My Approach to Helping
I am a doctor of psychology (PsyD) and a licensed social worker (LCSW) in the state of Virginia, Hawaii, and Washington. I have worked extensively for the last 20 years with diverse populations, such as South and Central Asians, Pacific Islanders, East Asians, Latin-Americans and African-Americans. Many of my clients seek my services when life’s challenges become harder to manage due to traumatic andor stressful situations, feelings of sadness, aloneness, anxiety and family discord. I am particularly passionate about serving families and individuals suffering from traumatic experiences and challenges with acculturation. Balancing two cultures while adapting to the prevailing culture can be overwhelming and confusing for families.
I am trained in Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) which is a type of psychotherapy that enables people to heal emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. I am also trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach, which involves making efforts to understand and change unhelpful thinking patterns and implementing strategies to change such patterns. I provide family therapy specifically for families with communication challenges and difficulty getting along. In session, I focus on your current view of yourself, life experiences and goals for therapy. I take a strength-based approach which supports clients to feel safe, validated, and comfortable while navigating challenging issues.
My style is tailored to individual needs of clients I serve. When a client first comes in, they are warmly greeted in a safe and private office. They are given the opportunity to share their reasons for seeking services and work with me to develop an individualized treatment plan. I am dedicated to providing a relationship that is empathic, understanding, strength-based and warm.
I received me Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University-Hawaii campus with a focus on diversity. I completed my Master’s in Social Work from New York University with focus on psychodynamics and psychoanalytic theories. I have gained extensive clinical experience working at community mental health centers, disaster response teams, schools, adolescent group homes, family services agencies, outpatient settings and private practice.