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 currently 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 overall 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, including:

• Chronic pain
• Chronic illness, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and other medical conditions
• Trauma and PTSD
• Grief and loss
• Life changes and transitions, including aging concerns, dementia, and 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

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• TEAM-CBT (an advanced and specialized form of CBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Prolonged Exposure for Trauma (PE)
• Cognitive Processing Therapy for Trauma (CPT)
• Motivational Interviewing (MI)
• 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. 

Professional Services

• Secretary, Bay Area Psychological Association (BAPA)
• Membership Committee Co-Chair, Northern CA CBT Network (NCCBT)

Professional Affiliations

• Northern California Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Network (NCCBT)
• Bay Area Psychological Association (BAPA)
• 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)

“Do not set aside your happiness. Do not wait to be happy in the future. The best time to be happy is always now.”

Roy T. Bennett