Meet Our Team!!
Brandi Davis, M.A.,LMFT 112153 Clinical Director and Owner
Brandi@backpocketcounseling.com
310-999-9055
Brandi Davis is the Clinical Director and Owner of BLC Inc. and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Santa Barbara, California. She specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), primarily for those struggling with generalized anxiety, substance abuse, life transitions, and relationships. Additionally, she works with couples to build Effective Communication Skills for a more sustainable and expansive connection and bond, working to de-escalate conflict while building awareness around foundational principles to lean on for long term success.
Additionally, Brandi is enjoying expanding her team, supervising and mentoring intelligent and talented Associates in her practice working towards licensure.
Mariah Aniasco, M.A., AMFT 133185, APCC 11723
Mariah@backpocketcounseling.com
805-272-0117
Mariah attended Pepperdine University and received her Master’s in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is excited to be part of the Backpocket Counseling team! Her previous experience as a therapist includes working in community-based mental health with children, adolescents, couples, and families. She specializes in anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders, and identity issues.
Mariah has extensive experience working with children and young adults, as she has worked professionally with children for over a decade. She enjoys working with individuals of all ages to help them move through complicated situations, deal with adjustments, and strengthen their connections within their families and personal relationships.
Mariah believes that every individual is unique, and brings that into each session. Mariah uses and integrative and holistic approach that is heavily rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She also brings in other modalities that assist her clients in pursuing a goal-oriented, stress-free life.
She provides a safe space for her clients, allowing the framework for good conversations and meaningful relationships.
JeremyBohrer,M.A.,AMFT 137143
Jeremy@backpocketcounseling.com
805-232-4420
Jeremy’s therapeutic style could be called eclectic and pulls from various modalities and philosophies. He leans in the direction of person centered and humanistic approaches with an emphasis on the Rogerian view of providing a supportive environment in which clients can explore their feelings and emotions without fear of judgment or criticism. His humanistic style embodies creating a safe space, offering empathy, and allowing for unconditional positive regard for his clients. Jeremy also incorporates psychodynamic and somatic approaches in his
therapy which calls-in a more holistic view of healing. Jeremy uses his passion for mindfulness, meditation, and awareness to help his clients cope with challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, life transitions, body image issues,and existential confusion. Jeremy believes that the most important tool that therapy can create is the relationship between the therapist and the client. It is in this safe space that real work can take place whether that work is processing unresolved childhood trauma or stress at work.
Jeremy graduated from Antioch University with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology. He has lived a life full of experiences that help him not only relate to his client’s challenges but also allow him to embody compassion for their path.
In his personal time Jeremy likes to be out in nature, meditate, practice yoga, read, and spend time with family and friends.
Christina Walecka, M.A., AMFT 139384
Christina@backpocketcounseling.com
805-613-7657
As a recent graduate from Pepperdine University, receiving a Master's in Clinical Psychology, I am excited to be transitioning into my new role as an associate for Back Pocket Counseling. I hold a BA in Journalism and Communications from the University of Denver. My previous experience includes marketing, event planning, and journalism for a real estate company, magazine, and NBA team.
I plan on working with adolescents, young adults, and families long-term to improve their lives and strengthen internal communication. I want to find a way to help families be a support
system during challenging and complex times. My previous work with individuals, families, and groups has allowed me to continue to work towards this goal from all angles and to learn, experience, and grow as much as possible. Regarding my theoretical orientation, I use an integrated approach that combines goal-oriented and person-centered. Still, I always believe that the right direction is whatever works best for my client.
Mireli Begnaud,M.A.,AMFT 136109
Mireli@backpocketcounseling.com
805-500-6109
Mireli attended Hope International University, receiving her Masters In Marriage and Family Therapy. Her journey as a therapist began with serving under-resourced families in the inner city, where she learned to work closely with children of all ages and their families. She also has experience working at treatment centers with adults working through substance abuse.
As a Bilingual Spanish-speaking Therapist, She has had the honor and privilege of working closely with the Hispanic/Latino community in bringing awareness to mental health and assisting in the healing of families.
Life is too short to be in unhealthy relationships, harbor resentment, allow trauma to dominate your life, or to remain in a constant state of sadness, anger, and anxiety. Her desire as your therapist is for you to break free from unhealthy patterns and emotional distress, become capable of facing life challenges as they come, and discover purpose and fulfillment in your work, family, friendships, spirituality, and all other aspects of your life.
Mackenzie Morrison,M.A.,AMFT 136657
Mackenzie@backpocketcounseling.com
805-328-4130
Mackenzie Morrison is excited to be part of the BLC Team! She has a passion for the therapy world that has stemmed from her own personal experience of being on the other side of the couch and knowing what it is like to struggle and then heal with the assistance of a great therapist!
Mackenzie has experience and finds joy in working with preteens, adolescents, and adults who are struggling challenges ranging from the basic adjustments that life brings to more complex cases that may include delusional thinking and sexual compulsions. In addition to the knowledge obtained from her education at California State University Northridge and California Lutheran University, along with earned experiences from clients, she has further specialization in couples therapy through Gottman levels I and II training. She prides herself in committing time outside of the therapy room to gain further education and learning to ensure she can help clients with new and innovative ways of doing therapy.