Our Team

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Joy Bittner

Co-Founder and Executive Director

Joy Bittner

Co-Founder and Executive Director

Joy brings over eighteen years of experience leading social impact work in Latin America. Before founding Vida Plena, she directed global partnerships at Faire Collection, an artisan women’s initiative, and launched Public Health Brigades in Honduras. She holds advanced degrees in social work and nonprofit management and is an alumna of the Charity Entrepreneurship Incubator. Joy is also the first organizational director to have completed Columbia University’s training to become both an IPT provider and supervisor. At Vida Plena, she leads operations, strategy, fundraising, and partnerships. Outside the office, she’s often climbing Ecuador’s mountains, bikepacking through the countryside, or admiring traditional handmade textiles. She thrives on strong coffee and big ideas, usually at the same time.

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Ana Kaslin

Co-founder and Community Group Coordinator

Ana Kaslin

Co-founder and Community Group Coordinator

Anita is an Ecuadorian clinical psychologist with over a decade of expertise providing culturally competent mental health care to marginalized populations. She previously provided clinical therapy to Indigenous communities affected by mining companies and founded a program fostering social connection among elderly adults. Her dedication and experience inspired Joy to invite her to co-found Vida Plena. As program coordinator, Anita trains community facilitators in g-IPT, builds partnerships with local organizations, and leads outreach initiatives, ensuring the delivery of high-quality therapy that adheres to the g-IPT program model while addressing the unique needs of the communities served. She’s also a new mom, and although she hasn’t admitted it, the team suspects she might secretly love animals more than people.

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Gabi Pozo

Supervising Psychologist

Gabi Pozo

Supervising Psychologist

Gabi Pozo is a clinical psychologist with over a decade of experience supporting mental health in Ecuador. At Vida Plena, she provides clinical supervision to ensure high-quality care, proper implementation of g-IPT, and the emotional wellbeing of our facilitators. Certified as a g-IPT supervisor by Columbia University, Gabi is known for her warmth, clinical rigor, and unwavering support for the team. Outside of work, she’s an active member of her local church and a proud ‘tia’ who always has a story to share about the latest adventures of her two rambunctious nephews, her favorite humans.

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Jouseth Moya

Operations Coordinator

Jouseth Moya

Operations Coordinator 

Jouseth Moya is an Ecuadorian professional with expertise in coordinating multidisciplinary teams and developing projects. She holds a degree in International Business from Universidad de las Américas (Ecuador) and is certified in Project Management. Her experience spans the management of interdisciplinary initiatives in education and communication.

She has also contributed her administrative skills to NGOs supporting university students and professionals throughout Latin America.

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Diego Parra

Monitoring and Evaluation Associate

Diego Parra

Monitoring and Evaluation Associate

Diego is an economist and public policy specialist with a strong background in data analysis, impact evaluation, and survey design across Latin America. At Vida Plena, he keeps all our data in order, tracking outcomes, analyzing trends, and ensuring we stay accountable to our goals and partners. As the only non-mental health professional on the operations team, he brings a refreshing analytical lens to our work, patiently navigating the touchy-feely world of therapy with grace and a sense of humor. A dedicated dog dad, Diego is known for his thoughtful insights, his ability to withstand long virtual meetings, and his unwavering commitment to evidence.

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Board of Directors – Ecuador

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Daniela Peralvo

Daniela Peralvo

Co-fundadora de IMPAQTO, la 1era empresa B en Ecuador, un desarrollador de ecosistema que acoge y apoya a agentes de cambio para convertir sus ideas en empresas escalables y de triple impacto. Directora de IMPAQTO Las e IMPAQTO Consulting. Miembro de la Junta Asesora de Innovación de UNLEASH. Catalizadora de League of Intrapreneurs.

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Patricio Andrade

Patricio Andrade

Patricio brings to Vida Plena over 30 years of experience as an entrepreneurial business leader in the medical appliance industry. His professional journey has been complemented by a profound passion for photography and an impressive portfolio in film production, including some of Ecuador’s most prominent documentaries on subjects like the Andean spectacled bear.

However, Patricio’s interests extend beyond his professional achievements. He is a true devotee of nature, and his commitment is exemplified through his role as a founding member of the “Los Yaltes” conservation project. Thanks to his unwavering dedication, vast areas of pristine Ecuadorian cloud forest have been safeguarded.

