After completion of adult psychiatry residency and additional child/adolescent fellowship at UCI, I journeyed to New Zealand in order to broaden my understanding of different mental health care models and to expand a more multicultural approach in psychiatry. I worked at the adolescent inpatient psychiatric unit, Rangatahi, in order to learn more about their integrative model combining traditional Maori culture and Western medicine. This expanded my more conventional Western medicine methodology to appreciate the importance of honoring spiritual and cultural views as a more holistic, healing approach. This international experience further deepened my awareness in appreciating how body, mind, spirit, culture, and “whanau” (family) contribute to health and wellbeing. Working with the Maori, directly funneled into my experience upon returning to the US in 2010.
After relocating to the SF bay area, I have been providing community mental health services at Asian Community Mental Health Services- a non-profit organization providing cultural sensitive community mental health care. I am honored to continue to build and develop their child and youth programs, and I am passionate about teaching the interns and other clinicians at this agency. Recently, I began offering private practice hours in the East Bay. I feel it is important to not only be well educated in the latest clinical knowledge, but to cultivate compassion and have a "heart felt" approach in addressing my patients' and their families’ needs. I strive to apply an integrative model, providing medications when needed but also exploring ways to build physical health and psychological well-being. I provide comprehensive care, and I desire to work collaboratively with key players in treatment such as speaking with therapists, schools, primary care physicians, specialists, and other clinicians when indicated. Being a parent myself has broadened my understanding of the complexities of parenting, so I provide compassionate, very thorough care emphasizing mindfulness and a non-judgmental approach towards my youth and families. I care deeply for my youth and families that I have the opportunity to care for.
“Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment.”
― Thích Nhất Hạnh, Being Peace
After relocating to the SF bay area, I have been providing community mental health services at Asian Community Mental Health Services- a non-profit organization providing cultural sensitive community mental health care. I am honored to continue to build and develop their child and youth programs, and I am passionate about teaching the interns and other clinicians at this agency. Recently, I began offering private practice hours in the East Bay. I feel it is important to not only be well educated in the latest clinical knowledge, but to cultivate compassion and have a "heart felt" approach in addressing my patients' and their families’ needs. I strive to apply an integrative model, providing medications when needed but also exploring ways to build physical health and psychological well-being. I provide comprehensive care, and I desire to work collaboratively with key players in treatment such as speaking with therapists, schools, primary care physicians, specialists, and other clinicians when indicated. Being a parent myself has broadened my understanding of the complexities of parenting, so I provide compassionate, very thorough care emphasizing mindfulness and a non-judgmental approach towards my youth and families. I care deeply for my youth and families that I have the opportunity to care for.
“Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment.”
― Thích Nhất Hạnh, Being Peace