School Counselor
Mary Johnson (MJ) Mehdizadeh was born and raised in Birmingham, AL. She attended UNC Asheville for her undergraduate studies where she majored in political science and fostered her passion for working with children and families. During her time at UNCA, she traveled to Honduras and South Africa studying human rights, eco-tourism, and education. Following graduation, she moved to New York where she lived and worked for several years before attending NYU for a Masters in Social Work. Throughout her time in New York, she lived in Peru studying education and spent time at NYU’s satellite campus in Tel Aviv researching the implications of substance use on children and families.
Upon graduating from NYU, she was hired as a School-Based Therapist by Henry Street Settlement House where she was part of an award-winning team providing psycho-dynamic therapeutic and crisis-intervention services to public schools in the Lower East Side community. From New York, she moved with her husband (former graduate of Shalhevet!) to Sacramento, CA where she worked in Foster Care. After spending some time in Sacramento, CA, she and her husband made a final move to Los Angeles where she worked as a trauma consultant for staff of LAUSD for several years before resigning to care for their daughter.
MJ is extremely passionate about working with students and families. She believes in providing knowledge, resources, and a safe atmosphere in order to foster growth and learning in an academic setting. In her spare time, MJ loves spending time with her daughter and husband, enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, and anything having to do with Oprah.
Upon graduating from NYU, she was hired as a School-Based Therapist by Henry Street Settlement House where she was part of an award-winning team providing psycho-dynamic therapeutic and crisis-intervention services to public schools in the Lower East Side community. From New York, she moved with her husband (former graduate of Shalhevet!) to Sacramento, CA where she worked in Foster Care. After spending some time in Sacramento, CA, she and her husband made a final move to Los Angeles where she worked as a trauma consultant for staff of LAUSD for several years before resigning to care for their daughter.
MJ is extremely passionate about working with students and families. She believes in providing knowledge, resources, and a safe atmosphere in order to foster growth and learning in an academic setting. In her spare time, MJ loves spending time with her daughter and husband, enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, and anything having to do with Oprah.
