Meet Our Team
Leadership
Celica Garcia-Plascencia
Vice President
Celica Garcia-Plascencia is a Vice President at TURN Behavioral Health Services, where she has dedicated over 13 years to empowering communities and supporting families. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Concordia University Chicago and began her career as a case manager with the Community Assessment Team (CAT) program. Her passion, dedication, and leadership led her to advance into the role of program manager, and today she proudly serves as a Vice President.
A proud Marine sister, Celica is deeply committed to serving military families. She advocates for their unique needs and works to ensure they have access to compassionate, culturally competent care. She understands firsthand that when one person serves, the entire family is affected—and her work reflects a deep respect for the sacrifices of service members and their loved ones.
Celica is also a devoted wife of 23 years, a proud mother to three amazing children and three fur babies, and a firm believer in leading with empathy and purpose. With the unwavering support of her family, she continues to inspire positive change and uplift the communities she serves.
Christina Pineda
Christina Pineda is a Navy Veteran who proudly served 12 years as an Operations Specialist before being honorably discharged. After her military service, she set out to continue serving her community, focusing on addiction and mental health. Christina brings over a decade of experience in addiction treatment, working in both military and civilian settings.
She earned her master’s degree in clinical counseling from Point Loma Nazarene University and joined TURN Behavioral Health Services in 2020 as a therapist, providing support to Drug Court participants through San Diego Center for Change. Christina is deeply passionate about the veteran and recovery communities and now leads a team equally committed to this vital work.
As a leader and Program Manager for Courage to Call, Christina prides herself on fostering a supportive, mission-driven team environment—encouraging her staff to care for themselves as much as they care for others. She is a firm believer that self-care is essential to sustaining the meaningful work they do every day.
Outside of work, Christina enjoys spending time with her husband, Tim, and is an avid supporter of local animal rescue groups. She finds her peace in nature and in the water, often seeking out quiet moments near the ocean or surrounded by the outdoors to recharge and reconnect.
Christina Pineda
Program Manager
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Veteran Counselors
Douglas Alvarado
Lead Veteran Counselor
Douglas Alberto Alvarado is an Army Veteran who served as a combat medic in southeast Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from 2011-2012. Douglas discharged honorably after 6 years of service and continued to pursue his passion in social work education and field work. Douglas has personal lived experience through trauma recovery in combat readjustment and military separation. Douglas is a first-generation service member from Los Angeles who is bilingual in Spanish and recently relocated to San Diego. His experience is supported with an Associate degree in Social and Behavioral Health from Santa Monica College, bachelor’s degree in social work from Arizona State University, and master’s degree from California State University Los Angeles. Douglas also has extensive professional experience providing intensive case management, treatment planning, therapeutic evidence-based mental health counselling, and crisis intervention to various populations including veterans, active-duty military, reservists, National Guard, and their families. Douglas is dedicated to serving those who have served by giving back through trauma-informed care and providing strengths-based social services at Courage to Call. Douglas enjoys time outside of work off-roading in his Bronco, training in Muay Thai boxing, as well as snowboarding during the winter season.
Douglas Alvarado
Lead Veteran Counselor
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Outreach Team
Gza Larican
Family Support Partner
Gza is a US Navy veteran that served for 12 years. She dealt with ammunition in the navy. She was stationed on the USS George Washington, USS Enterprise, NAWMU-1 and USS Carl Vinson. She is passionate about helping her fellow veterans with information about their benefits.
Gza Larican
Family Support Partner
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Mateo Montell
Originally from Southeastern Ohio, Mateo came to San Diego by way of the Marine Corps in 2004. After the completion of his service as an Amphibious Assault Vehicle Crewman, he obtained his bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University, and master’s degree from Point Loma Nazarene University with a concentration in Exercise Science. He began his career as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist working in preventive medicine helping others achieve their health and wellness goals. As the founder and program manager for Have A Ball Project, Mateo drives the projects mission of providing healthy, sustainable, and educational resources to youth and organizations around the world. When Mateo is not working on his nonprofit, you will likely find him living an active lifestyle camping, hiking, surfing, or grappling in Jiu jitsu.
Mateo Montell
Outreach Specialist
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Luna & Delilah
At Courage to Call, healing isn’t just about services—it’s about connection, presence, and unconditional support. Our Emotional Support Animals, Luna and Delilah, play a vital role in bringing comfort and care to the veterans, service members, and families we serve.
Luna, with her wise eyes and signature mohawk, is the steady and intuitive half of the duo. Her gentle presence and empathetic nature provide grounding support during difficult moments. Whether she’s sitting quietly beside someone in need or simply being her calm, reassuring self, Luna brings peace wherever she goes.
Delilah is our soft and soulful companion with a calm and gentle demeanor. Though naturally shy, she is deeply loyal and quietly supportive of the Program Manager, often seen by her side during meetings and community events. Delilah may not seek the spotlight, but her quiet strength and comforting energy are felt by everyone around her.
Together, Luna and Delilah remind us that emotional support comes in many forms—and sometimes the best therapy has four legs, a wagging tail, and an open heart.
Meet Luna & Delilah
Courage to Call’s Emotional Support Animals
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Administrative
Stephanie Rodriguez
Stephanie is a former Marine Spouse who grew up in a military family. She’s actively involved in the community and helps local non-profits with Social Media Exposure, like the Veteran’s Art Project. She has even inputted ideas to the new Veteran’s Memorial that being built in Carlsbad, California. She connected with Courage to Call, in 2022, for Humana’s Veteran’s Health Resource Fair and has collaborated with Courage to Call since then. Fast forward to today Stephanie helps local Veterans gain insight on health options outside of the VA and assists two organizations, Courage to Call and the Veteran’s Art Project in assisting as many Veterans as possible.
Stephanie Rodriguez
Administrative Assistant
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