Director
Noriko Abenojar, M.S.W., P.P.S. has been serving children and adults with developmental, behavioral, and mental health challenges since 1995. She holds a Masters of Social Work degree, with an emphasis in children, youths, and families. She also has a Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential in School Social Work.
Noriko’s passion for human service began as a first year undergraduate student at UC Davis when she started working at a group home for adults with developmental disabilities. For the next five years, she continued to facilitate in program planning, daily living skills, recreational activities, and collaboration with school, work, and other professionals at the group home. She also worked in a vocational rehabilitation program in Sacramento as a program counselor, prior to relocating to San Diego to begin her graduate work. During her time at San Diego State University, Noriko gained experience running group and individual therapy sessions at an adolescent/adult mental health program. Some of the topics covered in group sessions included anxiety, dual diagnosis (substance abuse and mental illness), self-esteem, relationship building, and depression.
As a school social worker, Noriko worked in Kindergarten through 8th grade public schools. She provided individual and group sessions for identified students, as well as class wide skill building lessons to target the entire school population. She participated as a member of the Student Study Team (SST) and the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team to support the social/emotional well-being of the child. During these years, Noriko gained valuable skills & knowledge in collaborating with parents, school staff, and other mental health professionals. After having her own two children, Noriko ran a parent-participation preschool program through the San Mateo Adult School, targeting children ages 1 to 3.
Noriko is the founder and director of Social and Cognitive Learning Center. She has been providing social skills coaching, parent coaching, and other supportive services to families in San Diego 2003-2005, San Mateo in 2006, and in Davis and surrounding communities since 2009.
Noriko’s passion for human service began as a first year undergraduate student at UC Davis when she started working at a group home for adults with developmental disabilities. For the next five years, she continued to facilitate in program planning, daily living skills, recreational activities, and collaboration with school, work, and other professionals at the group home. She also worked in a vocational rehabilitation program in Sacramento as a program counselor, prior to relocating to San Diego to begin her graduate work. During her time at San Diego State University, Noriko gained experience running group and individual therapy sessions at an adolescent/adult mental health program. Some of the topics covered in group sessions included anxiety, dual diagnosis (substance abuse and mental illness), self-esteem, relationship building, and depression.
As a school social worker, Noriko worked in Kindergarten through 8th grade public schools. She provided individual and group sessions for identified students, as well as class wide skill building lessons to target the entire school population. She participated as a member of the Student Study Team (SST) and the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team to support the social/emotional well-being of the child. During these years, Noriko gained valuable skills & knowledge in collaborating with parents, school staff, and other mental health professionals. After having her own two children, Noriko ran a parent-participation preschool program through the San Mateo Adult School, targeting children ages 1 to 3.
Noriko is the founder and director of Social and Cognitive Learning Center. She has been providing social skills coaching, parent coaching, and other supportive services to families in San Diego 2003-2005, San Mateo in 2006, and in Davis and surrounding communities since 2009.
