Gena M. Castro Rodriguez

Dr. Gena Castro Rodriguez is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, educator, and recognized thought leader with over 30 years of experience in mental health, trauma-informed care, and community wellness. Based in San Francisco, she has dedicated her career to expanding mental health services and promoting resilience within underserved communities.

Dr. Castro Rodriguez previously served as Executive Director of the National Alliance for Trauma Recovery Centers at UCSF, Chief of Victim Services for the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, Director of the Survivor Center for the Prosecutors Alliance, and Co-founder and Executive Director of the Youth Justice Institute. In these roles, she has championed culturally responsive practices and policies that center equity and healing.

Currently, Dr. Castro Rodriguez is an Associate Professor in the Graduate Counseling Psychology program and serves as the MFT Traineeship Coordinator for the Marriage & Family Therapy, MA program at the University of San Francisco. In addition to teaching and conducting research, she is the Co-Director of the USF Center for Community Counseling and Wellness, where she has been instrumental in advancing the mission of the university’s Center for Community Wellness.

A sought-after speaker and consultant, Dr. Castro Rodriguez offers expertise in trauma recovery, survivors of violence and crime, mass violence response, and the intersection of mental health and social justice. Her work continues to inspire transformative approaches that empower individuals, families, and communities.

• Trauma informed care
• Interpersonal and community violence
• Criminal justice system responses and reform
• Gender responsive treatment

• Violent crime survivors
• Interpersonal violence
• Criminal and juvenile justice
• Trauma and community mental health

• MFT Traineeship Coordinator, Marriage & Family Therapy, MA (2025-present)
• Appointed by Governor Newsom to the California State Board of State and Community Corrections, Board Member (2025-present)
• Elected Board Member, National Organization for Victim Advocates (2025-present)
• Human Trafficking Expert Committee Member for the California Stop Violence Against Women Formula Grants Program (2016-present)

• California Institute for Integral Studies, PsyD in Clinical Psychology, 2014
• University of San Francisco, MA in Counseling Psychology, 2004
• California State University, Sacramento, BA in Psychology, 1992

• Executive Director, UCSF National Alliance of Trauma Recovery Centers (Aug. 2023 - March 2025)
• Director of the Survivor Resource and Policy Center, Prosecutors Alliance (June 2021 - June 2023)
• Chief of Services and Parallel Justice Programs, San Francisco District Attorney's Offices (Nov. 2014 - June 2021)

• End Violence Against Women International Champion of Change Award Winner (2020)
• Award for Excellence in Victims Services, San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, San Francisco (2018)
• Outstanding Advocate for Human Dignity & Freedom Award, National Council of Jewish Women, San Francisco (2018)
• Women’s History Month Honoree, San Francisco Board of Supervisors (2016)
• Certificate of Merit and Appreciation for Work in Domestic Violence, San Francisco Police Department (2015)

• De La Rue, L., Ortega, L. and Castro Rodriguez, G. (2023). We Are Humans Too: Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Victim Advocates. Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology. 
• Castro Rodriguez, G. (2022). Survivor Voices. Prosecutors Alliance California. San Francisco. 
• Castro Rodriguez, G. (2020) Victim Impact Survey Report. San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, Victim Services Division.
• Bass, P. and Castro Rodriguez, G. (2018). Burnout: Pediatrician, Heal Thyself. Modern Medicine Network.Contemporary Pediatrics.