Moreover, Patricio’s impact is felt through the establishment of Chasqui, a trail racing organization. By combining his love for nature and his entrepreneurial spirit, he has not only promoted eco-tourism but also paved the way for economic opportunities in remote and marginalized Ecuadorian communities.

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Jazmina Estupiñan

Jazmina Estupiñan

Dra. Psicología Clinica UCE, Master Degree University of Kansas. Worked at Hospital General de las FFAA for 20 years, Unidad de Neonatologia y Pediatría. Profesor at PUCE for almost 20 years Psychological Assessment I and II. Worked with parents and communities

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Greg Krupa

Greg Krupa

Greg Krupa was born in Oak Park, IL, however, his heart belongs in Latin America. In 2007, he started his career in global health in Guatemala with the ROMP foundation providing prosthetics to amputees without access to care. In 2015 he founded his 2nd healthcare organization, Novulis, a B Corp that has mobilized high-quality dental care to +21k underserved patients in Ecuador through mobile, portable & stationery onsite clinics. Greg’s a serial social entrepreneur who’s committed to Vida Plena’s mission of bringing mental health care to the underserved of Ecuador. He recognizes that our health systems are broken and that we need a paradigm shift to create more wholistic health systems.

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Board of Directors – USA

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Jack Rafferty

Jack Rafferty

Co-Founder & Director

Jack is the Co-Founder and Director of LEEP, which is dedicated to driving effective policies to eliminate lead poisoning across the globe. Jack was previously Director of the Refugee Policy Institute, an Australian based policy organisation. Before that, he worked as a consultant with enterprise and nonprofits. Jack graduated from the University of Sydney with degrees in Philosophy and Environmental Science and has published peer reviewed research in international journals.

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Kate Coleman

Kate Coleman

Kate is the founder of Ardea Insights, LLC, a company that exists to share evidence-based interventions to help others to live their best lives, filled with joy, energy, and excellence. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and master’s degrees in both International Development and Clinical Mental Health. She has worked across a number of sectors, coordinating graduate-level courses for NGO leaders in the US and in Uganda and completing social return on investment analysis to help charities, NGOs, and social enterprises better understand, quantify, and improve their impact. Ultimately, she found her way back to psychology. With a primary interest in understanding what it takes for humans to thrive, she has completed coursework in Positive Psychology through Harvard University and is a certified Emotional Intelligence practitioner. Prior to launching Ardea Insights, Kate spent five years as an associate and then partner at a prominent organizational behavior firm in Pennsylvania, coaching, speaking, and teaching in the areas of workplace well-being and emotional intelligence. Kate has taught both organizational behavior and psychology at the collegiate level and currently serves as an adjunct professor for Eastern Mennonite University.

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Eos de Feminis

Eos de Feminis

Eos brings to Vida Plena specialized expertise in nonprofit finance, operations, and the HR world having worked for established organizations such as the Rainforest Action Network and Taproot. She brings with her a love for systems, financial viability and flexibility, all things regarding the digital backoffice, and Chinese noodles.

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Alana Murphy

Alana Murphy

Alana Murphy has spent the past twelve years studying international migration policy and working with various international development and humanitarian response organizations. She completed a master’s in science in Global Affairs at Tsinghua University (China) as a Schwarzman Scholar, and a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy Analysis at Pomona College (California, USA). She has worked with DAI, the International Organization for Migration, World Relief, and the U.S Department of State. She completed a Fulbright Research Grant in the Philippines and founded the Beautiful Crossing (www.beautifulcrossing.com), an organization that creates a more welcoming America for individuals from a refugee and asylum-seeking background through outdoor and localized advocacy efforts. Ms. Murphy is currently completing her J.D. at Stanford Law School.

