I have been researching, studying, and practicing psychology for the last two decades. It is such a fascinating subject to understand why or how people think, feel, or behave. So much has informed me about human suffering and pain as well as what can help people live meaningful lives.

My early experiences in mental health started at the UCLA Intensive Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Clinic, working closely with clients who had severe OCD. I witnessed how people were significantly impaired by their thoughts and patterns of behaving. I was able to help many clients face their fears and limitations.

Later on, I worked at Asian Pacific Family Center in Los Angeles, helping Asian and Latino Americans in the community on mental health issues. It was rewarding to provide a safe space for people to understand their issues and empower them to make changes.

While in graduate school for my doctorate, I was trained at inpatient hospitals and locked high security facilities. I had the privilege people with severe mental health issues and extensive trauma histories. I learned valuable insights to helping those who were most troubled with life and who needed psychological support. These experiences help me understand the complexity of human suffering, the depth of our psyche, and indelible pain we can cause each other.