Molly Ontiveros

Hi! My name is Molly Ontiveros and I am the Director of Clinical Support. I am originally from Santa Maria, CA. I graduated from the University of Chicago in 2012 with a degree in Environmental Studies. I started my career as a College Counselor at Salesianum School in 2013 and have called the East Coast home since then. After I lost my brother, Zachary, to suicide in 2015, I felt called to pursue a career in mental health counseling, earning my Masters in School and Mental Health Counseling from the University of Pennsylvania in 2017. In 2022, I became the first Director of Wellness at Salesianum School and worked to open the Salesian Wellness Center and Sean’s Room in the fall of 2024. In addition to my time at Salesianum, I worked as a grief therapist at Supporting Kidds and I currently work as a therapist at Counseling Associates of Delaware. My husband, Derek, and I own a small farm in Salem County, NJ. In addition to our dog, Gilly, we have three potbelly pigs (Bubbles, Blossom, and Buttercup), three peacocks (Sonny, Cher, and Carmen Sandiego), and about 60 chickens! When I’m not busy with farm chores, you can usually find me training for a powerlifting meet!

Since losing my brother to suicide, the mental health of all young people, but particularly of boys and young men has been a passion of mine. So often young people feel isolated and alone, feeling like they have to put up a front. I believe in the power of connection and vulnerability. I think none of us are as alone in this world as we sometimes feel. When we open up and share our stories, I find that the things that make us feel alone often connect us as human beings.