About Dr. Soykin
My approach to psychotherapy is empathic, collaborative, and goal-oriented. I believe that therapy is a partnership, and I aim to provide care in a safe, compassionate, and non-judgmental environment. I am interested in your unique experiences and goals, and I will work with you to establish a treatment plan that fits you and that is in line with your values (value-based living). An important part of my work centers around the idea that if we can change the way we think, we’ll be able to change the way we feel. It is my goal to help you explore the problems affecting your life and to address these problems and your negative thoughts using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), in order to improve your quality of life and reduce pain and suffering.
I am a first-generation American immigrant and have a special interest in working with immigrants who are struggling to find a balance between their multiple rich cultures and identities.
All sexual orientations and gender expressions are welcome in my practice.
Expertise
I offer individual psychotherapy to adults and older adults struggling with a variety of mental health problems or stressors. I specialize in health psychology and geropsychology, as well as trauma and more general conditions. I also love working with college/graduate students and young adults. My specialties include the following:
- Chronic pain and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
- Chronic illness and medical conditions (e.g., cancer, diabetes, dementia, heart disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, COPD, pre- and post-transplant surgery, hidradenitis suppurativa [HS], etc.)
- Trauma and PTSD
- Grief and loss
- Life changes and transitions, including aging concerns and dementia, transition to and from college/graduate school, and other life transitions (e.g., divorce, job changes, etc.)
- Caregiver support
- Anxiety, including general worries, social anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, and health anxiety
- Depression and low mood
- Work stress
- Relationship difficulties and/or family stress
Evidence-Based Treatments Provided
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- TEAM-CBT (an advanced and specialized form of CBT)
- Prolonged Exposure for Trauma (PE)
- Cognitive Processing Therapy for Trauma (CPT)
- Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)
- Inference-Based CBT for OCD (I-CBT)
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Education and Training
I am a licensed Clinical Psychologist in both California (PSY27597) and Oregon (3581), and I earned my Master’s and PhD from Pacific Graduate School of Psychology (PGSP; now known as Palo Alto University). My clinical and research experience has been very diverse. I have worked at Stanford University, the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Kaiser Permanente, Gardner Health Services, and the Gronowski Center. I completed my clinical internship at the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, where I specialized in Geropsychology, Palliative Care, Chronic Pain, Trauma and PTSD, and Behavioral Medicine. I then completed my postdoctoral residency at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco with a specialty in Chronic Pain, before accepting a position at Kaiser Santa Clara Psychiatry Department as a licensed psychologist. I then worked at Kaiser South San Francisco in the Chronic Pain Department as their health psychologist for about five years, until I transitioned into full time private practice during the pandemic in early 2021.
Media Appearances
I had the opportunity to join Chelsea Dorcich, LMFT, on her podcast, Project Parenthood, where we discussed the “sandwich generation” which describes people caring for both aging parents and their own children. I covered tips for managing stress, setting boundaries, and finding joy in dual caregiving roles. You can listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Professional Services
- Secretary, Bay Area Psychological Association (BAPA)
- Membership Committee Co-Chair, Northern CA CBT Network (NCCBT)
- Administration Team, Psychological Help for Ukraine
- Advisory Committee, Jewish Community Support Groups (JCSG), supported by the Jewish Community Mental Health (JCMH) Initiative at the American Psychological Foundation (APF)
Professional Affiliations
- Northern California Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Network (NCCBT) – serving on the leadership committee since 2023
- Bay Area Psychological Association (BAPA) – serving on the leadership committee since 2023
- Association of Jewish Psychologists (AJP)
- COVID-Conscious Therapists (CCT)
- American Association of Pain Psychology (AAPP)
- Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS) and San Francisco Bay Area Chapter
- Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT)
- California Psychological Association (CPA)
- American Psychological Association (APA)