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.
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.
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 University, 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.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern Destiny Barrientos (She/Her) is a third-year in the Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Bellevue University. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Whittier College, where she began cultivating her commitment to mental health advocacy and community support.
A proud first-generation college graduate and a Cuban and African American woman, she brings a unique, intersectional perspective to her work. She strives to create a safe, affirming, and inclusive space for clients of all cultural and ethnic backgrounds, with a particular focus on providing culturally competent and identity-affirming care to students and young adults.
Destiny is committed to empowering her clients to navigate life’s challenges and build lasting emotional resilience. When out of the office, she can often be found tending to her 25 house plants or walking her dog around the neighborhood.
Jeremy (He/Him/His) is a second-year Master of Social Work student at Smith College School for Social Work in Northampton, Massachusetts, focusing on clinical social work. Originally from the Central Valley of California, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue higher education and earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he studied American politics and public policy.
Jeremy identifies as mixed-race (White and Mexican) and is committed to providing culturally responsive, accessible mental health care. His own intersectional identities inform a thoughtful, reflective clinical approach rooted in honoring client's lived experience within and across identities. He is especially passionate about destigmatizing mental health care in communities where stigma remains prevalent- particularly among men and within the Latine community.
In his free time, Jeremy enjoys playing basketball, watching baseball, reading, listening to podcasts, and spending time with his cat, Paco.
Anika (she/her) is a second-year clinical psychology doctoral student at California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University (CSPP). She is a Czech-American who was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Before returning to higher education, Anika was a professional athlete and age-group club coach. She is passionate about supporting student-athletes from all backgrounds, ages, divisions, and sports. She is committed to serving diverse clients with a person-centered approach, and aims to create a safe, non-judgmental, grounded environment for each student. She is honored to collaborate with each student as they process and develop skills for their journey at Whittier and beyond.
In her free time, Anika loves to be outdoors, backpack, read, play guitar and piano, enjoy great food with great people, and play multiple sports.
Will (he/they) is a first-year Master of Social Work student at Smith College School for Social Work in Northampton, Massachusetts, focusing on clinical social work. Originally from Altadena, CA, he moved to Oregon to attend the University of Portland, where he graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and minors in both Gender and Ethnic Studies. His time is now split between his home in California and Graduate School in Massachusetts, where he is committed to learning to provide culturally responsive and accessible mental health care.
Identifying as a queer person, Will has personal insight into the challenges faced by this population and is passionate about working with the queer community. He has prior experience working with youth on the neurodivergent spectrum in both home and public-school settings, giving him a great appreciation of accessibility and community resources. This systemic lens and strength-based approach inform his work as a member of Whittier College’s CARE team.
Clinically, Will is interested in trauma-informed care, critical psychology, psychoanalytic theory, and systemic modalities. He is committed to creating a warm and supportive environment for every student and integrating person-centered therapy principles into his practice. In his free time, Will enjoys reading, movies, working out, mountain biking, and podcasts.
