I am a Philadelphia based licensed clinical social worker and public health professional. Informed by Immigrant-Filipino parents who love through a sense of home, a chosen Queer family who resist subjugation, and a public health community that seeks to honor social and environmental context.  My approach is relational, inter-subjective and grounded in love, honor, and respect.

Education and Training

I received my Master’s in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania and my Master’s in Public health from Drexel University.  I have completed my Doctorate in Behavioral Health from Arizona State University and focused my academic work in developing programming on patient-centered medical homes, integrated health care, recovery oriented primary care and body positivity.  I am a certified clinical anxiety treatment professional, have completed foundational training in relational-psychoanalytic psychotherapy, completed a fellowship in psycho-analytic psychotherapy, and have a certificate clinical supervision of mental health providers.

Professional Experience

I have been a clinical social worker since 2009 and have been involved in various community-based programs in the Philadelphia Metro Area. In the last decade, I have led HIV prevention and care programming for gay/bisexual men, supported systems to enhance recovery/resilience programming for federally qualified health centers, and continue to be active in initiatives related to communities that I am a part of: Queer/Asian-Americans, anti-black racism in mental health, and body positivity. I teach graduate courses in social work practice at Columbia University and West Chester University of Pennsylvania and provide consultation to various community initiatives (Federally Qualified Health Centers, Recovery-Oriented Primary Care).

I am deeply honored to be doing this work and to be in a community with compassionate colleagues and beautifully resilient members of the communities that I belong to and serve.

Education

DBH: Doctorate in Behavioral Health: Arizona State University
MPH: Public Health: Drexel University
MSW: Clinical Social Work: University of Pennsylvania

Areas of Specialization:

Asian-American Identity, Mood concerns, couples therapy, stuckness, sexuality, integrated healthcare, recovery-resilience, body image, and positivity.