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Advisory Board Members

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Lena Verdeli

Lena Verdeli

Lena Verdeli is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology and the Director of Clinical Training at Teachers College, Columbia University. In the past fifteen years Lena Verdeli has played a key role in landmark studies involving adaptation, training, and testing of psychotherapy packages used by non-specialists (primary care staff, community health workers, etc.) with depressed adults in southern Uganda; war-affected adolescents in IDP camps in northern Uganda and depressed IDP women in Colombia; distressed patients in primary care in Goa, India; depressed community members in Haiti; and war-affected Syrian refugees in Lebanon, among others. She is a member of the Mental Health Advisory Committee for the Millennium Villages Project of the Earth Institute, a Scientific Advisory Council member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the Scientific Advisory Board of Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. She received the American Psychological Association International Psychology Division Mentoring Award and chaired the research workgroup of the Family NGO at the UN. She is currently a technical advisor for the WHO on global dissemination of psychosocial treatments.

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Barry Grimes

Barry Grimes

Barry has advised HLI on communications since 2018 and joined the team full-time in 2021. He previously worked on the events team at the Centre for Effective Altruism, organising EA Global and EAGx conferences. Barry has worked in a wide range of communications roles across the public, private and non-profit sectors for over 13 years. He holds a BA in Social Sciences and a CIPR Diploma in Public Relations.

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Melanie Basnak

Melanie Basnak

Melanie is a Senior Research Manager working on the Global Health and Development (GHD) team of Rethink Priorities. Before joining RP, she was a Research Analyst at Charity Entrepreneurship, looking into promising GHD, health policy, and health security initiatives. Melanie holds a PhD in Neuroscience from Harvard University, a Micromasters in Data, Economics and Development Policy from MITx, and a BSc in Biology from Universidad de Buenos Aires.

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Meet our Community Facilitators

The reason I love being a facilitator is because I enjoy what I do. Helping others find hope and ways to improve their relationships in every way, as well as discover their life’s purpose, is what drives me and motivates me to guide each person through this process. Walking alongside them and witnessing that process of transformation in their lives makes me very happy and, at the same time, fills me with gratitude because I also learn something new every day from each of the participants. It is definitely a beautiful process of mutual growth. And I have discovered in each of them that helping and guiding them is also part of my life’s purpose. Seeing each of them at the end of the process, happy and significantly improving their lives, is also a personal achievement for me, and I say to myself: “Thank you, God!” because I have been an instrument of yours for each of these people.

Ana

I enjoy being a Vida Plena facilitator because it allows me to support people during an important time in their lives. It has been incredibly meaningful for me to listen to their stories, learn about their experiences, and provide them with a space where they feel understood. Every session reminds me of how important it is for people to have a safe place to speak openly and feel supported. I also feel that this process allows me to learn a great deal and grow both as a person and as a facilitator.

América

I wanted to become a support group facilitator to be able to share my knowledge about mental health with others. By first providing people with information about what mental health is and then the signs and symptoms of depression, we will be able to reach people all across Ecuador. The goal is to provide support to the people who need it most, and so in that way contribute to the overall mental health of the country and its development.

Andres

Mental health care is critically needed in today's world where living with depression is considered natural and normal. The fast pace of life and even cultural norms such as "machismo" teach us to repress our emotions and not seek help. That is why I firmly believe that promoting mental health is a way to free many people from the ties that hold them back, and support them so that they have a full and healthy life so that they can ultimately fulfill their dreams.

Ariel

I enjoy being a facilitator for Vida Plena because, for me, it’s a deeply enriching experience. Every time I provide emotional support to someone, I learn about myself through their stories. I enjoy helping people build the skills and tools they need to cope with the most common emotions—the ones we least like to feel.

Cynthia

I enjoy being a facilitator because I often see a part of myself in the participants. Because I believe that’s what it means to be human to help and always support one another. I’ve learned countless things; I’ve heard experiences, stories, and anecdotes that, beyond being just another conversation, I see as a learning experience. I’ve been able to see the change they go through with a smile they give me, a thank you, a goodbye which are actually the parts I like the most. I like it because I’m not just another person; I feel that they share that gratitude, and that, in reality, as a community, we’re making a difference.

Diego

Being a facilitator at Vida Plena is very meaningful to me because it allows me to support real processes of change in people. Beyond the sessions themselves, it’s about creating a space where everyone can feel heard, understand what they’re going through, and begin taking steps toward their well-being.

What I value most is seeing how, little by little, people gain confidence and clarity and allow themselves to express themselves. Being part of that journey, through respect and active listening, is something that moves me deeply.

