Board of Directors
President
Princess Okieme, (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), spent ten years of her professional career as a Clinical Social Worker and Behavioral Therapist working in clinic with autistic children as well as with cognitively challenged adults. Additionally, her work also involved counseling veterans, immigrants, domestic abuse victims and advising mothers on family dynamics and supportive structures. In addition to direct services to families and individuals, Ms. Okieme also held a variety of roles throughout New York City. Through her business wits along with a clinical approach to understanding, she assisted world leaders, congressional representatives and constituents to address pressing issues.
With a bachelors degree in management and international communications from the Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University, and a masters in clinical social work from the Silver School of Social Work at New York University, Ms. Okieme understands what it takes to initiate and create from scratch successful productions that bring awareness, even solutions, to important issues. Coordinating the 8th Annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations to address the Eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) is one such example. Assisting
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney in sponsoring the Campus Save Act is another. The act helps to combat violence against women on college campuses as well as create a referral system, which enables non-profits and Congress to work together to address hunger, mental health, homelessness, veteran affairs, etc.
Ms. Okieme states, "After working with some very powerful people and those most vulnerable in the population, I have learned that mental illness threatens the advancement of humanity as the root cause of every societal problem”.
Vice-President
Jason Betts, (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) is a retired state detective and current licensed clinician dedicated to the empowerment and support of underserved youth and adults. Married father of 6 adult children, coach, and mentor of youth in Pasadena for 32 years. “ I didn’t choose Mental Health, Mental Health chose me”.
Currently, Mr.Betts runs programs throughout both LA and San Bernardino County, which consists of a Re-Entry program for formerly incarcerated clients, an Empowerment for Pre & Post probation clients as well as an After-School Program for youth.
Board Advisor
Kathie Mathis, Psy.D., D.D.
Board Advisor
Dr. Kathie Mathis is a nationally recognized psychologist, forensic expert, and master trainer with over 40 years of experience spanning clinical practice, forensic evaluation, policy development, and national training. She serves as CEO of the California Cognitive Behavioral Institute (CCBI) and has dedicated her career to advancing accountability, healing, and systems-level change in the areas of domestic violence, child abuse, human trafficking, anger management, and complex trauma.
Dr. Mathis has served as an expert witness in more than 500 criminal, family, and international (Hague Convention) cases, and is widely regarded for her expertise in coercive control, dark personality structures, trauma bonding, and high-risk offender assessment. Her work bridges clinical insight with legal, judicial, and community systems, helping courts, clinicians, and organizations respond effectively to violence and exploitation.
A Nationally Certified Psychologist, Dr. Mathis is also a nationally recognized Master Trainer, having developed and delivered certification programs and curricula used across California and the United States. She has trained professionals at every level, including psychologists, therapists, judges, attorneys, law enforcement, probation and parole officers, educators, mediators, and international agencies—including training psychologists affiliated with the United Nations.
Dr. Mathis has played a significant role in shaping public policy. She has authored or contributed to over 10 California state laws and multiple federal laws related to domestic violence, victim protection, and offender accountability, and has served on state committees under multiple California governors. Her legislative contributions include expanding protections for minors and helping establish statewide standards for batterers’ intervention, sex offender treatment, substance use counseling, and mental health practices.
She is a published author and curriculum developer, with books and manuals including Emotional Addiction: A Bitter Sweet Truth, Understanding Domestic Violence, The SociopathicType Relationship / Master Manipulator Series, and multiple nationally approved intervention programs for offenders and survivors. Her work is frequently referenced in professional training, court systems, and advocacy settings.
Dr. Mathis has appeared on national media outlets including The Dr. Phil Show, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, and numerous radio programs and podcasts. She is also the host and co-host of justice-focused media programs and a contributor to crime and public safety platforms.
As a Board Advisor, Dr. Mathis brings unparalleled expertise in trauma-informed systems, offender accountability, survivor advocacy, and ethical program development. Her guidance strengthens organizational integrity, clinical excellence, and mission-driven impact—particularly in work centered on safety, healing, and long-term community transformation.
Vice-Chair
Andres Ruiz, (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) , is a community mental health therapist who provides FSP and WRAPAROUND services to children, families and adults in the South Los Angeles area, where he grew up. He has over ten-years of experience working around cultural, political and educational issues before pursuing a degree in Clinical Psychology and graduating in 2018. Andres has counseled children and adults with criminal records and is sensitive to many psycho-social-emotional challenges people experience going through life.
Andres Ruiz, aka Mayazteca born in Los Angeles, California. He has over ten-years of experience working with LGBTQ+, unaccompanied minors and gang affiliated youth. He has counseled foster youth, and mentored youth with criminal records, and is sensitive to the issues of trauma, domestic violence, gang-conflict. He is a founding member of Pride Rock Wellness a non-profit organization. Which offers conflict resolution, anger management and mentorship intervention to incarcerated youth through hip hop, sports, and the game of chess. Andres holds a Masters in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Community/Liberation Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles.