Child and Family Empowerment Services
Where Empowerment Leads to Healthy Prevention
Developing a Culture of Empowerment
Our Vision
Where empowerment leads to healthy prevention...
Our Mission
Child and Family Empowerment Services develops the culture of empowerment practice with a particular focus on teaming among all staff. We use a respectful and collaborative process that helps protect children and strengthen families in a culturally sensitive and responsive manner in order to help eliminate suffering. We believe in serving a wide range of diverse populations such as different age groups, nationalities, lifestyles, and religions. In the process of serving others, we include core values which are spiritual, intuitive, and genuine in nature.
Award Winning Service
Salt Lake County Local Hero Award
Pete Suazo Social Justice Award
About Child and Family Empowerment Services
Our History
Child and Family Empowerment Services was founded in 2003 by Penisimani Tupouniua and Leilani Taholo. This came about as a response to the lack of multicultural counseling awareness, approaches, and interventions within the local communities. CFES offers outpatient mental health services to individuals, couples, and families from many walks of life experiences. Hence, CFES offers trauma interventions along with cultural responsiveness during the assessment and treatment process. Our therapists use a combination of therapies to assist our clients, including but not limited to expressive therapies, play-directed, sand tray therapies, psychodynamic, and cognitive therapies. In our efforts to be as inclusive as possible, we employ a number of bilingual therapists who can assist our Spanish-speaking, Portuguese-speaking, Tongan-speaking, and Samoan-speaking clients. We advocate for clients whose voices have not been heard within a social justice framework.
Our Approach
Child and Family Empowerment Services develops the culture of empowerment practice with a particular focus on teaming among all staff. We use a respectful and collaborative process that helps protect children and strengthen families in a culturally sensitive and responsive manner in order to help eliminate suffering. We believe in serving a wide range of diverse populations such as different age groups, nationalities, lifestyles, and religions. In the process of serving others, we include core values which are spiritual, intuitive, and genuine in nature.
Find Healing through Child and Family Empowerment Services
Child Play Therapy
Using the children’s natural language of play, play therapy allows children to express their thoughts and feelings in ways that feel comfortable to them. Play therapy provides children with a supportive environment in which they can identify, explore, and ultimately work towards resolving issues that are causing them difficulties.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based practice for assisting people who have experienced trauma. It is a form of treatment that assists clients in integrating traumatic experiences in order to diminish the disruptive symptoms of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and work towards healing.
Mindfulness
Through a variety of different practices and techniques, mindfulness can assist individuals in living in the present moment, allowing them to address and ultimately transform thoughts and feelings that are causing them distress.
Dialectic Behavior Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based herapy that helps individuals learn skills to manage intense emotions and improve their relationships. It is used to treat conditions such as depression, eating disorders, substance use disorder, and suicidal ideation.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF CBT) is an evidenced-based practice that provides individuals with information and skills on reducing the symptoms of trauma, which assists in resolving traumatic experiences.
Mental Health Assessments
With the Mental Health Assessment, we collect and offer demographic information, client symptoms, mental health history, substance abuse history (although we do not provide substance abuse treatment), medical history, social history, a mental status exam, narrative summary, diagnosis, and recommendations for the client.
Strength-Based Therapy
Strength-based therapy is an approach to working with clients that focuses on the individual’s inherent skills and qualities that can be used to resolve their current issues with the underlying belief that each individual is capable of their own healing and growth.
We are Proud of Our Team
Lani Katoa Taholo, LCSW, PhD
Anabel Juarez, Admin. Assist.
Lani Katoa Taholo, LCSW, PhD
Dr. Taholo comes from a philosophy of empowerment and diversity. Her approach is to help her client(s) feel supported and grounded. Lani has experience working with individuals, couples and families using TF CBT (Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy), RTR (Relationship Trauma Repair), DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), Guided Imager
Dr. Taholo comes from a philosophy of empowerment and diversity. Her approach is to help her client(s) feel supported and grounded. Lani has experience working with individuals, couples and families using TF CBT (Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy), RTR (Relationship Trauma Repair), DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), Guided Imagery and other client-centered approaches for skill building and long-term healing. Lani has worked with clients from many walks of life and believes the ultimate healing comes from the client. She partners with the client to facilitate the process of developing realistic plans from their cultural worldview.
Tausoa Mulitalo, MSW, CSW
Anabel Juarez, Admin. Assist.
Lani Katoa Taholo, LCSW, PhD
Soa earned her bachelor’s and masters in social work at the University of Utah. She has worked with individuals from 3 years old and up who have experienced trauma. Her experience includes working with foster care individuals and parents, victims of domestic violence and other forms of abuse, grief and loss, and individuals experiencing s
Soa earned her bachelor’s and masters in social work at the University of Utah. She has worked with individuals from 3 years old and up who have experienced trauma. Her experience includes working with foster care individuals and parents, victims of domestic violence and other forms of abuse, grief and loss, and individuals experiencing suicidal ideation and living with depression and anxiety. Her approach is holistic and deeply rooted in cultural awareness. Her beliefs align with the Samoan proverb ‘E fofo le alamea le alamea,’ which means that the remedy lies within — within the individual and the community. Soa enjoys her time learning and practicing new skills, traveling and trying new foods, and spending time with family.
Anabel Juarez, Admin. Assist.
Anabel Juarez, Admin. Assist.
Anabel Juarez, Admin. Assist.
Anabel, brings over 12 years of experience in business management and accounting to Child and Family Empowerment Services, where she has been an integral liaison between clinicians and clients. Her strong organizational skills and dedication have contributed significantly to the agency’s operations. Outside of work, Anabel enjoys traveling, camping, cooking, and watching movies.
Marian Dignan, CSW
Carmencita Totua, MSW-I
Anabel Juarez, Admin. Assist.