It has also been a process of personal growth for me. Every story reminds me of the importance of community and care. That’s why, for me, it’s not just a role, it’s a commitment to people’s well-being and dignity.

Elena

I would like to serve the community as a facilitator, to help people in the midst of their personal growth and in the midst of their suffering. I want to share my knowledge with others, and to learn myself through the process, so I can ultimately serve others better. I want to be of help, and to walk alongside people in the midst of the pain and whatever circumstances they are going through.

Erica

What inspired me to be a facilitator as part of this great project that is Vida Plena, is the ability to be able to help people, to be able to gain new experiences, to share with others, and more than anything to work as part of a team; because it is so fundamental to give and receive support; to know that we all have someone we can count on.

Jacqui

I was moved to become (a support group) facilitator because I love working with local communities. I believe that social support is critical, especially providing care for people in need. I have been doing this for several years now and I am excited to keep learning from the people we serve and the mental health experts with whom we partner.

Jessie

My name is Karina. I decided to become a Vida Plena facilitator because I have been an active volunteer for two years now, with a special interest in supporting migrants and refugees.

Kari

I enjoy being a facilitator at Vida Plena because I feel I can move from doing something as simple as listening attentively to doing something as complex as helping someone overcome suicidal thoughts. Along the way, I get to meet people and learn from each life story while working on something I love. The process is important and makes a difference for participants because contextual and cultural adaptations are made according to the group involved: people with disabilities, women, teachers, older adults, etc. And that, in my opinion, is the added value that Vida Plena offers.

Kasha

Lizbeth

Lupita

Maryluz

I think that we can achieve strong mental health for others, by first working on ourselves, and then from there, we will be able to contribute to the broader community. I believe that a small action can change the world, this is why I want to be part of this program. I am happy to be one of the Vida Plena facilitators, because I feel that we all have that potential to improve the world, and specifically, I want mental health to stop being a privilege and instead become a right for everyone and every community.

Santi

I enjoy being a facilitator for Vida Plena because it allows me to connect deeply with people and support them in their journeys in a genuine and human way. It’s truly special to see how, within the group, a sense of trust, support, and community gradually develops a place where no one feels alone.

For me, this space becomes a place where people can open their hearts, feel understood, and find hope amidst their difficulties. Being part of that process seeing how they support one another and how they heal together is something that fills me deeply.

Moreover, this journey has also transformed me, reminding me of the value of empathy, active listening, and the power that community holds for emotional well-being.

Shirley

I’ve dedicated my entire life to social work. I started volunteering at 15, and by 17 I was already supporting cultural and political processes alongside other young artists and psychologists. What has always motivated me is witnessing real transformation. I see people and families move through difficult situations and find new paths forward.

What fills me the most is the sense of reciprocity, when someone who has moved ahead begins to guide others too. In group settings, whether with youth or adults, I’m inspired by how shared experiences can connect and move people. In rural areas, for example, simply talking about emotions and everyday challenges can be something new, but it’s necessary. I find it powerful when people start to see emotional work as essential and relate it to their roles as parents, children, and neighbors. Sometimes these reflections come through humor, like little stories or anecdotes, but they always teach us something. That’s what I love most about this work: walking alongside others, weaving meaning together, and learning as we go.

Sisa

I’ve always been really interested in social causes. I believe that this project in particular is necessary because I believe in community-based mental health. I think we should focus on the communities or places where it is difficult for people to access healthcare, or there is no health care at all. I think that this is a human right that many people still are unable to enjoy.

Sol

Why do I like being a facilitator? Because I really enjoy learning, and I’ve learned so much here. The feedback has also helped me a lot. I like being attentive to people during the intake sessions, getting to know their lives, and finding ways to help. And when we get to the final session, it’s beautiful to see the journey they’ve been through. I love it when participants share what they’ve learned and express their gratitude. That’s why I enjoy it so much.

Sonia

I joined this space to be a community facilitator with the goal of constructing, and specifically constructing collectively. I want to empower people with new tools, so that they can create new connections based on empathy - I do this as a way to give back- and it is my goal to give people hope and other tools so that they can see and believe that there does exist a life beyond their current challenges and problems. I also want to create networks of support, I want to learn, to understand, and to create links - to weave connections between all people.

Stefi