Karla holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley. Her family’s personal struggles with mental health are what sparked her interest in mental health and desire to help others overcome their struggles. Her experience includes working many years for her Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA) and coordinating medically appropriate services for individuals with emotional disturbances and mental health illnesses, while focusing on person-centered interventions, advocacy and effective communication with medical treatment teams. In her free time, Karla is an avid reader and member of a book club. She enjoys exercising, traveling, dabbling in interior design, spending time with her two Persian cats and watching superhero movies.