Marian recently graduated from Utah Valley University with her Master’s of Social Work degree and is working as a CSW. She has worked for CFES for almost 2 years.
Marian has a background of working with ADHD, trauma, residential treatment, children, and adolescents. Marian is trained in EMDR (Eye-movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
Marian recently graduated from Utah Valley University with her Master’s of Social Work degree and is working as a CSW. She has worked for CFES for almost 2 years.
Marian has a background of working with ADHD, trauma, residential treatment, children, and adolescents. Marian is trained in EMDR (Eye-movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Play Therapy, TF-CBT (Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), and is informed in DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) and Substance Abuse. She believes that all people have the power to heal within themselves, and is honored to accompany others as a fellow traveller on their healing journeys!
In her free time, Marian enjoys exploring the outdoors, creating art, enjoying music, and spending time with her friends and family.
*Not currently accepting new clients
La Vaisigano, CSW
Carmencita Totua, MSW-I
Carmencita Totua, MSW-I
La earned her bacherlors and masters in social work at the University of Utah and is currently working as a CSW. She has been working at CFES for a little over 2 years now and enjoys every minute of it. La has experience working with individuals that range from ages 4-65 that come from complex, traumatic backgrounds. Aside from working wi
La earned her bacherlors and masters in social work at the University of Utah and is currently working as a CSW. She has been working at CFES for a little over 2 years now and enjoys every minute of it. La has experience working with individuals that range from ages 4-65 that come from complex, traumatic backgrounds. Aside from working with individuals that struggle with mental health, she is strongly interested in family systems and relationships and how they are affected by trauma as individuals and as a whole.
*Not currently accepting new clients
Carmencita Totua, MSW-I
Carmencita Totua, MSW-I
Carmencita Totua, MSW-I
Carmencita is currently in her last year of the MSW program at the University of Utah. She received her Bachelor's degree in Ethnic Studies with a certificate in Pacific Islands Studies at the University of Utah. She worked for the College of Social Work at the University of Utah for three years in Academic Advising, which reminded her of
Carmencita is currently in her last year of the MSW program at the University of Utah. She received her Bachelor's degree in Ethnic Studies with a certificate in Pacific Islands Studies at the University of Utah. She worked for the College of Social Work at the University of Utah for three years in Academic Advising, which reminded her of her childhood goal of becoming a social worker. She also has over 13 years of experience working in the medical field on the administrative side, in pediatrics, rehabilitation, and mammography. She is interested in learning more about how to facilitate the Kaimana Intervention and anything that will help the Pacific Islander Communities. In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her partner of 17 years and their three dogs.
Kimberly Ponce Gonzalez, MSW, CSW
Kimberly Ponce Gonzalez, MSW, CSW
Kimberly Ponce Gonzalez, MSW, CSW
Kimy is a first-generation Mexican American who speaks both English and Spanish. She earned her Master’s in Social Work (MSW) and a Certificate in Leadership, Justice, and Community Practice at the University of Utah and she is a Certified Social Worker (CSW). She has earned an Associate of Science in General Studies at Salt Lake Communit
Kimy is a first-generation Mexican American who speaks both English and Spanish. She earned her Master’s in Social Work (MSW) and a Certificate in Leadership, Justice, and Community Practice at the University of Utah and she is a Certified Social Worker (CSW). She has earned an Associate of Science in General Studies at Salt Lake Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Ethnic Studies at the University of Utah.
Kimy is dedicated to healing and empowering the roots of our communities through the individuals, family systems, relationships, and cultural environments surrounding our daily lives. She sees and meets the client where they are at and follows their own process and rate of healing. Kimberly has worked with individuals experiencing grief and loss, immigration, anxiety, depression, trauma, and many lived experiences. She has seen children and specializes in pre-teens, teens and adults. Her experience includes crisis work, support groups, community outreach and with those impacted by: court cases including divorce, custody, and more. Kimy’s approach is helping others reclaim their voice, power, and well-being. She believes in nurturing the roots that come from within and extending the branches out to our communities. In Kimy’s spare time she enjoys making products for her small business, being a foodie, watching movies, reading, playing video games, traveling, and being with her family, friends, and her dogs.
-SPANISH SPEAKING-
Kimy es una Chicana de primera generación que habla Inglés y Español. Obtuvo una Maestría en Trabajo Social (MSW) y un certificado en Liderazgo, Justicia y Práctica Comunitaria en la Universidad de Utah, y es Trabajadora Social Certificada (CSW) también significa que tiene un enfoque clínico. También obtuvo un título de Basico en Estudios Generales en el Salt Lake Community College y una licenciatura en Psicología con especialización en Estudios Étnicos en la Universidad de Utah.
Kimy se dedica a sanar y fortalecer las raíces de nuestras comunidades a través de los individuos, los sistemas familiares, las relaciones y los entornos culturales que rodean nuestra vida diaria. Ella comprende y acompaña a cada cliente en su proceso y ritmo de sanación. Kimberly ha trabajado con personas que experimentan duelo y pérdida, inmigración, ansiedad, depresión, trauma y diversas experiencias vividas. Ha atendido a niños y se especializa en preadolescentes, adolescentes y adultos. Su experiencia incluye trabajo en crisis, grupos de apoyo, extensión comunitaria y con personas afectadas por casos judiciales, incluyendo divorcio, custodia y más. El enfoque de Kimy es ayudar a otros a recuperar su voz, poder y bienestar. Cree en nutrir las raíces que provienen del interior y extender las ramas a nuestras comunidades. En su tiempo libre, Kimy disfruta creando productos para su pequeña empresa, probar nuevas comidas, viendo películas, leyendo, jugando videojuegos, viajando y pasando tiempo con su familia, amigos y sus perros.