Meet Our Dedicated Facilitators
Our Volunteer Facilitators fulfill the promise of Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance California:
“We’ve been there. We can help.”
Our team is made of Peers leading Peers. The facilitators bring their lived experience overcoming mental health challenges and model recovery in action.
Peer Facilitators act as guides in the group discussion to provide a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for all members.
Olivia Mercedes
Olivia is a perpetually overwhelmed human who relies on creative mediums to process the intense spectrum of her conscious experience. Her poetry has been published in various places, her artwork has been included in a variety of exhibits, she has been a guest speaker at multiple events, but her most beloved accolades are the moments of real-life connection in response to her authenticity. She finds great honor and gratitude in inspiring someone to feel, to question, to learn, to heal, to express, and ultimately to be more fully human.
Adam Bernier
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Adam thrives with bipolar type 1. He is a computer programmer, recreational hockey player, and hobbyist artist.
April Beth Marshall
April joins DBSA California from Kansas City, MO. She brings years of experience as the founder of the Santa Clutch Donation Drive, creative director of the Proud Pronoun Project, and founder of TransOutLoud.org and Queer Connections. A seasoned peer support facilitator, she's passionate about helping others. April is a devoted dog mom who loves Halloween, road trips, karaoke, and outdoor adventures.
Mark W. Curran
Mark is a Certified Peer Support Specialist practicing in Southern California. With an extensive background in support group facilitation, Mark's own journey through substance abuse recovery and anxiety/depressive disorders informs his work helping others cope with their own difficult life journey. He currently leads online peer support groups to assist people in recovery.
Bella Rose
Bella is a DBSA certified Peer Support Specialist and facilitates the Wednesday evening Zoom meetings. She holds a Master of Science degree in Education and has over 35 years of experience teaching kids, teens, and adults. Ms. Rose is a multi-award-winning writer and author, and small business owner.
Kurt Schmitt
Kurt believes in E Pluribus Unum—that everyone with goodwill can contribute meaningfully to society, regardless of individual challenges, but it takes the active engagement of every member of commmunity to achieve it. After moving to Seattle, Kurt was diagnosed with S.A.D. He overcame it and thrived. This experience motivated him to actively support those living with the often invisible and misunderstood burden of mood disorders, so all can prosper.
Aaron Goodman
Aaron has been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, OCD, and PTSD. He is from Southern California, and holds a Master's degree in psychology with an emphasis in behavior analysis. Aaron takes pride in providing helpful and empathetic feedback during groups along with giving as many people as possible ample time to share their stories.
Brandon Nash
“Nash” is a retired, disabled senior dedicated to remaining socially active and engaged with his community. He is trained as a Peer Support Specialist and is also a member of the Self Advocacy Speakers Bureau for Disability Rights of California. He has been a theatre artist, a photographer, and a media production technician. Having just caught the last part of a film titled “Photon” by Norman Leto and Lightcraft, Nash declares that his superpower is the ability to embrace alternative perspectives, or viewpoints. He developed this ability through creative crafting in numerous media. It is important because it allows him free travel between wherever he is and the “There” where he’s got to get (is supposed to be).
Anne Parnell
Anne is a law student in Berkeley, California. She started attending DBSA groups in 2019 in San Diego and has since become a peer facilitator. Through her facilitation, she hopes group members can find self-compassion by giving empathy and kindness to others. Having a mental illness can be very isolating, and having a community of peers engaging with the same problems can make such a difference. In her free time, Anne enjoys zumba, jiu-jitsu, and hiking.
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Jaynee Talbot
Jaynee Talbot is passionate about mental health, peer support, and creating safe, nonjudgmental spaces for open conversation. She has been a volunteer crisis counselor with IMAlive and the Crisis Text Line, and a DBSA facilitator for multiple chapters over the past two years. Jaynee also completed peer support training and brings both lived experience and professional skills to her role.
Living with bipolar I, ADHD, and PTSD, she understands the power of compassion, connection, and community in healing. She believes relationships and friendships are at the heart of recovery. When she’s not supporting peers, Jaynee works full time as an Enhanced Due Diligence Associate for a major financial firm, specializing in anti-money laundering investigations.
Alex Voigt
Alex is from Portland, OR. He has lived with persistent major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and ADHD. He has professional backgrounds in retail and tech, and more recently started working as a Peer Support Specialist. He has a degree in Psychology, and enjoys applying philosophical and neuroscience-based perspectives. He encourages folks to remember that we’re in this together, even when we’re apart.
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Christine Rosa
Christine is a Virginia native and global traveler who has made California her current home. Raised from humble origins, she is a deeply empathetic individual who values assisting the overlooked in our society. Her time in the military reinforced the merits of service and selflessness, and Christine often seeks ways of giving back to others, including with this meaningful role as a DBSA facilitator.