Stronger Together Community Services

Discover the Possibilities for Growth.

Our Mission

At Stronger Together Community Services, we strive to promote mental health and wellness by providing access to individualized healing practices that support both the mind and body. We understand the stigma that often surrounds seeking mental health services, and our goal is to create a safe and inclusive environment for everyone on their journey to wellness. Through empowerment, growth, and community building, we believe that together, we can overcome any obstacles and embrace life to its fullest potential.

Stronger Together Community Services recognizes the need for access to quality mental health services and the stigma often faced by those in pursuit of healing, health, and wellness.

We are dedicated to providing a variety of healing practices including traditional talk therapy, integrative approaches that benefit both mind and body, and adventure based programs that provide the opportunity for exploration.

We welcome all who find themselves on the journey to embrace life, overcome barriers, and face challenges together. ​

Our philosophy is grounded in the belief that empowering others leads to growth, connection, and community.

Colorful ocean beach sunrise.
Two friends having fun in the city.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at STCS

STCS recognizes the need for community agencies to address the ongoing impact of racism, oppression, and violence against minority groups.

We have built our organization from the foundational belief that diversity, equity, and inclusion should be the heart of our agency. We believe in operating with integrity and sensitivity to the varying perspectives we hold as community members. ​​​​​​​

This requires us to lead from a space of continual review and evaluation of our practices, policies and procedures to guide our integrative approach to healing.

Practicum at Stronger Together

Stronger Together Community Services (STCS) exists to provide inclusive, equitable, and affordable mental health services for those living in San Diego and throughout California (via telehealth). Dr. Allison Brownlee had a vision for STCS to be an outstanding education and training facility for graduate and doctoral students to not only fulfill their academic obligations but be part of a women-led team that advocates for health equity. Treatment is tailored to the needs of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, people with disabilities, survivors of trauma, and military personnel, veterans and their families.

STCS believes that in order to deliver our mission and vision in our community, we must first empower our staff with DEIB and social justice oriented training and education. Every clinician at Stronger Together is trained in trauma informed, culturally sensitive, and attuned care to meet the individualized needs of our clients. Clinicians are trained to understand the complexities of working with individualized experiences and recognize the prevalence and impact of trauma. STCS works with the whole person, and tends to the emotional, cognitive, physical, and neurobiological aspects of healing.

STCS recognizes the lack of representation of multicultural therapists and prioritizes hiring a diverse staff of counselors that come from different religious, ethnic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds. In many cases, barriers to seeking out and receiving mental health treatment hinge on cultural differences or systemic issues that overwhelmingly impact minority groups. Making STCS more relatable and accessible for diverse groups who can provide LGBTQ+ and BIPOC focused counseling is a foundational component of the team building process.

Join the STCS Team at Retreats

Our team consists of dedicated individuals who are kind, friendly, and caring. Our staff is here to ensure a pleasant experience during your visit to our office.  We provide the best and latest in mental health treatment options. We also provide gentle, family-oriented care to the adults and children of San Diego, CA and surrounding areas.

Sign up for one of our popular “Women’s Empowerment” Workshops! Our fun and supportive environment is a safe place to explore, learn and grow together.   We are honored to support women+ on their journey to self confidence as they identify the roots of anxiety, learn coping skills, and build community with others with similar stories. Each workshop is unique and filled with activities that allow women+ to embody empowerment and lean into their strengths. Many of our groups center around creative practices, physical activities, and emotional processing work.

Thank you to our generous local donors who support our Women’s Empowerment Events! We are grateful for partners who share the same commitment to building community and helping us grow!

