting the mission of the Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas. Her love for music and her adorable furry friend, Macaroni & Cheese (Mac), keep her grounded and inspired. With a strong will to ensure that every child and family receives the care they need, Catie is committed to making a lasting impact in our community.
Polett here! I am a queer immigrant counselor from Mexico. I have a Doctorate of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision; my dissertation topic focuses on eating behaviors and transgender males. On evenings and weekends, I enjoy carving out time for stretching, reading, yoga, swimming, cruising on my bicycle, traveling, and enjoying food in a deliberate manner.
Ana Ezeta is a bilingual Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - Associate dedicated to supporting families and young children through their journey. With a passion for providing hope and fostering joy, Ana infuses her sessions with warmth and empathy. Outside of her clinical work, she finds solace in baking, taking walks, and being a devoted Taylor Swift enthusiast.
Despite retiring in January 2022, we knew we had to have Brenda on our team in Uvalde. Her invaluable experience helps ensure all runs smoothly for our staff and grieving families in Uvalde. It is Brenda’s belief that people often do not know how to grieve, but guiding them can help them heal in ways they never thought they could. While she loves being in the office, she's got lots of travel plans so her bags are always packed!
Anita loves nothing more than being such a vital part of our work at the Center. As Intake Coordinator, she is tasked with welcoming families as they begin their grief journey. Originally from Corpus Christi, Anita loves Selena and feels the music in her soul even while at work. She definitely adds a little “bidi bidi bom bom” to our space!
Marleen is a holistic counselor. Integrating her experience as a Board Certified Life Coach, Psychosynthesis Life Coach and Grief Recovery Method Program Specialist, she offers therapy that considers the whole person (mind+body+spirit). Trained in EFT and TFT ("Tapping") she enjoys sharing about cognitive somatic energy practices. In her free time, you'll often find her strumming a guitar.
Much like Gonzo the Great, we think Kristy is pretty fantastic! As one of our Intake Coordinators, Kristy understands the pain and grief families are feeling when they first connect with us. It’s like compassion that has guided her to the Center. While Kristy believes the Center to be the happiest place on earth, one day she may pack her bags and move to the second happiest place on earth (in her opinion) Disney World!
Our wonderful Program Administrator, Kym, brings her passion for giving back to the community she grew up in with a warm and optimistic spirit. When she’s not at the Center, she enjoys spending time with her daughter, capturing moments through photography, and hiking in the fall. A proud San Antonio native with a love for purple and pumpkin patches, Kym believes deeply in helping families access the mental health support they deserve.
Lauren is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has been with The Children’s Bereavement Center in various capacities since 2018 and was drawn to the work through a personal connection to grief. Through use of a Person-Centered approach wherein individuals feel seen, safe, valued, and accepted, she believes that healing is possible. She is passionate about Expressive Arts, mindfulness practices, and engaging the body in processing grief and trauma - as many of us know such experiences often leave us disconnected from our bodies and from our selves.
The community created at the center can be hugely attributed to the imagination and creativity of Tami! Always one for decorating and dressing up, Tami can be found planning out her Halloween costumes when she isn’t seeing clients and managing our team of counselors. Although she doesn’t have a favorite book or movie, Tami will happily share a list of her favorites.
Paola is a bilingual, licensed professional counselor, who strives to create a compassionate and safe environment for navigating grief and healing. As a school-based program therapist, she loves being able to meet her clients where they’re at and inspire hope in those who have lost it. When she’s not at work, Paola enjoys immersing herself in nature, exploring the world through travel, or whipping up some sweet desserts.
Diego is stirring up lots of fun at the Center as one of our school-based counselors! When he isn’t listening to Taylor Swift (yes a true Swiftie) he’s dedicating time to supporting clients through very difficult situations. When he’s not at work you can catch him watching Netflix with a sweet tea in hand!
Rachel Neal, one of our talented Program Therapists at the Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas, brings her passion for grief support after years of working with those who’ve experienced loss. She loves spending time outdoors with her husband and their best friend, Dos, or enjoying a good audiobook when she’s not with her clients. A proud Hufflepuff, Rachel is always up for fun and connection—whether sharing a boba tea or dreaming of being a Pokémon trainer!
