Hello VAAS Families!  

My name is Maribel Palafox, A-House Counselor and I am beyond excited to be a part of the Viper Community. 

I am a proud Pacoima native who is committed to both education and counseling. As an undergraduate, I majored in Sociology and Psychology, receiving Baccalaureates in both. While working for multiple school settings and community-based non-profit organizations, I went on to pursue a Masters of Science in Counseling: Marriage & Family Therapy and a PPS Credential from CSUN. I recently obtained the state licensure as a Marriage & Family Therapist and look forward to exploring this career opportunity.

I am a proud parent of two boys who keep me busy as a sports mom.  I have a wonderful partner who is supportive and my biggest cheerleader. Together, we aim to raise successful, confident, responsible, and resilient boys.

When I am not here with our amazing VAAS students, I am almost always enjoying time with my family and friends.  I love spending time traveling, dancing, and eating. Yes, I love food!

My Counseling Vision:

A dear friend once said: “Children will be brilliant if one can be brave enough to give them space to be.” So here I am; standing brave and tall with the desire and drive to empower youth and their families through education and college-readiness.

I am fully invested in developing a safe and supportive environment in which students, families, and the community gain real-world, hands-on experiences that supplement their creativity, critical thinking skills, career-building techniques, and overall social-emotional growth in a manner that is powerful and meaningful.

Through personalized school counseling, your children will actively participate in the development of their college and career readiness plans, and ignite changes that renew the vitality of their passions. Additionally, students will become confident advocates and gain the ability to channel their intellectual pursuits, pursue personal development opportunities, explore career aspirations, and strengthen their investments in themselves, their communities, and education.

Please feel free to get in touch with me if you have any questions or if there is something that I can do to better support your student’s learning.

Sincerely, 

Maribel Palafox