Meet Mishka Clavijo-Kimball of Avedian Counseling Center and Kimball Therapy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mishka Clavijo-Kimball.

Mishka, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am a Nicaraguan Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, currently working in private practice with Anita Avedian, LMFT. I am also a Certified Anger Management Counselor for Anger Management 818 and a professor of Psychology at Mount Saint Mary’s University.

I came to this country alone about 14 years ago in order to pursue my goals of gaining an education and becoming a professional. My passions have always been education and psychology (and I also love music), but I could not choose between the two, so I decided I could become both an educator and a healer (and on the side, I am also a singer).

My very first job when I first came to the US was as a janitor at my university, and with hard work, luck, and a little help from my friends, I was able to graduate with my Bachelor’s in Psychology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio.

I later met the love of my life, got married and eventually relocated to sunny California, where I was able to get my Master’s in Counseling Psychology, specializing in Marriage and Family Therapy.

During my years in the field of mental health, I have been blessed to work in schools, non-profits, county contracted agencies, and now in private practice. I love what I do and could not imagine doing anything else. I love teaching my students at the university, and I love seeing my clients and helping them through their healing journey.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My grandfather taught me that things in life don’t come easy, especially the ones that are worth it. The path to becoming a therapist has been challenging and difficult, but so incredibly worth it and rewarding. I have made many sacrifices to get to where I am, such as sacrificing time with friends and family in order to work hard to get a masters or to grow my clientele.

Coming to this country alone was not easy either, but I was always lucky to have people in my life who helped and supported me along the way. I have also faced obstacles because of being a Latina, as there is still a lot of stigmas when it comes to mental health in the Latinx community.

Some family members or friends would ask me if I was crazy, because “why would I want to work with crazy people?” However, this only motivated me more, to become a mental health provider and an advocate in my community, so that I could help decrease the stigma that exists in our society.

Please tell us about Avedian Counseling Center and Kimball Therapy.
I currently work at Avedian Counseling Center with Anita Avedian, LMFT. Through my work with her, I have been able to establish my own brand for private practice, and this is where Kimball Therapy comes in. I have established a name for myself in the community as a provider for Latinx and Spanish-speaking clients.

I was recently featured on Univision as I have been offering pro-bono mental health services to families who have been impacted by immigration issues. This is my way of giving back to those who don’t have the resources to access help but need it in order to heal from their trauma. I am also known for working with teens, young adults, and men who struggle with anger management issues, anxiety, depression, and trauma.

In addition, I am also a psychology professor at Mount Saint Mary’s University and a board member for the San Fernando CAMFT (California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists). I am proud of what I have accomplished as a young minority woman and immigrant.

And I mostly proud for the impact I am able to have in my community.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
It’s hard to choose one childhood memory, but I’ll share this one: I was about nine years old and had been spending the weekend with my grandparents. My mom usually came to pick me up after dinner, but that night she was a little late. When she came in, she told me that she had a present for me.

As I walked into the next room, I saw a cute, tiny, white poodle and was so incredibly surprised and happy. I could not believe this puppy was mine and my mom had to repeatedly tell me, “yes, Mishka, she is your puppy.” This was my first pet and the best present I could have gotten. I absolutely love dogs! I have a dog-son named Charlie, and he is my baby!

Pricing:

• Individual therapy -$125/session
• Couple’s or family therapy – $150/session
• Anger Management groups -$25-$30/class
• Consultation- free

Contact Info:

• Address: 15233 Ventura Blvd, Suite 1208, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
  655 N. Central Ave, 17th floor, Glendale, CA 91203
  20300 Ventura Blvd, Suite 330, Woodland Hills, CA 91364
• Website: www.kimballtherapy.com
• Phone: 818-253-9404
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimballtherapy/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mishkakimball/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kimball-therapy-los-angeles

Image Credit:
Paul A. Kimball

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