Meet the Team Behind Your Care
Julie Ann Therese De Los Santos
MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, Founder, CEO
At Alternative Awakenings Psychiatry, our team works together to provide compassionate, organized, and patient-centered mental health care. From clinical support to administrative coordination, each member of our team plays an important role in helping patients feel supported throughout their care journey.
Provider Team
Our providers are dedicated to delivering thoughtful, individualized mental health care. They work closely with each patient to understand their concerns, create appropriate treatment plans, and support their overall well-being in a safe and respectful environment.
Each provider brings clinical knowledge, compassion, and a commitment to helping patients receive care that is both professional and personalized.
Julie Ann Therese is a dedicated board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with extensive experience in healthcare. Beginning her career as an LVN in 2010, she later earned her BSN with a scholarship from the Veterans Affairs Hospital. Julie’s passion for mental health led her to pursue a master’s degree in nursing at West Coast University, and specialize as a PMHNP, providing compassionate care to diverse populations, including veterans facing complex mental health challenges.
Julie’s personal experiences have shaped her empathetic approach to care. Born in the Philippines and raised under strict guardianship, she overcame a challenging childhood before moving to the U.S. at 15, deepening her understanding of cultural influences on mental health. As a Filipino-American, she prioritizes cultural sensitivity and holistic support in mental health care.
She is the founder of Alternative Awakenings Psychiatry, where she provides evidence-based, patient-centered care and is receptive to holistic and non-medication treatments when appropriate. Julie tailors her approach to each individual, empowering them to navigate life’s challenges with personalized, integrative care.
With her blend of clinical expertise, personal resilience, and commitment to holistic care, Julie is dedicated to advancing mental health services and improving access to quality care for all.
Sudha Kumar is an experienced physician executive with a strong track record in the managed behavioral healthcare industry. She brings extensive expertise in psychiatry, healthcare management, disease management, and public health, with a particular focus on Medicaid and Medicare populations.
Dr. Kumar is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Her background in epidemiology and behavioral health policy further supports her commitment to improving access, outcomes, and quality of care in diverse healthcare settings.
Sudha Kumar
MD, MPH, FAPA, MD Collaborator
Administrative Team
Our administrative team helps keep patient care running smoothly. They assist with scheduling, billing, insurance coordination, records, communication, and follow-ups to help make the process easier for patients and providers.
MD Collaborator
Our MD collaborator provides additional clinical oversight and support to help ensure safe, coordinated, and high-quality psychiatric care. Through collaboration with our provider team, they contribute medical guidance, consultation, and professional support as part of our commitment to responsible and patient-centered care.
Rona Mae Leong-On Dedicated Administrative Assistant with over 14 years of BPO experience and a Bachelor's degree. Currently supporting a psychiatry clinic with patient scheduling, billing, insurance coordination, and administrative operations. Skilled in multitasking, customer service, problem-solving, and delivering efficient, compassionate support in fast-paced healthcare environments.
RONA MAE LEONG ON
Main Front Desk Support
MARY ANN JOYCE C. CARRERA
Billing Admin
Mary Ann Joyce C. Carrera is a healthcare administration professional with a strong background in claims operations, billing support, office management, and patient coordination. She has experience handling medical records, insurance concerns, pharmacy-related issues, financial transactions, and administrative workflows with accuracy and attention to detail.
Her work reflects a balance of organized back-end support and compassionate patient service. She is skilled at resolving administrative concerns, supporting compliance-based processes, and helping create smoother communication between patients, providers, and healthcare teams.
Mary Ann is committed to providing reliable, efficient, and patient-centered support in healthcare settings while contributing to organized and effective daily operations.
GRACYNEL LACASTESANTOS
Medical Records
Gracynel Lacastesantos is a highly efficient and detail‑oriented healthcare administration professional with a strong foundation in patient communications and care coordination. She ensures seamless, accurate, and timely communication between patients and providers, supporting clinical workflows with professionalism and clarity. Gracynel is also proficient in back‑end administrative operations, including documentation management, form processing, and patient support requirements. Her commitment to precision, organization, and service excellence consistently contributes to a smooth and reliable patient experience
Hazel Layson
FNP-C, PMHNP-BC
Chenxi “Mia” Yang is a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a strong background in psychiatry and behavioral health. She began her nursing career in inpatient psychiatric care and later expanded her experience through public health nursing, case management, and community-based psychiatric care.
Mia provides thoughtful, collaborative, and culturally responsive mental health care. As a bilingual provider who speaks English and Mandarin, she understands how culture, identity, stigma, and lived experience can shape each person’s mental health journey.
Her approach integrates evidence-based medication management, psychoeducation, and supportive strategies tailored to each client’s needs and goals. Mia is passionate about helping clients feel respected, understood, and empowered while working toward meaningful and sustainable improvement in their daily lives.
Chenxi "Mia" Yang
MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Hazel Layson is a dual board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based care for both physical and emotional well-being. She speaks English, Tagalog, and Ilonggo, allowing her to support clients from diverse cultural backgrounds.
With experience in primary care, internal medicine, community health, and psychiatric settings, Hazel takes a holistic and collaborative approach to care. She supports clients managing anxiety, depression, life transitions, family stressors, and complex health concerns through thorough assessment, clear communication, medication management support, and individualized treatment planning.
Hazel is passionate about making mental health care accessible, culturally sensitive, and meaningful for individuals and families seeking support.
A Practice Built on Compassion and Courage
Alternative Awakenings Psychiatry was created from the belief that healing begins the moment a person feels truly heard. We saw how many individuals struggled in silence—held back by stigma, cultural expectations, or the fear of not being understood. This practice became a reality with one central mission:
to help individuals reclaim their voice and navigate life’s challenges with support, dignity, and empowerment.
Our Mission: Empowerment Through Understanding
Our mission is more than a statement—it guides every conversation, every treatment plan, and every connection we make. We are here to help people rediscover their strength, regain clarity, and move through life with tools that support emotional resilience. Whether someone is facing depression, anxiety, or the complexities of pregnancy and postpartum transitions, we want them to feel that they are not facing these challenges alone.
