Welcome! I'm Anthony, founder of The Spread Hope Like Fire Foundation. My educational background, I obtained my Masters Degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and family therapy from Brandman University (Orange, Ca). I also am a Psychotherapist that works towards breaking the stigma on mental health and is doing so through the founding of The Spread Hope Like Fire Foundation.

Many of us, myself included, can sometimes think that sharing how we feel may seem like we are a bother or an inconvenience. But not here. We want you here. I have struggled with anxiety for over 11 years now. It peaked in 2017 after losing my father. I continue to work on coping and living with it. I found solace in the spread hope like fire podcast because I was able to relate to numerous guest’s on it. It made me feel like I was not in this fight alone. My hopes for this organization is that we may be able to create a safe space where we can openly share and be respectful of one another. For us to create a community where all are welcome. BS in Criminal Justice Co-Founder of the Viva Fuerte Foundation in honor of Lidubina & Antonio Frausto

The field of Psychotherapy has changed my life in many regards, so much so, that I have changed my career path and I am working to obtain my Masters degree so that I too can work towards becoming a psychotherapist. I strongly beleive in this momement that we have started here at Spread Hope Like Fire. We cannot achieve this alone and so I invite each and everyone of you reading this to reach out and join the movement, so we can break the stigma on mental health. 

Hey Hey everyone and welcome! I was Born & raised in the Santa Maria valley. I attended a local college and was working on Early Childhood Studies degree prior to the pandemic. During the past year is when I came to a crossroads, I needed help, I needed to talk about my struggle with mental health. The day I decided to reach out is the day that my life had changed. I sought therapy and I am proud to say, I am the product of treatment. Therapy has allowed me to reach goals that I never thought I’d achieve. If you take one thing from me, please ask for the help, it truly helps. Through my therapy I have learned new coping skills and also learned that self-care is a must. I love listening to music, walking or going on hikes, cooking is a passion of mine and blogging about my favorites dishes or places, I’ve eaten. Join us in helping others by breaking the stigma on mental health.

Experience

My name is Lorene Cowell, and I am a Juvenile Institutions Officer and have worked with at-risk youth for the past 15 years. I have witnessed the effects of childhood trauma firsthand and have a passion to help our youth grow and develop to their full potential before it affects their adult lives. It is a challenging yet rewarding career. Youth are so resilient but are often not given a good starting ground. No matter how difficult the situation, I continuously try to make progress with our youth. Our youth deserve a good life and if I can be that one constant in their lives, I want to be just that.

Education

I have my bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and I am currently in the process of completing my Master of Education in School Counseling. I hope to work with youth in a school setting, guiding them in the right direction and preventing them from going down the dark path of being in the system, substance abuse, self-harm, etc.

About Me

I have always possessed a passion to help others and through my own mental health struggles, I am even more so inclined. I suffer from PTSD, anxiety, paranoia, and hypervigilance. I have witnessed and dealt with more than my fair share of traumatizing events in my career and after so long, it wears on you. Working with at-risk youth, hearing their stories, and seeing the effects, is heavy. Many of our youth are violent and many of them die. It is a challenging environment to work in and you must have thick skin and I do, but even the tough are affected. I was affected. I am still affected. Every day is a battle and I have come a long way. I have a family to maintain, and they are the reason I continue to work hard on myself. Beside my career, I have my own childhood traumas, so I have been through a lot, have rose up against a lot and have succeeded through a lot. I needed help through the journey and was blind to that fact as I believed I was strong and could get through anything. When I finally allowed myself to be vulnerable, admitted I needed help and allowed someone to help me, is when I started to heal and grow. I want to be that person for those in need.

Spread Hope Like Fire

I am excited to be a part of a team of individuals dedicated to defeating the stigma attached to mental health and helping others cope, heal and grow. Everyone has their struggles and through this journey with Spread Hope Like Fire, I hope to make others aware that they are not alone, it is ok to not be ok, and that they too can get through anything. Human beings are resilient and with a little help they can be productive, positive, and fully functioning parts of society.

I’ve had a passion to help others for as long as I can remember. This urge to help was cultivated by my parent’s Antonio and Ludubina Frausto. From my parents I have learned that there is always someone that is in need and that is why I am here, I feel passionate about this Foundation, and I feel passionate that through the Spread Hope Like Fire Foundation we can help the youth break out of cycles that ruin lives. Prior to joining this movement, I co- founded the Viva Fuerte foundation that gives scholarships to youths in our community.

I am passionate about breaking the stigma of mental health and I hope our foundation can instill hope and inspire you. I have had about 7 years working in the mental health field my experience has been primarily working with young children and their families. I enjoy working with family systems. I have worked in schools, nonprofit and county settings. My passion within this foundation is developing mental health programs for children and families within the community.

Educational Background:

Bachelors in sociology Cal State Channel Islands

Master’s in social work Cal State Long Beach

Associate Clinical Social Worker

Hello! I'm Angela, I'm very passionate about working with those from diverse cultures. I feel strongly that there needs to be more access to treatment for those speaking Spanish and other languages. I work in the mental health field as a trainee, currently awaiting my associate’s number. Through our foundation I will oversee the development of outreach in the areas of non-English speakers.