Humans of Chaffey: Denise Padilla
By Izzaya Gonzalez
In the northwest corner of the Chaffey College Rancho campus, surrounded by trees teeming with squirrels and baby lizards, is the CDC building. Inside is a poster of a fireplace taped under a mantle, air conditioning that runs a bit too cold and the Social Wellness and Behavioral Support program.
This program offers students access to 12 free and confidential sessions with licensed clinical social workers. The department is led by Denise Padilla, a licensed clinical social worker (LSCW) who has made supporting students’ mental health her mission.
Meeting with students one-on-one is the main part of Padilla’s job, but she says being a social worker requires balancing many responsibilities.
“You have to be dynamic as a social worker. It’s not just sitting with a client for 50 minutes,” Padilla said.
Beyond counseling, Padilla leads a series of workshops each month -- both in person and online -- covering a range of topics related to mental health. She also collaborates with the campus police department and the Triage, Engagement and Support Team -- a group trained to de-escalate situations involving students who may be a danger to themselves or others.
On top of her own caseload, Padilla supervises clinical social workers in training and helps guide them through their sessions.
The wide range of tasks keep her engaged with the work she does. There are challenges to every job, but in the LCSW position, Padilla has to keep her cool.
This can add to one of the biggest challenges new and experienced LCSWs deal with: compassion fatigue. Providing this level of support can be emotionally draining.
“Sometimes, with so little energy left, the best thing I can do is crawl into bed early and recharge. I think we all develop our own ways of staying grounded and healthy.”
Her journey to this role required years of education and experience. After earning a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California. She worked in both schools and hospitals, refining her skills in communication and crisis intervention.
When asked what keeps her motivated in a demanding field, Padilla said it is the students who inspire her.
“Students need different types of support and intervention, and it’s a privilege to work with every person who I come into contact with,” she said. “I feel genuinely rewarded when I see clients making healthier or more empowered decisions in their lives.”
Padilla said she learns from her students as much as they learn from her. Although working in mental health still carries responsibility and stigma, she has noticed a gradual shift in the way people view therapy.
“I still remember how surprised I was the first time I heard a local radio station run an ad encouraging people to seek mental health support, or when the 988 crisis line started being promoted publicly.”
She believes the 2020 social justice movements and the COVID-19 pandemic played a major role in changing attitudes about mental health. During those years, widespread anxiety and isolation helped reduce stigma around therapy. Recently, Padilla has seen the momentum slow.
“It sometimes feels like that pendulum is swinging backward,” she said. “Right now, certain policies and government actions can send the message that mental health isn’t a priority, and when that happens, it influences the broader culture and can unintentionally reinforce stigma.”
Despite challenges, Padilla’s long-term goal is to help create a more emotionally intelligent community. She believes normalizing conversations about emotions can reduce isolation among students and foster connection.
“When people feel connected, supported and part of something larger than themselves, it can be incredibly stabilizing,” she said.
By educating others to communicate more openly, Padilla hopes to build a campus culture where mental wellness is encouraged, and continues to do so among the trees, squirrels and baby lizards.