Kylie Piper is an LPC-Associate with a passion for helping children find their voice in times of grief. Whether she's cooking up a storm at home or enjoying time outdoors, she brings warmth and energy to her role at the Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas. Kylie is always ready with a comforting word, a playful activity, and a genuine love for her work and the kids she serves.
Emily Price, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor who brings creativity and compassion to her therapeutic work. As a Certified Clinical Sandtray Therapist Trainer, she oversees the Center's grief camps and peer support group programs, using expressive art and nature-based interventions to support healing. When she's not guiding others through their grief journey, Emily enjoys immersing herself in the calming embrace of nature.
Angelica Santiago, a Program Therapist at our office in Uvalde, finds immense fulfillment in helping her clients navigate tough moments with compassion and care. She loves building meaningful relationships with each individual and feels honored to be a part of their healing journey. When she's not working, you might find her exploring new spots in San Antonio with her family or perfecting her Bluey accent!
When she’s not in the carpool line, Julia is at the Center bringing with her endless amounts of positive energy. Although an office on the beach might be a dream come true, she believes that she is living the dream being part of a team that feels like a family. At work, you can usually find her buried under a pile of sponsor forms and silent auction items!
Our avid soccer player Bridget sure is "goal"-oriented! As one of our receptionists, Bridget juggles it all. Whether she is answering the phones, welcoming families, or helping our staff she does it all with a smile. When she isn't in the office doing a million things at once, Bridget enjoys relaxing with family and reffing soccer - GOOOOOOOAL!
Meet Yolanda, the friendly face at our front desk! She loves to find ways to make people smile and ensures our lobby is warm and welcoming. You will likely catch her juggling many tasks at once, but she always handles these situations with grace. Yolanda is so loved and we are grateful that she is able to contribute to our atmosphere of “healing hospitality”.
At the center of the work we do, there’s Connie - making sure everything is smooth sailing! Through all the hustle and bustle, Connie manages to keep it cool and collected and complete a seemingly endless to-do list. Outside of the office, her role as a grandma helps form the loving atmosphere she helps to create at the Center.
Meet Chloe, our resident Slytherin and true crime enthusiast, who brings a touch of magic to the team with her love for Harry Potter and Hogwarts adventures. When she's not checking out a local coffee shop, Chloe is busy spreading joy and laughter to everyone around her. With a mischievous grin and a keen eye for details, Chloe adds a dash of Slytherin charm to our team, making every day feel like a magical adventure!
Being with the Center for five years, two of which have been spent in our Uvalde office, Liz loves nothing more than the work being done and shares the passion to our mission. She understands no one grieves the same and gives her all while supporting our therapists and clients. As Operations Manager Liz has to juggle many hats but manages to streamline the many to do’s
Our professional Pickleball player Ben is ready to play ball! Coming from a family of nonprofit professionals working at the Center was a natural transition for this Texas State Bobcat. As our Community Engagement Manager, Ben is tasked with finding meaningful ways for individuals to get involved with our mission. Much like Spiderman, Ben knows that with great power comes great responsibility, and he’s up for the challenge.
Michelle Ramirez, our Community Engagement Manager at our Uvalde office, has been dedicated to our mission for years before officially joining the team. With a heart full of compassion, she is committed to supporting those grieving in her community. When the workday ends, Michelle loves nothing more than spending quality time with her beloved granddaughter!
Feda Zidan, our Data Analyst & System Administrator, is passionate about supporting the Children’s Bereavement Center’s mission to help children navigate their emotions. When she’s not diving into data, Feda enjoys expressing her creativity through art and crochet. With a love for dolphins and a talent for singing in Arabic, she brings both heart and a fun, unique energy to our team!
205 W. Olmos Drive San Antonio, TX 78212
210-736-4847 (HUGS)
Business Hours
Monday–Thursday: 8:30am–5:00pm
Friday: 8:30am–3:00pm
Weekends by appointment only
