Alumni Spotlight

Alumni Spotlight

Pilar Moreno: 2025 Marriage, Family & Child Counseling Alumni

Where are you now? Tell us a little about the work you're doing.

I currently work at UCSF Citywide on the "CASC Team (Community Assessment & Services Center). where I provide therapy, case management, and mental health support to some of San Francisco’s more disenfranchised and underserved community members who are involved with the criminal justice system. Many of the clients I work with face complex mental health, substance use, housing, and other challenges. A big part of my work is building relationships with clients, providing ongoing therapeutic support, connecting them with resources, and helping them work toward stability and their personal goals. I really value being able to support people who often face significant barriers to accessing care and resources.

Is there anything you'd especially like us to highlight?

Something I’m especially excited about is my work with transitional-age youth (TAY) through San Francisco’s Young Adult Court (YAC). YAC is a collaborative court that brings together the legal system, probation, mental health providers, and community partners to support young adults involved in the justice system. In my role with UCSF Citywide, I provide therapy, case management, and support to young adults who may be navigating mental health challenges, substance use, housing instability, and other barriers. What I really appreciate about YAC is that it recognizes that young adults have different developmental needs and takes a more trauma-informed and supportive approach. I value being part of a team that looks beyond a person’s legal involvement and focuses on their strengths, goals, well-being, and ability to build a more stable future.

Looking back, is there anything about your experience in the SF State Department of Counseling that has stayed with you or influenced your work?

One thing that has stayed with me is the love and commitment to community that I experienced at SF State. I was educated in the same community where I live and work, and that has made my work feel especially meaningful. The Department of Counseling helped strengthen my commitment to serving San Francisco’s diverse and underserved communities and giving back to the city that has been such an important part of my personal growth.