I am Asian American — a child of Filipino immigrants, and I am especially interested in supporting the mental health needs of Asian Americans and other people of color.
Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, I worked in publishing, as an editor on several technology magazines in San Francisco and London, and later I trained journalists and other professionals in the use of technology. I know what it is to hold down a corporate position, balancing the pressure of work with a life beyond my job. I also know what it is to be POC in a predominantly white culture.
After 20 some years in publishing, my true calling found me and I retrained to become a psychotherapist. In 2006 I earned my M.A. in Counseling Psychology. I worked as a counselor in East Bay middle schools and community counseling centers, co-facilitated groups for Survivors of Suicide at Crisis Support Services of Alameda County, trained in Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST) to work with youth in the Juvenile Justice System. Eventually I launched my own private practice serving people of color, with particular interest in working with 1.5 and 2nd generation AAPIs around issues related to historical, immigration, or trans racial and trans cultural adoption trauma, in addition to appreciating the complexities of people who identify with betweenness or straddling cultural norms.