Natalia Villegas, LMFT
Program Director
Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, The Counseling Center
Natalia Villegas was born on Oʻahu and raised within the moku of Koʻolaupoko, where she still resides today. She currently serves as a Program Director at Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi. In this role, she helps guide The Counseling Centerʻs trauma-informed, culturally-responsive work across Oʻahu and Maui, supporting therapists and interns through clinical supervision and program development.
Her path has been shaped by a deep belief in the power of storytelling, connection, and ʻike kupuna. She is passionate about increasing access to mental health services, particularly for Native Hawaiian communities. Her clinical work focuses on trauma, attachment, and generational healing.
Much of her growth has been guided by the mentorship she received throughout her time at Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, particularly within the Kupuna to Kamaliʻi program. The program’s decolonial, community-centered approach to healing has helped shape her understanding of mental health outside of Western frameworks - centering culture, relationships, and collective care.
She also dances hula for Hālau Mōhala ‘Ilima, is a community organizer, serves as a board member for HIAMFT, and is in the process of becoming an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. In her downtime, she enjoys thrifting, spending time at the beach, and going for walks around her neighborhood.