STCS Team

Meet the STCS Crew

Dr. Allison Brownlee

(she|her)
Founder and Clinical Director

Allison Delgado Crew Member

Allison Delgado

(she|her)
MFT trainee

Amber Stacks Crew Member

Amber Kreitlow

(she|her)
Licensed MFT

Annie Lockary Crew Member

Annie Lockary

(she|her)
Associate MFT

Hazel Rivera

(she/they)
MFT Trainee

Jennifer Vigil Crew Member

Jennifer Vigil

(she|her)
Associate MFT

kaitlins Crew Member

Kaitlin Kezer

(she|her)
Associate MFT

Sophia Alexander

(she/her)
MFT and PCC Trainee

Riggin Crew Member

Kasey Riggins

(she|her)
MFT Trainee

Lisa Crew Member

Lisa Meyer

(she|her)
DEIB Consultant

Merylee Crew Member

Merylee Robbins

(she|her)
Associate MFT

Montse Chavarria

(she|her)
Associate MFT

Reihaneh Crew Member

Reihaneh Mahdavi

Associate MFT

Wendie Briggs

(she|her)
MFT Trainee

Sara Alshaheri

(she|her)
MFT Trainee

Malena Hicks

(she|her)
Clinical Psychology PsyD Trainee

Ben Yalom

(he/him)
Associate MFT

Ixchel Carolina Solórzano

(she/her)
Licensed MFT

Annie Musgrave

(she/her)
MFT Trainee

Isaiah L.L. Phillips

(he/him)
MFT Trainee

STCS Social Stream

Check out the behind the scenes photos and videos from Stronger Together and see what we are up to in the office and in our community. You’ll see pictures from staff events, Women’s Empowerment Workshops, DEIB trainings and much more. This page will give you a glimpse into the fun we have while we are working hard to make mental health care more inclusive and accessible in San Diego.

Awards and Recognition

In 2024 Dr. Allison Brownlee and the team and STCS have been recognized for their dedication to community, mental health care, and for leading the way for therapists to grow and flourish in the field of marriage and family therapy! We are proud to share these achievements and excited to continue our meaningful work!

Allison was given the Mary Riemersma Distinguished Clinical Member Award from the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT). This is the highest award given to a clinician in the organization and was awarded to Allison for her outstanding service in the field of marriage and family therapy, and her dedication to the advancement of the profession.

Stronger Together Community Services was given the 2024 San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce’s “Neighborhood All Star Award.” STCS is proud to be honored with this title, reserved for “the small business that epitomizes community spirit, fostering connections and making a significant and positive impact within its neighborhood.”

Allison was named a winner of the Top 40 Leaders of Influence under 40 and a top Behavioral Health Professional, from the San Diego Business Journal in 2024.

Affiliations and Partnerships

STCS is proud to partner with community and social justice oriented agencies like Planned Parenthood and Live Well San Diego. We are members of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. STCS therapists are members of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) and Dr. Brownlee is an approved continuing education provider. Therapists at STCS are members of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, and Dr. Brownlee is a AAMFT approved supervisor. Dr. Brownlee teaches at APA and COAMFTE accredited universities in San Diego. Some of the universities we partner with are: University of San Diego (USD), University of San Francisco (USF), Pepperdine, and Alliant International University. STCS accepts students from masters and doctoral programs across the state of California. You can see who we are connected to below, we are always looking for more ways to reach our community, if you are interested in partnering with us please contact: allison@strongertogethersd.org

Stay Up To Date with STCS

Monthly Vibe Newsletter

We’re focused on creating a relationship of trust and respect with our clients. An open communication policy combined with a dedication to the highest treatment standards to achieve this goal.

Cheerful diverse people huddling in the park

Support Groups

Inside Out

This group is open to LGBTQIA+ identifying folx that are looking to further their growth personally and interpersonally. Share your experiences and distress in an affirmative and accepting space.

Healing Hearts and Minds

This group offers a safe space to health together from break ups, divorces, or toxic entanglements and help transition from surviving to thriving. Open to California residents, over the age of 18.

STCS Land and Peoples Acknowledgement

“We acknowledge that we are on the traditional, unceded land of the Kumeyaay Nation. We pay our respects to the Kumeyaay Nation, including their elders both past and present, who have stewarded this land throughout the generations. We acknowledge the legacy of violence, displacement, and settlement used to occupy their lands. To honor the Kumeyaay Nation is to both respectfully conduct Stronger Together’s team building activities today on their land and support ongoing efforts to preserve the integrity and well-being of their land, culture, and community. Currently, Stronger Together is supporting Indigenous peoples and communities by including land and people acknowledgements in our presentations and events, providing information to our staff about Native history and the ongoing effects of land dispossession, and preparing a DEIB training on clinical considerations when working with Indigenous peoples.”

STCS respectfully acknowledges that we work on the land of the Kumeyaay Nation. We honor the Kumeyaay Diegueño Nation and the generations of violence endured, displacement faced, and ultimately the occupancy of their land. To find out more about the Kumeyaay people, please visit https://www.kumeyaay.com/. To support land conservancy efforts of the Kumeyaay Diegueño Nation, please visit http://www.kdlc.org/html/donate.html. You can click here   Whose land are you on? To learn more about the native land you live and work on. 

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