Vita Tsymbal, MA President, Chairwoman of the Board

Vita Tsymbal brings over 15 years of experience in social services, nonprofit leadership, and public administration with a strong focus on housing, homelessness, health, and human services. She earned both her Master of Social Work (2010) and Bachelor of Arts in Social Work with a minor in Gerontology (2007) from California State University, Sacramento.

Currently, she serves with the Department of Homeless Services & Housing, where she collaborates with key regional partners—including Sacramento Steps Forward, the City of Sacramento, and Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agencies—to expand successful housing placements.

In addition to her public service work, she is the Executive Director of Sacramento for Ukrainian Families, a nonprofit chapter of the International Association of Ministries. There, she manages operations, staff, volunteers, and community programs, building partnerships that expand resources and services for immigrant and vulnerable populations.

Kim Johnson, MA, LCSW Vice President

Kim has been working in the mental health field since 1990 in the Sacramento area. She has experience in both public and private sectors. Kim has helped individuals of all ages and backgrounds overcome past trauma and conflicts, alter dysfunctional patterns, and realize their potential for recovery and fulfillment. Her primary passion is to assist children, teens, and adults on their journey through healing and wholeness.

Kim was trained in EMDR Therapy in 2000. She is a Certified Therapist, Approved Consultant, and Trainer with the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA). Over the past two years, Kim has had the privilege of building relationships and providing support in some of the world’s most challenging environments—including war-torn Ukraine, the red-light districts and slums of Thailand, and during a community crisis in Penang, Malaysia.

Kim is the author of Mothers of Molestation Survivors: Making a Difference in Children’s Lives.

Shanna Gibbs Treasurer

Shanna Gibbs brings more than 25 years of professional experience with AT&T, where she has built a career centered on leadership, collaboration, organization, and supporting others. Throughout her career, she has held a variety of roles that have strengthened her skills in business operations, recruiting, training, and relationship building. She brings a strategic, thoughtful, detail-oriented approach to her role as Treasurer of the Willow Branch Counseling Board of Directors.

Shanna has a heart for encouraging and serving others and believes strongly in the importance of providing people with compassionate support during the difficult seasons of life. Her Christian faith is an important part of who she is and inspires her desire to contribute to organizations that bring hope, healing, and meaningful support to individuals and families.

Shanna and her husband, Lane, have been married for more than 30 years and have two adult children. Family is one of her greatest joys, and she especially enjoys spending time with those she loves, traveling, attending church, and creating a welcoming home. She is honored to serve on the Willow Branch Counseling Board and support its mission within the Sacramento community.

Yuliya Obraztsov, MA, AMFT Secretary

Yuliya is the secretary of the board and comes from Slavic/Russian background. She grew up in the greater Sacramento area. She is an AMFT (Associate Marriage and Family Therapist), who enjoys working with teens and young adults. She is often exploring new methods of applying therapeutic techniques.

Currently, she’s been consuming and applying some Internal Family Systems approaches and has seen wonderful results. In her free time, she gets to spend time with her family; her husband and her child. Outdoors is where she feels connected to the Lord, where she feels at peace and gets replenished.