My story originates with my parents, who were among the boat-people who sought refuge in the United States in 1980 after the war in Vietnam. Growing up as a child of immigrants, I felt the weight of expectations to pursue a "stable" career, particularly in the field of medicine. However, it didn't take long for me to realize that my passion didn't align with the clinical aspects of medicine, especially when it came to blood.

This realization led me on a diverse path, exploring interests in nutrition, public health, and community development. Yet, at the heart of every endeavor was a insatiable curiosity about people, cultures, and their beliefs. I've been asking “but, WHY?!” and seeking meaningful answers since a young age.

Now, I get to ask questions as a “job.” I usually hear from clients, “That’s a great question! I’ve never thought about that!” I have a professional background that is grounded in research and evidence based clinical work while my delivery is informed by my diverse travels, cultural humility, and social justice lenses. I am sensitive to the needs of historically marginalized groups and aim to provide a safe and validating space for clients with intersectional identities to unpack any history of trauma that may have led to shame and guilt.

I strive to live by this Toni Morrison quote.

“When you get these jobs that you have been so brilliantly trained for, just remember that your real job is that if you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.”

Other things you may be curious about…

• I am a Board-Certified Psychologist and Licensed in three states (CA, NV, and NY)

• I have degrees from UCLA, the University of Denver (focus on International Disaster Psychology), and accredited pre and post-doctoral training from the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

• I am trained and certified in various modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), but my goal is to understand YOUR unique story and create a treatment plan that works for you

• I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the rural mountains of Peru for two years. I nerd out learning about different cultures, especially through food and wellness. I’ve lived, worked, and traveled to over 50 countries

• I practice what I preach. I’ve been on my own journey of self-discovery and therapy since 2005

• I love supporting other medical and mental health professionals, humanitarian aid workers, and anyone who is in the business of helping others

• I grew up Buddhist and utilize some mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) approach with my clients. What we resist, persists

• I don’t have any social media accounts. Yes, I’m one of those people! But, I do try to stay up to date on modern culture, trends, and memes

• I am an INFJ, Enneagram 2 (Wing 3), HSP/HSS and especially enjoy working with folks who also identify as empaths or Highly Sensitive People (HSPs)

• My personal self-care includes hot yoga, exploring new places, deep conversations, various art projects, reading and belly laughs

Please see my LinkedIn if you want to learn more about my research, publications, and professional CV. Basically, I have been in school and training for a long time! But, most importantly, I can translate the world of psychology into every day language that is understandable to my clients. My best compliments are from children and teens who say, “But you’re kinda cool, you don’t talk like a doctor!”