Our Mission and Values
Our Mission & Vision
Healing To You provides comprehensive medical and mental health services to adults and children impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault. Our goal is to close the gap in access to healthcare services to promote well being and heal the impact of trauma.
Healing To You envisions a future free of violence in the home for children and adults to be able to thrive in life. We hope to interrupt the generational cycle of abuse by providing supportive services early.
Values
- We support safety in all relationships, personal and professional.
- We acknowledge that domestic violence and trauma are healthcare issues as they impact physical and mental health through an interconnected physiological system.
- We understand the importance of a neuro-relational framework for our services.
- We strive to advance racial equity as an essential component of ending interpersonal violence.
- We support inclusivity and cultural humility through ongoing conversations and awareness.
- We provide a supportive and authentic environment for staff and clients of all gender and sexual identities.
Our Story
The roots of this organization are firmly planted in the story of my O'Bachan ("grandmother" in Japanese). Yoshiko was a young woman living in post war occupied Japan, when a good-looking soldier from America began visiting her family home to converse with her father who spoke English. Her family was well educated, and her brothers and sisters were doctors, lawyers, classical musicians, and authors. Yoshiko, however, was drawn to Western ways and fell in love with this 18 year old soldier. They married and had two children in Japan, then moved to the US, where their third child was born and the abuse began. He, unknown to her, could easily become a violent drunk who knew no bounds for his torment.
She entered this country during a time of heightened anti-Asian sentiment, without any support into a largely unwelcoming community. She tried to leave him many times, but with little money of her own, and no supportive services or family here to help, she went back to him. When she finally did leave him, he showed up to her tiny apartment with a gun and held a knife to her throat, in front of the children. Always quick thinking, she talked him into letting her make him a meal, and when he passed out she called the police. He was arrested but eventually skipped bail, never to be heard from again.
She left on her own with three small children in 1960. They were young, but not so young that they avoided the exposure to abuse and violence he showered on the family daily. Her hope was to remove them from trauma and keep them safe. The lives of all of her children were forever changed and damaged from their father's violence in the home. During their childhoods they suffered acculturation issues, translation challenges, and difficulties accessing systems of support. Everyday life was extremely difficult for all of them, as they struggled with the emotions and memories of what they’ve endured. Access to mental health was minimal but the stigma of having emotional and substance abuse issues due to trauma was huge.
I am proud to dedicate this organization to my O’Bachan in an effort to stop generational trauma and bring the necessary supportive services to survivors of domestic violence. I hope to bring resources to those who cannot otherwise access them, and remove transportation barriers as we provide mobile medical and mental health services to those who need them to heal.
My O'Bachan and her three children would have benefited greatly from this service, and I hope you will too.
The Team
Cari Teran, M.S., LMFT, Founding Director and Chief Executive Officer
Cari Teran is a licensed marriage and family therapist who started her career with survivors of domestic violence as the Children’s Program Coordinator of WomenShelter Long Beach. Cari then implemented Sojourn Services first program of domestic violence emergency response in West Los Angeles with LAPD Pacific Division and UCLA Emergency Department in 1997.
For over 20 years, she has worked as a clinical supervisor and program director for community mental health agencies, specializing in treating children and families impacted by abuse and trauma. Her expertise includes working with infants, children, and adults facing trauma, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and maternal mental health challenges.
Cari is the Vice Chair of the California Governor's Child Abduction Task Force and has specialized expertise in child abduction recovery, reunification, and treatment. She is trained in multiple evidence-based trauma treatment modalities (CPP, TFCBT, IFS, Somatic Psychology, and Infant Massage), ensuring that services through the Healing To You are grounded in best practices for all ages.
Cari supports anti-racism efforts and is neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ affirmative. Cari’s dedication to supporting survivors comes from witnessing both the profound impact of trauma and the incredible resilience of individuals. The care at Healing To You embodies this belief, bringing support, hope, and healing to those who need it most.
John Sulik, M.S., M.Ed., Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Healing To You’s Chief Operating Officer has over 20 years of healthcare experience as a prehospital patient care provider and over five years of experience managing a fleet of 28 mobile healthcare clinics and 170 employees on the West Coast of the United States. He has a masters degree in psychology with emphasis in organizational behavior, a masters degree in education, and is a PhD candidate. As a Los Angeles native and former prehospital emergency patient care provider, he is familiar with the differing regions of the Southern California area, primary care practices, and regional patient resources. While employed as a emergency prehospital care provider, he coordinated and instructed community first aid, CPR, fire awareness and escape plan classes.
Kirat Grewal, M.D. Medical Director
Dr. Kirat Grewal is a board-certified pediatrician and has been proudly taking care of children and their families for over 15 years.
Dr Grewal was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She completed her Bachelors Degree and Medical Degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City and her Pediatric Internship and Residency at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Grewal also held the position of Chief Resident at the University of California, Irvine.
Dr. Grewal is board certified in Pediatrics and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She also enjoys teaching and was an Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine for over 10 years.
Dr. Grewal lives locally with her husband, son, and small dog. She enjoys traveling, reading, live music and theatre, baking, and cheering on her hometown Steelers.
