About Us | Clay Website

WHY CHOOSE US!

Welcome!

If you’re here, it means you’re taking a courageous step toward mental and emotional wellness. That alone deserves honor.

At Total Athlete Mental Health, we understand that asking for help — especially in competitive, high-pressure environments — can feel uncomfortable, even unfamiliar. For many athletes, particularly those from marginalized or under-resourced communities, there’s often a cultural gap between the support that’s available and the kind of support that truly resonates.

We’ve worked hard to bridge that gap.

Our approach brings together faith, psychology, and cultural understanding to create a space where all athletes — regardless of background — feel seen, heard, and supported. We honor the unique challenges faced by athletes of color, while also creating room for every athlete to access the healing they need without shame or stigma.

Whether you're a coach, athletic director, or concerned parent — if you’re looking for real, transformative support for your team or institution, you’ve already taken the first step by finding us.

📩 Head over to our Contact Page to schedule a consultation.
Let’s build a culture of healing, together.

We’ve worked hard to bridge the cultural divide between athletes and mental health — so no one has to suffer in silence just because they were raised to be strong.

-Clay Rojas

WHO WE ARE

We combine psychology, emotional intelligence, and culturally relevant care to support the whole athlete — mind, body, and mission.
Our team delivers practical, transformative mental wellness strategies to athletes, teams, and institutions who want more than performance — they want purpose.

WHAT WE DO

We train athletes and teams to understand mental health, build emotional resilience, and support each other with confidence.
Our workshops don’t just teach self-awareness — they equip athletes to look out for one another, speak up, and shift the culture from silence to strength.

HOW WE DO IT

We show up. We train. We stay connected. We bring our mental wellness workshops directly to you — and we don’t stop there.
Each session includes a practical blueprint and follow-up training to support your athletes and staff throughout the season, or year-round, as you pursue your goals.

WHY WE DO IT

We’re living in the middle of a mental health crisis.
Our society has learned to suffer in silence — especially when it comes to mental and emotional pain. Whether it’s due to cultural stigma, shame, or generational trauma, too many people are struggling without the support they need.

For me, this work is personal. I’ve walked through addiction, trauma, and darkness — and it was only by the grace of God that I found my way out. That healing lit a fire in me to help others find the same breakthrough.

At Total Athlete Mental Health, we believe that traditional mental health approaches often fall short because they leave out a critical element: a deeper sense of purpose, identity, and connection to our Creator.

You don’t have to come to us — we’ll come to you.
Because access shouldn’t be the barrier between someone and their healing.

We’re here so you don’t have to do it alone

Meet Our Team

God didn’t just pull me out of the pit — He handed me a blueprint. Now I’m on a mission to pass it on.

— Clay Rojas, Founder

Clay holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. The major focus of Clay’s work has been with youth and young adult student-athletes, as well as those who have been impacted by the criminal justice system. He works with groups as well as individuals for mental conditioning.

Clay is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area and is also a decorated veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Clay was honorably discharged from military service in 2005. When he is not working on refining his craft, Clay is busy trying to be a good husband and father.

Clay Rojas

-MA Counseling Psychology, Mental Conditioning Coach

Enrique Hernandez is a native of San Jose, CA. On his own healing journey, he discovered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is a Brazilian JiuJitsu Black belt with 6 years of experience teaching kids and adult classes. He has 5 years of experience in nonprofit programs and is the founder of the “Lines in the Sand” Program. He uses BJJ as a therapy technique and works with clients through the most challenging emotional obstacles through martial arts principles. He is a Mixed Martial Arts and conditioning coach and certified mentor. He’s been with our team for over 5 years.

