The MCRC team includes an outstanding group of staff and associates who have proven themselves in both public, nonprofit and private sector careers, and who bring commitment and dedication to quality work and responsive, client-focused consulting.
Richard "Rich" Rash Executive Director/Therapist Email: [email protected]
Tel: 314-724-1486
Richard “Rich” Rash, MA, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor and adult ESL teacher with extensive experience in the mental health, education and social service fields. He works with adults, children ages 8 and older, adolescents, and families, helping clients navigate trauma, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, life transitions, work-related stress, and other challenges that can affect emotional well-being.
Richard is EMDR-trained and trauma-focused, and draws from CBT, trauma-focused and solution-focused interventions, and IFS-informed/parts-based approaches. He believes effective counseling begins with understanding each person's unique experiences, strengths, culture, and goals. His approach is collaborative, compassionate, and tailored to the individual needs of each client.
Richard has extensive experience working with immigrant and international communities in the St. Louis area and has a particular appreciation for how culture, language, immigration experiences, family relationships, and life circumstances can shape mental health. He strives to create a welcoming and respectful environment where clients feel safe being themselves, exploring difficult experiences, and working toward meaningful change.
In addition to his counseling work, Richard supervises internship students and PLPCs toward licensure. He also is a Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP) and Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) and conducts evaluations in accordance with U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements. He holds master's degrees in Professional Counseling and Teaching English as a Second Language. A lifelong St. Louis area resident, Richard brings a broad perspective, genuine curiosity, and a deep commitment to helping people move toward greater understanding, resilience, and well-being. Licensed b MO, IL, and PA.
Tel: 314-724-1486
Richard “Rich” Rash, MA, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor and adult ESL teacher with extensive experience in the mental health, education and social service fields. He works with adults, children ages 8 and older, adolescents, and families, helping clients navigate trauma, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, life transitions, work-related stress, and other challenges that can affect emotional well-being.
Richard is EMDR-trained and trauma-focused, and draws from CBT, trauma-focused and solution-focused interventions, and IFS-informed/parts-based approaches. He believes effective counseling begins with understanding each person's unique experiences, strengths, culture, and goals. His approach is collaborative, compassionate, and tailored to the individual needs of each client.
Richard has extensive experience working with immigrant and international communities in the St. Louis area and has a particular appreciation for how culture, language, immigration experiences, family relationships, and life circumstances can shape mental health. He strives to create a welcoming and respectful environment where clients feel safe being themselves, exploring difficult experiences, and working toward meaningful change.
In addition to his counseling work, Richard supervises internship students and PLPCs toward licensure. He also is a Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP) and Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) and conducts evaluations in accordance with U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements. He holds master's degrees in Professional Counseling and Teaching English as a Second Language. A lifelong St. Louis area resident, Richard brings a broad perspective, genuine curiosity, and a deep commitment to helping people move toward greater understanding, resilience, and well-being. Licensed b MO, IL, and PA.
Aya Kawasaki Therapist Email: [email protected]
Tel: 314-873-1992
Aya Kawasaki, MSW, LCSW, LLM, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Aya is a graduate of Washington University School of Social Work. Aya is originally from Japan and is married to an American husband. They adopted a daughter from China in 2006. Aya lost her sister to suicide and is especially interested in suicide prevention, grief and death counseling. Aya has extensive clinical and research experience. She previously worked at Bilingual Internationals Assistant services as a Therapist and case manager prior to going into private practice. Aya also previously worked in the Department of Psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine Aya’s work in the area of mental health research has been published in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease (2004), British Journal of Psychiatry (2005), Annals of Clinical Psychiatry (2004) and Comprehensive Psychiatry (2011).
Tel: 314-873-1992
Aya Kawasaki, MSW, LCSW, LLM, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Aya is a graduate of Washington University School of Social Work. Aya is originally from Japan and is married to an American husband. They adopted a daughter from China in 2006. Aya lost her sister to suicide and is especially interested in suicide prevention, grief and death counseling. Aya has extensive clinical and research experience. She previously worked at Bilingual Internationals Assistant services as a Therapist and case manager prior to going into private practice. Aya also previously worked in the Department of Psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine Aya’s work in the area of mental health research has been published in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease (2004), British Journal of Psychiatry (2005), Annals of Clinical Psychiatry (2004) and Comprehensive Psychiatry (2011).
Michael M. Orihuela Therapist/Research Director Email: [email protected]
Tel: 314-346-1616
Michael Orihuela, MA, MSW, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Michael has extensive experience working with both immigrants and children of immigrants dealing with stress related to living/growing up in America. Prior to his entry into the field of mental health, Michael was a Senior Research Assistant at the Washington University Medical School. He has also worked at the Mount Sinai Medical Center (NYC) and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. His work has been published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine (1995), Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (1996), Immunity (2004) & Immunogenetics (2008). Michael holds a Master's degree of Social Work from Washington University, a Master's degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from Southern Illinois University and a Bachelor's degree in Biological Science from Rutgers University. He taught English in Japan and South Korea. Michael is originally from the New Jersey/New York City area. Being the son of immigrant parents from Peru, Michael is fluent in Spanish and his interests are in the area of Bicultural Identity, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and education in America.
