Meet the Director

Noriko Abenojar

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, and 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 facilitated program planning, daily living skills, recreational activities, and collaboration with schools, workplaces, and other professionals.

She also worked in a vocational rehabilitation program in Sacramento before relocating to San Diego for graduate school at San Diego State University, where she gained experience running group and individual therapy sessions at an adolescent and adult mental health program — covering anxiety, self-esteem, dual diagnosis, relationship building, and depression.

As a school social worker, Noriko worked in Kindergarten through 8th grade public schools, providing individual and group sessions for students and classwide skill-building lessons. She participated in SST and IEP teams, and after having her own two children, ran a parent-participation preschool program through the San Mateo Adult School for 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 (2006), and in Davis and surrounding communities since 2009.