- Martial Arts and conditioning coach

Enrique Hernandez

Vinnicius Silva aka Vinny is a graduate student at William Jessup University and currently doing therapy as a marriage and family therapist trainee. He is a native of the Bay Area (San Mateo) and is committed to working with justice-impacted youth. Vinny believes in a collaborative approach with clients sparked by artistic creativity and cultural considerations. His goal is to cultivate a space for youth that allows them to speak from experience, not perfection, and empower them to reframe harmful narratives. Vinny has been working with our team for 3 years.

-Marriage and family therapist trainee

Vinnicius Silva

As a SF Bay Area transplant of Samoan/Polynesian descent, as a father, a husband, a brother, a believer, leader, and follower, Frank brings a trauma informed purview and operates through a lens of culture, humanity, faith and grit.

While having an inside out perspective of childhood trauma, Frank has a deep desire to see young people heal from trauma and grow from it.

He looks forward to working with all youth but specializes in working with our Polynesian students and athletes. With a villager’s mindset
and a worldview molded by lived experiences, Frank is committed to effecting the hopeful change
needed in our young people, families, and communities.

- Online Mentoring Services Director

Frank Sila

Mariah-Cauhryn is a proud graduate of Jackson State University, where she earned a B.S. in Psychology. She continued her education by pursuing an M.S. in Sport and Health Sciences, specializing in Sport Psychology. A former college Basketball athlete turned professional, Mariah-Cauhryn enjoyed a seven-year career overseas, navigating the challenges of five knee surgeries along the way. As an advocate for athletes, particularly those enduring current injuries, navigating a career-ending injury, transitional struggles, or unique trauma, Mariah-Cauhryn is passionate about facilitating others find balance in their mental, spiritual, and physical health. Drawing from her own life experiences, she mentors and educates athletes, empowering them to live healthier lives anchored in faith and resilience.

-Program Director- Post-Injury Mental Resilience Program

Mariah-Cauhryn Smelser

A firm believer that God is the ultimate source of wisdom, Mariah-Cauhryn prioritizes her faith in all aspects of her work, keeping Him first in every ministry and opportunity she encounters. Beyond her professional endeavors, she is deeply committed to helping create fundamental change within her community. Whether through missions, outreach, or proactive solution-focused initiatives, she strives to bring transformation to the lives of many.

When not dedicated to her work or community efforts, Mariah-Cauhryn enjoys quality time with family and friends, exploring nature, creating art, and indulging in musical therapy.

Clark is a passionate leader with a heart for ministry, psychology, and business. He thrives on creating systems and processes that enhance efficiency and multiply impact. Deeply committed to helping others, he finds fulfillment in supporting people through challenges and guiding them toward success. His love for outreach has led him to participate in multiple mission trips, including international experiences, where he has connected with diverse communities and made a lasting difference. With a strong calling to counsel and lead groups of people using Biblical principles, Clark is dedicated to fostering meaningful relationships, encouraging growth, and pointing people toward Jesus as he inspires positive change wherever he goes.

- Operations Chief

Clark Monk

Gary Roberts Jr was born in San Francisco, CA where as an infant he was placed in state custody. Gary, due to trauma struggled with behavior, forming relationships, and maintaining placements while in the custody of California. Gary as a youth was placed in over 15 foster homes, multiple groups homes and shelters, and had several admissions into psychiatric in- patient facilities. Gary overcame the trauma he experienced before and during his placements and went on to receive his BS in Psychology from University of Central Oklahoma.

-Clinical Supervisor

Gary Roberts Jr

He obtained his MS degree in Rehabilitation with an emphasis in counseling from Langston University. Gary decided to use his personal and professional experiences to help others in the way that he was helped as a youth. Gary is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and LPC approved supervisor. His experience ranges from counseling where he provided family and individual therapy in substance abuse, PTSD, depression, anxiety, conduct disorders, and others. Gary has also served as a non-profit director, executive director of a adolescent group home, foster care agency director, clinical director of several counseling agencies, director of an in patient psychiatric residential hospital, and currently has a private practice, and serves as the sports clinician for the student athletes at the University of Tulsa.

Enrique Hernandez