Founder & Chief Strategist
Julie Lopez, PhD, LICSW
Dr. Julie Lopez is the Founder, Lead Supervisor & Strategist of the Viva Center. Viva’s mission, vision, and core values are the pillars of how she builds and evolves the Viva community.
Her primary responsibilities include:
- Leading the strategic development of the Viva Center
- Directing the management of Viva
- Serving as a figurehead for the power of nonverbal therapies in the DC community through speaking engagements, trainings, and other forms of media
- Continuously supporting and improving the Viva Center’s organizational wellness
- Overseeing all clinical supervision

Mary Grace Comber
Mary Grace is Viva’s Client Specialist. Her work includes but is not limited to:
- Supporting all Viva clients and external relations
- Supporting the clinical department
- Managing Viva’s website, social media, events and graphics
- Providing operational support to Viva’s team

Ana Paola Wong
Ana Paola is Viva’s Operations Coordinator. Her work includes but is not limited to:
- Oversight and management of Viva Operations
- Providing technical assistance and support to the clinical team
- Managing Viva billing practices
- Overseeing Viva’s employee efficiency, payroll and performance

Our Clinical Team
Elizabeth Galasso, LICSW
Elizabeth Galasso is the Clinical Site Supervisor of the Viva Center. Her primary responsibilities include:
- Supervise and lead the clinical team
- Ensure clinical compliance with licensing requirements
- Nurture overall wellness among Viva clinicians
- Inspire and motivate team around Viva’s core values

Staff
Alina McClerklin, LICSW
Alina, a Community Engagement Specialist, develops relationships with healing professionals in the DMV through the Viva Toastmasters group.
Her responsibilities include:
- Cultivating external relationships based on common goals and ideals
- Leading Viva’s branch of Toastmasters for mental health professionals
alina@vivapartnership.com

Regina Tosca, LICSW
As a Community Engagement Specialist, Regina Uses her gifts of the pen to highlight important issues in the field of mental health to our Viva community readership. Her work includes:
- Creating media resources that promote healing and education throughout the community
- Contributing to the Viva Blog
regina@vivapartnership.com

Supervisors
Patricia Anderson, MEd, LPC, NCC
Patti Andersen is a seasoned mind body, trauma informed clinician and certified Brainspotting practitioner who provides supervision groups to Viva clinicians on a regular basis. Her responsibilities include supporting Viva clinicians on Brainspotting use and efficacy through BSP coaching.
