Gerard Bautista, MA AMFT
Director of Connections by Maryvale
Gerard Bautista has been with Maryvale for 10 years and brings over 20 years of experience in mental health and substance use treatment services. He currently serves as the Director of Connections by Maryvale, a co-occurring program supporting at-risk youth ages 12–17.
Gerard is a formally trained Marriage and Family Therapist with expertise in intensive services, crisis management, and early intervention milieu treatment for birth-to-five populations. His experience spans UCLA’s early intervention programs, Los Angeles County Wraparound Services, Full-Service Partnerships, Residential Mental Health Services, and Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery.
At Maryvale, Gerard created and managed the Substance Abuse Treatment Service for youth in residential care and also led Wraparound Services for high-risk, high-acuity youth and families. He is trained in trauma-informed care, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and de-escalation strategies. His work has intersected with the juvenile justice system, child welfare, neurodivergent populations, and youth with substance use disorders.
Gerard holds a B.A. in Psychology with an emphasis in Law and Ethics, and an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University. Across all roles, he remains dedicated to providing healing, recovery, and leadership in youth-centered treatment programs.
