Haverhill A (next to Campus Safety) 562.907.4239 562.907.4218 (fax) counselingcenter@whittier.edu
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed daily from noon - 1 p.m.
The office is closed during the summer, from May 12 to August 14
If you are in need of support, please refer to our list of recommended resources. To find a therapist with your insurance, visit Thriving Campus and follow the locator services.
For emergencies, call Campus Safety at 562.907.4211 and ask to be connected to an on-call therapist. If you require emergency mental health services, please call 911, go to your nearest hospital emergency room, or call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255.
Professional counseling staff is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Dr. Rebecca Romberger has been a California Licensed Psychologist for more than two decades. Born and raised in central Pennsylvania, she received her Doctoral degree in psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She relocated to California to complete an APA-accredited internship with Kaiser Permanente in Health Psychology, followed by a post-doctoral fellowship at Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), where she worked with children suffering from cancer and blood disorders, specializing in the psychological aspects of oncology. After several years in private practice, Dr. Romberger was appointed Executive Director of a local non-profit mental health clinic, while also serving as an adjunct clinical supervisor to Whittier College Counseling Center staff. She was selected as the Counseling Center Director/Clinical Training Director in 2009.
As the mother of two Whittier College graduates, Dr. Romberger understands the challenges students and families face while transitioning to college life. She and her staff provide services that support students in coping with everyday hassles as well as more significant life events. She believes it is an honor to accompany students on the journey of transformation, developing skills, and acquiring knowledge as they move toward graduation, career, and a fulfilling life beyond Whittier.
Dr. Romberger holds memberships in the American Psychological Association, the California Psychological Association, and the Organization of Counseling Center Directors in Higher Education. She serves on the Board of CAPIC (California Psychology Internship Council), representing internship sites across Southern California. She has served as adjunct faculty at the University of Southern California (Rossier School of Education), the University of La Verne, and the Fuller Theological Seminary, School of Psychology. She enjoys supervising graduate psychology students to develop the competent, confident, and professional therapists of tomorrow while supporting the growth and development of Whittier College undergraduate students.
Kenric (he/him/his) is a third-year doctoral student at Biola University, where he also previously completed his Master's degree in Clinical Psychology. Originally from Los Angeles, CA, he has lived throughout the U.S. Kenric grew up in a Southeast Asian/Southern Chinese ethnic-refugee family. He is a first-generation doctoral student, with his area of research focused on taking a trauma-informed, culture-sensitive, socioecological/decolonizing approach to the clinical treatment of Diu Ziu Chinese people. He understands the challenges of growing up in a refugee family, as well as the stressors of mental health challenges as a result of childhood trauma and is committed to breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma. As a therapist who is also a survivor of domestic violence/child abuse, he enjoys working from a dialectical-behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, and client-centered approach with his clients and readily integrates a biopsychosocial, trauma-informed, and social justice model to inform his patient care and treatment.
As a member of the Student Counseling Center team at Whittier College, Kenric is committed to listening and learning from each client’s unique cultural perspective and experience. He is eager to walk alongside students as they navigate various challenges and stages of life. Kenric hopes to create a safe space for all students to be heard, seen, and understood.
Outside of the office, Kenric enjoys online gaming, basketball, weight-lifting/exercise, mindfulness mediation and watching scary movies.
Melissa (she/her/hers) is a fourth-year doctoral student at Biola University, where she also previously completed her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. Melissa was born and raised in Orange County, California. She identifies as Mexican-American, and understands the challenges that come with addressing mental health in the context of Latine cultures.
Melissa personally understands the challenges of transitioning to college as she began her undergrad at a private university - staying for only 3 weeks before transferring to a community college (for 6 years) and returning to a state college to complete her Bachelor’s degree. Throughout this process, Melissa changed her major 3 times and struggled to make meaningful relationships. As a member of the Student Counseling Center team at Whittier College, Melissa is committed to actively listening and helping each student flourish. She strives to create a healthy, safe, and empathic space for students as they navigate college transitions and complexities and integrates therapeutic techniques from various modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy, and Time-Limited Dynamic Psychotherapy to help students meet their wellness goals.
Outside of the office, Melissa enjoys babysitting, crocheting, and serving at church.
April (she/her/hers) is a third-year Clinical Psychology doctoral student at Azusa Pacific University with a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from New York University. She identifies as an Asian American woman and is passionate about providing culturally sensitive therapy to a diverse range of clients. With a deep understanding of cultural nuances, April is dedicated to addressing the unique mental health needs of her clients.
As an international student herself, April has a personal insight into the challenges and barriers faced by this population. April has provided comprehensive counseling services in various settings, working with clients on issues such as anxiety disorders, trauma, mood disorders, gender identity, relational difficulties, and the application of positive psychology to enhance well-being and personal growth. She is committed to creating a warm and supportive environment for every student, integrating person-centered therapy principles into her practice.
Outside of her clinical work, you can find April exploring local coffee shops, practicing yoga and Pilates, staying active at the gym, or getting lost in a good book
Fitzgerald (he/him/his) is a fourth-year Clinical Psychology (emphasis in Latinx Communities) Doctoral student at Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles. He also completed a B.A. in Applied Psychology at MSMU. During his training, Fitzgerald has worked with young adults in higher education, transitional-age youth preparing for adulthood, and conducting psychological assessments at a Community Center serving Native American populations and at the CAPS-University of La Verne.
Before returning to higher education in the field of Clinical Psychology, Fitzgerald served in the United States Marine Corps. As a first-generation Latinx student and a veteran himself, Fitzgerald is keenly aware of the personal challenges faced by marginalized students in higher education and the obstacles they encounter whether transitioning from high school to college or from military service to civilian careers; he is dedicated to supporting FirstGen students from marginalized identities in their academic journeys, fostering student engagement, and helping veterans navigate college life and beyond.
In his free time, Fitzgerald enjoys spending time with his family, exploring new places, and camping.
Patricia has been a Licensed Clinical Social worker for 13 years providing direct service to the communities of Whittier and Azusa. Patricia graduated from Whittier College in 2001 with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. While at Whittier College, she was a student-athlete and engaged with student societies. As a first-generation college student, Patricia understands the barriers students face when navigating new systems. She is excited to return to her alma mater to support the new generation of learners. In 2005, Patricia traveled East for graduate school to Smith College School for Social Work in Northampton, Massachusetts. As a graduate student and parent, Patricia learned first-hand the commitment needed to balance academic life and social stressors, she seeks to support other aspiring students, who are overcoming all odds to pursue their academic goals.
Patricia has also been in private practice, locally since 2010. Patricia’s areas of expertise are supporting the Latinx community with culturally attuned care and allowing for all aspects of one’s identity to be present in the therapeutic space. Most recently Patricia served as the Crisis Coordinator at Azusa Pacific University Counseling Center, where she developed best practices to support college students in distress and provide wraparound care to help them navigate mental health challenges while continuing their academic journey. Patricia was also a part of the MSW Adjunct Faculty at APU from 2022-2023.
Patricia joins the Counseling Center as a Licensed Counselor to provide supervisory support and direct clinical services to engage with students and help them reconnect to their authentic selves. Patricia loves all things coffee, walking, and exploring new places.
Danielle graduated from California State Dominguez Hills where she received her Bachelor's Degree in English Literature. She joined the Counseling Center staff as the Program Assistant in December 2019 and it brings her great joy to be able to help students, staff, and faculty in any way she can as an office administrator. Danielle is the first face or voice you will see/hear when contacting the Counseling Center and is always willing to help in any way she can.
In her downtime, Danielle enjoys reading, writing, and playing video games to relax and decompress after a long rewarding day.
