Maloa is both compassionate and direct. It is important for her to create a safe space where students can feel comfortable working through their challenges. She builds rapport through humor and by taking the time to get to know what is important to each individual. She fights to earn their trust and shows great empathy while helping them ground themselves in the present.
Maloa earned her Behavioral of Science degree from Utah Valley University and her master’s degree from the University of Phoenix. Maloa specializes in working with students and families that struggle with trauma, substance abuse, and complicated family systems. She often uses methodologies such as DBT, CBT, Trauma CBT, and motivational interviewing. Maloa is also fluent in Spanish!
Maloa strongly believes “It is the truth we ourselves speak rather than the treatment we receive that heals us ” She strives to tap into each student’s strengths and help them turn off their negative self-talk so that they can discover confidence in themselves. As they do this, she believes each student will then have the ability to make the changes they want to make in their life.
Maloa believes that families are the fundamental foundation of society and have a powerful impact for both bad and good. Working with the family as a whole makes healing five times more likely, and she expects each family member to do their part. Maloa’s most memorable experiences have come from seeing a person go from feeling hopeless, depressed, and addicted to substances to making an honest, thoughtful decision and following through with it.
Maloa loves spending time with her husband and four daughters. Together they read, swim, and play. They enjoy camping in the summer and playing in the snow in the winter. They also enjoy playing kick ball, soccer, and any other outdoor activity they can do in their yard. She also enjoys card games, board games and puzzles. She can be happy anywhere and anyplace as long as she is with her family!!