About Us

Claudia Herrera, PhD, LMFT-S, Staff Counselor – Florida campus

Dr. Herrera is a bilingual (English-Spanish) Florida and California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She was born in Colombia, where she earned her Bachelor of Social Work. She moved to the United States in 2000 and earned her Master of Science in Family Therapy and her Ph.D. in Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University. Claudia has been working in a variety of social service and mental health settings for more than 20 years. She has experience facilitating individual, couples, family, and group therapy in person and via teletherapy. Claudia’s specialty interests include trauma work, resiliency, diversity, and inclusion, women’s issues, relationship issues, parent education, and leadership. Claudia’s therapeutic approach is strength-based, client-centered, relational, and systemic.

She is available to see clients throughout the week.

Tamara Ho, PhD, Staff Psychologist—California Campus

Dr. Tamara Ho was born and raised in Southern California, the fourth daughter of a Chinese immigrant and Chinese-American family. As a first-generation college student, she obtained her B.A. in psychology from UCLA and her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her dissertation research focused on how Asian Americans experience the salience of their race and ethnicity (including racial microaggressions) in day-to-day situations.

Broadly speaking, Tamara is drawn to understanding how people overcome internal, external and systemic obstacles; develop self-acceptance, meaning and resilience; and create a sustained sense of psychological well-being.

Licensed as a California psychologist since 2007, she enjoys working with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds and social identities; developing a strong working relationship with each of her clients; and addressing a range of concerns, including but not limited to managing stress and anxiety, depression and loss, cultural adjustment and relationship issues.

Tamara is available to see clients on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

Daphne Lurie, PhD, Counseling Center Director—California Campus 

Dr. Daphne Lurie is a California-licensed psychologist. She was born in Israel and became a U.S. citizen at age seven. Daphne spent her high school years living in four different countries; her father worked as a political cartoonist in capital cities and she is grateful for these enriching experiences. Daphne has been at Scripps Research since 2007 and has been director of CAPS since 2010. She has enjoyed working with the Scripps Research community more than any other group.

She obtained her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of South Carolina, and her B.A. in psychology from Williams College. She has worked in a range of professional sites, from hospital to university-based settings. She sees both individual clients and couples in therapy, and has specialty interests in relationship issues, women's issues, multicultural experiences, and identity/adjustment issues.

She is available to see clients throughout the week.

Gabriela Esquivel, Administrative Assistant

Gabriela Esquivel was born and raised in San Diego, California, Gabriela is a bilingual (English-Spanish) CAPS Administrative Assistant. A first-generation college student, Gabriela received her bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).  Gabriela is available to help CAPS clients with their intake and scheduling needs.  She also works closely with the CAPS team on administrative, graphic, and technology-based projects.