Joanne Howe, LMFT - Clinical Director
Joanne Howe is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has been providing counseling services to children and adults for the past 12 years. Some of her specialties include working with life transitions, divorce, fetal loss, parenting support, trauma, domestic violence, sexual assault, attachment disorders, codependency, relationship issues, depression and anxiety. Joanne received her undergraduate degree in Gender and Women’s Studies at the University California, Berkeley and her masters at Argosy University in Counseling Psychology. Joanne is certified in Child Parent Psychotherapy as well as Reflective Parenting.
Kelly Hainlen, Program Manager
Kelly Hainlen is a resourceful and accomplished leader with over twenty years of professional experience in the event industry. Kelly started her path in events with a focus in food and beverage management. She spent many years in her early career working for the massive corporate conglomerate, Aramark, in their Sport & Entertainment division. During her tenure with them she was able to work and gain experience in some of this highest-level sporting events in the word, notably, the 2010 MLB All Star Game and the 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Games. From there her work began to expand into large event production with events like the LA 2015 Special Olympics World Games and multiple years of the World Surf League tour events including the opening of Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch.
Kelly has continued freelance event work through her own company, Maude Gypsy Events & Designs. A shift in prospective during the Pandemic gave Kelly the opportunity to make space for opportunities to draw upon her experience in new, paralleled fields of work. She is inspired by the commitment and work that is Healing To You and is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this inaugural team.
Emma Sharman, Program Assistant
Emma is a current Communication Studies major and talented dancer and singer. Emma is passionate about the intersectional inclusivity of existing mental health care options, as well as expanding medical and mental health care beyond their current range in the interest of providing for those who are subjected to systemic and/or societal disadvantages. Emma is eager to help support and facilitate the provision of medical and mental health care for survivors of domestic violence alongside Healing To You, believing that this is one of many necessary steps towards a more equitable human experience.
Jack Russo, Field Supervisor
Jack Russo boasts over 30 years of experience in the medical field, spanning both Fire Department and EMS pre-hospital and hospital settings. He also has four years of valuable experience as a Mobile Unit Manager for a mobile medical clinic on the West Coast. Jack holds an Associates Degree in Fire Science and is highly proficient in patient care and communication. Furthermore, he possesses Instructor 1A-1B certification and has a rich teaching history, covering a wide array of classes ranging from basic first aid to driving large commercial and non-commercial vehicles over the past three decades.
Maija Merchant, Board Chair
Maija Merchant, MS/LAc., is a founding director and passionate about innovative solutions to support health and wellness. Her work in the healing arts is dedicated to her Mother Carol Merchant, who passed away due to Early Onset Alzhimer’s disease, and is focused on the goal of helping to reduce the trauma that families experience when navigating stressful life experiences. With a Masters of Science in Traditional Asian Medicine and a Masters of Science in Herbal Manufacturing, she is proud of 20 years of helping companies create safe, high quality dietary supplements to support more people than she could if she worked in a private practice. Maija is excited to tap into her experience as a regulatory specialist to help support Healing To You to deliver healthcare services for those in need.
Elissa Briggs Thomas, Board Treasurer
Elissa has nearly 20 years of experience in program management in domestic violence, sustainable transportation, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. As Program Director of WomenShelter of Long Beach, she designed, supervised, and marketed all aspects of the bilingual 24-hour hotline, shelter, outreach, volunteer and children’s programs and legal, counseling, and social services. She is experienced in successfully writing grants and maintaining funding contracts with comprehensive statistic and service reports. She designed the agency's 40-hour DV certification training program to secure Office of Criminal Justice Planning funding, and collaborated with L.B.P.D. to secure C.O.P.S. funding for the Domestic Abuse Response Team, which offers immediate on-site multi-agency victim assistance. Her work in DEI and philanthropy also includes founding the Nicandra Thomas Transgender Services Foundation in memory of her daughter.
Mayana Geathers, LMFT - Board Secretary
Mayana Geathers, LMFT, is a feminist therapist and writer. She also creates original Guided Meditations as a tool for healing. She is one of the co-founders of Bridges to Healing, Counseling and Training Center, located in Long Beach, Ca. She works from an empowerment and social justice framework and specializes in supporting survivors of trauma on their healing journeys.
Chiyeko Perry, Board of Directors
Chiyeko Perry has been a consultant and community liaison in home healthcare for over 25 years. She empowered her teenaged children to create The Bixby Knolls Food Pantry in 2018, to collect items for CSULB students in need. Their goal is to engage people in Bixby Knolls and Greater Long Beach to help meet the immediate need for food assistance for students at CSULB and collaborate with those in the community on new solutions and remedies to reduce the need and address the problem of food insecurity.
Deanne Castorena, Deputy District Attorney Los Angeles - Board of Directors
Deanne Castorena has worked more than 32 years in the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office seeking justice for victims of gang violence, reuniting children with their legal guardians, and mentoring young prosecutors in the office. She is a nationally recognized expert in gang prosecutions and a state-wide recognized expert in child abduction and recovery best practices. Deanne has lectured on these topics and many more to attorneys, law enforcement officers, FBI, medical providers, mental health professionals social workers and others. Deanne has a passion for supporting mental health issues and ensuring that safety and justice is served for victims of abuse.
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