Kathleen Yu, Ph.D

Licensed Psychologist, PSY34389

I specialize in working with children (ages 5+), teens, and young adults from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and identities. My clients present with various concerns such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, emotional dysregulation, relational problems, identity exploration, self-esteem, cultural concerns, behavioral issues, and academic stress/avoidance. My clients may be struggling in understanding their emotions, feeling stuck, or feeling overwhelmed. They may want help with identifying their pain, identifying how and what to change, and developing a better understanding of themselves to improve their mental health and well-being. My clients can expect me to have an intuitive capacity to see deeply, through warmth and nurturance that gently invites them to open up to what they have been alone with for a long time. I want to acknowledge that asking for help and coming to therapy can be intimidating and painful, and can come with a wide range of emotions. Because of this, I want to approach our work together with great care. I want to hear your story, help with changes to make your story feel more aligned with your values and goals, and encourage future chapters that include more joy and healing.

Schedule an Appointment
Services

Individual Therapy for Children (5+ Years or Older), Adolescents and Teens, Adults

Specialties

 

  • Anxiety and Stress (General, Social, Work Stress)
  • Depression
  • Perfectionism
  • Trauma/PTSD
  • Life Transitions
  • Relationship Issues
  • Mood Disorders
  • Self-Esteem
  • ADHD
  • Parenting Concerns
  • Cultural Issues
  •  Identity
Education

PhD, Education (School Psychology)- University of California, Berkeley

MA, Education (School Psychology)- University of California, Berkeley

BA, Psychology- University of California, Davis

BS, Human Development- University of California, Davis (Double major)

Appointments

45-55 minute sessions via Teletherapy or In-Person at our San Francisco Office

Location
Telehealth and In-Person Available
My approach

I believe one of the most important aspects of therapy is in building a trusting therapeutic relationship with my clients. I prioritize creating an inclusive, compassionate, warm, and nurturing space where clients feel safe, heard, and supported. My approach to treatment is integrative, utilizing a variety of treatment approaches. Examples of treatment approaches I use include Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), play therapy, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, harm reduction, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and solution-focused approaches. I also enjoy utilizing creativity in sessions so that clients can express themselves through various modalities (speech, drawing, play, writing, etc.). I draw from theories including relational, humanistic, resilience, and psycho-dynamic theory. I also draw from acceptance-based, strength-based, and client-centered approaches. I am dynamic and flexible in my use of clinical theory and methodology in order to attune to my clients’ diverse needs, experiences, concerns, and goals.

Why I love this work

My personal and professional experiences have led me to realize how a career as a psychologist enables me to channel my joy in building human connections and passion for helping others. I approach myself and my work in the lens of a life-long learner, so I value the opportunity and privilege to learn and evolve alongside my clients. It has been (and continues to be) incredibly rewarding to build therapeutic relationships with my clients, be trusted with learning their vulnerabilities and challenges, and be a part in their growth and healing.

What I want for you

I value collaboration and transparency with my clients, so together, we will identify stressors/concerns and co-create goals and solutions. I believe that clients are the experts of their own lives. A fundamental aspect of my role is to empower clients in recognizing, expanding, and utilizing their strengths and insights for healing and growth. My hope is for you to come away from therapy feeling more attuned with yourself and equipped with insight and skills that will help you lead a more fulfilled life and have more meaningful relationships. I hope for you to achieve a sense of stability, confidence, and preparedness to overcome future stressors and obstacles. Our work together may include exploring contributions to your pain/stress, finding the language or ways to express and regulate your emotions, developing a deeper understanding of yourself and your identities, trying new ways of thinking of and relating to your inner and outer worlds, exploring cultural influences and family dynamics, and/or building a more compassionate relationship with yourself.

My specialties, background, and personal interests

My dive into the field of psychology was fueled by my strong desire to help others. As a Chinese American who has navigated obstacles that can come with growing up in a low-income immigrant family in San Francisco and being a first-generation college student, I have a deep empathy and drive to help others in my local community. From the time I could start working, I gravitated towards work in the helping profession. I had jobs such as a tutor, day-camp teacher, and after school program teacher from high school through college. I found that my studies in psychology complemented and enriched my work with children and families. I obtained my PhD in Education from the School Psychology program at UC Berkeley. During graduate school, I received extensive training on child and family work, including topics such as developmental theory, psychoeducational assessment, therapy approaches, interventions, and developmental disabilities. My program prepared us to worked in various fields, and I continually reflected on my career options– I could focus on assessment, teach, provide psychotherapy, and so on. During my third year in graduate school, we were required to pursue a community-based mental health internship. From the moment I started learning about psychotherapy and mental health work with children and families, it felt like a lightbulb turned on. This was a space I truly connected with, felt excited by, and where I felt I could make a meaningful impact. From then on, I knew a career as a licensed psychologist would enable me to express my interest in psychology, passion for helping others, and joy in building human connections. Through my graduate school internships and post-graduate work, I have cultivated a range of expertise in working with children, teens, young adults, and families in school-based and community-based mental health programs. I have provided mental health services to special education and general education students as well as low-income youth and families in various high schools in the Bay Area and in a community mental health outpatient clinic. In the same settings, I have also provided consultation to teachers, parents, and provided parent counseling. As a Chinese-American child of immigrants, I have a special interest in working with individuals who identify as Asian American/Pacific Islander and individuals from immigrant families. Outside of work, I enjoy cooking, spending time with friends and family, exploring new foods and restaurants, appreciating nature, and immersing myself in storytelling through film, television, anime, and Webtoons. I also love expressing my creativity through artistic activities such as watercolor painting, jewelry making, and pursuing new crafts like clay making.

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