Emily Mancuso Therapist Email: [email protected]
Emily is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Registered Art Therapist (ATR-P) who works with children, adolescents, and young adults, as well as individuals across the lifespan. She received her bachelor's degree from Saint Louis University and her master's degree in Art Therapy Counseling from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Emily has also been an ESL tutor since 2010, giving her extensive experience supporting children and adults in their academic, personal, and emotional development.
Emily specializes in working with trauma, neurodiversity, anxiety, depression, and grief and loss. She also has a particular interest in working with immigrant and multicultural communities and recognizes the ways culture, identity, language, family expectations, and adjustment to new environments can shape a person's emotional well-being. Her graduate research integrated neurobiological perspectives, art therapy interventions, and trauma treatment, shaping her holistic approach to therapy. She draws from person-centered, existential, relational, mindfulness-based CBT, trauma-informed, and IFS-informed approaches, tailoring treatment to each client's individual needs. Emily believes that therapy does not always have to rely on finding the right words. When traditional talk therapy feels difficult or limiting, she incorporates creative and expressive approaches to help clients explore emotions, process experiences, and develop greater self-understanding. Her goal is to create a compassionate, collaborative space where clients feel safe being themselves, build practical coping skills, and move toward greater connection, self-compassion, and confidence.
Outside of therapy, Emily enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, volunteering with her church community, and practicing jiu jitsu, which she views as another meaningful form of creativity, connection, and self-expression.
Raymond Poon Therapist
Raymond Poon, MS, EdS, is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified School Psychologist in Missouri. As a native from Hong Kong, he has practiced in the mental health field for over 25 years, providing counseling/behavior modification services to individuals of all ages, especially those who are developmentally and mentally challenged. Mr. Poon holds a Masters of Science in psychology from Illinois State University as well as an Educational Specialist degree from University of Missouri in St. Louis. Prior to joining the Special School District of St. Louis County in 2006, he was employed by the Missouri Department of Mental Health as an associate psychologist from 1985 to 2006. Currently, Mr. Poon is also a Deputy Juvenile Officer with the Family Court of St. Louis County on a part time basis.
Patavee Vanadilok Board member
Yuima Mizutani
Yuima Mizutani, M.Ed., NCC, LPC is a Licenses Professional Counselor and currently working on her Ph.D. in counseling at the University of Missouri, St. Louis. Her focus is on multicultural counseling and family counseling. Yuima works with all ages from 4 years old to adults with various needs including depression, anxiety, gender/sexual minorities, racial/ethnic minorities, culture shock, and other behavior concerns and emotional distress from school or work. Yuima is originally from Japan and has lived in St. Louis since 2009. Yuima is a trained Eye Movements Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapist to work with clients with trauma backgrounds. Yuima is bilingual in both Japanese and English.
Yuima Mizutani, M.Ed., NCC, LPC is a Licenses Professional Counselor and currently working on her Ph.D. in counseling at the University of Missouri, St. Louis. Her focus is on multicultural counseling and family counseling. Yuima works with all ages from 4 years old to adults with various needs including depression, anxiety, gender/sexual minorities, racial/ethnic minorities, culture shock, and other behavior concerns and emotional distress from school or work. Yuima is originally from Japan and has lived in St. Louis since 2009. Yuima is a trained Eye Movements Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapist to work with clients with trauma backgrounds. Yuima is bilingual in both Japanese and English.
Lingli Zhang, PhD, MEd, NCC, PLCP
Lingli Zhang, PhD, MEd, NCC, PLPC has a PhD in Neuroscience from University of Pennsylvania and a MEd in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from University of Missouri-St. Louis. She is also a Certified Facilitator of Embodied Transformation and a Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor in MO. Lingli brings her personal journey into her counseling through embodied transformation and mindfulness practice, as well as decades of Neuroscience research that gave her a deep appreciation of the intricacy and capacity of our body, emotion and the thinking mind and their capability of healing. Lingli accompanies her clients on their journey of healing and growth by building a safe and supportive physical and relational space. In that space, she facilitates understanding and transformation of emotions, thoughts, memories, desires and behavioral patterns with embodied and interpersonal approaches that are rooted in neurobiology of trauma formation and healing and the power of self-awareness and self-love. Lingli helps people build nourishing relationships with their own self, with others and with the life at large, to lay the foundation for a life of meaning and joy. Her specialties include: anxiety, depression, anger, stress, grief and loss, life transition, trauma in general, sexual trauma in particular, body-image, substance and behavioral addiction, eating disorder, cultural adjustment, self-confidence, life purpose, generational trauma, and relationships in couple and in family.
Practicum Opportunities available for Counseling Students
Volunteer Opportunities- We are always looking for individuals interested in working with children and diverse populations
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