Existential Psychiatrists in San Rafael, CA

I look for ways to optimize individual treatment and seek opportunities to surpass previous functioning. My goal is to help patients achieve their full potential and self-actualize. I follow a positive strength based approach that is highly individualized. After graduating from the Juilliard School, I prepared for medical studies at the City University of New York. Then completed medical studies at U.C.S.F. and psychiatry residency at Stanford University. I have recently renewed Board certified in Psychiatry and Neurology 2020, Addiction Medicine 2019 and Pain Medicine 2017.

I see my patients first and foremost in a humanistic way as people, not simply as patients or their diagnoses. As such, I offer patients comprehensive treatment, not just from a neurobiological perspective, but also a from a humanistic one. I approach my patients with compassion, respect and a commitment to confidentiality. Some of the biggest obstacles to attainting self-awareness and self-acceptance are deeply buried feelings of guilt and shame. Working with a psychotherapist you trust, who is curious, empathic and understanding can help you expand your capacity for self-curiosity, self-awareness and self-acceptance, which in turn can help you expand your capacity to: •examine, understand & change problematic patterns in your life; •make choices freely & actively, instead of reactively; •ultimately lead a more thoughtful, authentic & fulfilling life.

A universe stranger than we can suppose gave us personhood. We are thrown into this life where we remain a mystery unto ourselves. For many, the mystery of self becomes foregrounded only when life proves more complex, tragic, or disappointing than expected. During these times, people stumble backwards into a crisis of premise causing them to wonder: How did I become so alone and can anything be done about it? How did I come to lead a life that has so little to do with me? Why is it so hard to know how I feel and what I want? These questions bring people to psychotherapy seeking a way forward.

Experience, insight, integrity, depth, support. I specialize in understanding you and what's happening: your culture, current dilemmas, patterns, strengths, interests, relationships, life history, and visions of yourself and the world. Our work will be tailored to fit your individual needs, through therapy, medications, or both. I have advanced training and interest in depth work, including psychodynamic and mindfulness approaches. The goal is to help you cope with life, grow, enjoy fulfilling relationships, achieve your potential and develop resilience. Board Certified Distinguished Fellow of the APA, active writer, and member of Asian American committee of the Northern California Psychiatric Society.

Patients come to see me when they experience emotional pain and need help figuring out how to improve their lives. Sometimes a problem has built up over time and reaches a saturation point. It may relate to work or school, to a love or family relationship, or to something completely unexpected--a layoff, breakup, accident, sudden illness or even a death--that uncovers a long neglected area of development.

My approach is based on integrative psychiatry, which uses medications, therapy and complementary medicine to treat the whole person, not just the symptoms. I address the combined impact of sleep, lifestyle, relationships, nutrition and chronic medical conditions on well-being, and use cutting edge tools like genetic testing to guide personalized treatment with medication and supplements. I consider the patient’s cultural background in my assessments and I can provide treatment in Spanish, Portuguese, French and Italian. My goal is to help my patients create lasting changes and build vitality, resilience and purpose in life.